| Illinois Probable Starters |
| Pos. |
No. |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Yr. |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
Note |
| G |
3 |
Jayden Epps |
6-2 |
190 |
Fr. |
10.1 |
2.1 |
1.8 |
B1G Freshman of the Week |
| G |
0 |
Terrence Shannon Jr. |
6-6 |
225 |
Sr. |
17.0 |
5.1 |
3.0 |
Jerry West Award Semifinalist |
| G/F |
24 |
Matthew Mayer |
6-9 |
225 |
Gr. |
11.9 |
4.9 |
1.2 |
18.8 ppg over last 4 games |
| F |
33 |
Coleman Hawkins |
6-10 |
225 |
Jr. |
9.3 |
6.5 |
3.2 |
8.8 rpg, 2.3 bpg over last 4 games |
| F |
42 |
Dain Dainja |
6-9 |
270 |
r-So. |
10.1 |
6.0 |
0.5 |
17 pts, 9 reb at Iowa |
| Off the Bench |
| Pos. |
No. |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Yr. |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
Note |
| G |
1 |
Sencire Harris |
6-4 |
160 |
Fr. |
3.8 |
2.0 |
1.0 |
8 pts, 3 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl vs Nebraska |
| F |
2 |
Connor Serven |
6-9 |
235 |
Jr. |
0.2 |
0.8 |
0.0 |
Academic All-Big Ten |
| G |
5 |
AJ Redd |
6-3 |
160 |
Fr. |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Former manager now on roster |
| G |
10 |
Luke Goode |
6-7 |
200 |
So. |
2.0 |
1.8 |
0.5 |
2021-22 stats; returning from injury |
| G |
11 |
Niccolo Moretti |
6-1 |
160 |
Fr. |
– |
– |
– |
Joined team Jan. 26; will redshirt |
| C |
12 |
Brandon Lieb |
7-0 |
220 |
Jr. |
1.3 |
1.2 |
0.2 |
4 pts in 12 min at Minnesota |
| G |
15 |
RJ Melendez |
6-7 |
205 |
So. |
5.8 |
3.2 |
0.7 |
10 pts, 4 reb vs Indiana |
| G/F |
20 |
Ty Rodgers |
6-6 |
200 |
Fr. |
2.4 |
3.5 |
0.9 |
6.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.0 spg last 2 games |
| G |
22 |
Paxton Warden |
6-4 |
180 |
Fr. |
0.2 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
First career FG at Minnesota |
| F |
25 |
Zacharie Perrin |
6-10 |
220 |
Fr. |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Made first UI appearance vs Indiana |
| G |
55 |
Skyy Clark |
6-3 |
200 |
Fr. |
7.0 |
3.7 |
2.1 |
Announced leave from team Jan. 6 |
Career Record: 219-100 (.687), 10th year
At Illinois: 110-73 (.601), 6th year
Big Ten: 62-48 (.564)
Series Notes vs. Rutgers
All-Time Record: Illinois leads 10-4
Streak: Rutgers W-1
Last Meeting: Rutgers 70, #12 Illinois 59 (Feb. 16, 2022 at Piscataway)
Record at Champaign: Illinois leads 6-0
Streak at Champaign: Illinois W-6
Last Meeting at Champaign: Illinois 86, Rutgers 51 (Dec. 3, 2021)
Underwood vs. Rutgers: 6-3
Opening Tips
• Following an unexpected idle week, Illinois returns to action Saturday afternoon at home against No. 24 Rutgers (1 p.m. CT, FS1).
• Illinois was slated to host Minnesota on Tuesday, but it was postponed due to health and safety protocols within the Gopher program. It has been rescheduled for Feb. 20, giving the Illini four games in nine days from Feb. 18-26.
• Illinois has won seven of its last nine games, compiling four- and three-game win streaks during this stretch.
• Illinois is coming off an 81-79 defeat at Iowa. The Illini have bounced back with a win following each of its previous six losses this season. Illinois has not lost consecutive games since Jan. 17-21, 2022.
• The Big Ten's top two defenses meet on Saturday. Illinois is second in kenpom defensive efficiency during league play (98.6), while Rutgers ranks first (95.6).
• Illinois is 3-2 versus ranked opponents this season heading into the contest against No. 24 Rutgers. The Illini have won 14 of their last 22 games vs. Top 25 teams, including two straight.
• Illinois is undefeated at home against Rutgers, winning all six match-ups at State Farm Center.
• Illinois leads the Big Ten and ranks fourth in the country in blocked shots, averaging 5.9 bpg. The current Illini single-season blocks record is 5.4 bpg, set in 1979.
• Illinois has allowed an average of just 58.9 points (412) in its Big Ten wins, holding all seven opponents below the 70-point mark. The Illini have given up an average of 75.8 points (379) in its Big Ten losses, however, with all five opponents topping 70 points.
Ubben Complex Re-Dedication
The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics will re-dedicate the Ubben Basketball Complex on Friday afternoon in a ceremony highlighting the generous support of dozens of the athletic program's most influential donors.
The daily home for the Fighting Illini women's and men's basketball programs recently concluded a two-year renovation that doubled the facility's size while incorporating the nation's best technologies and advancements in sports performance, sports medicine, sports science, sports nutrition and basketball training.
The $40 million project is being financed completely by DIA's self-supporting funds, including more than $34 million in private donations pledged to date. There are 91 unique gifts from 77 donors that range from $100 to $5 million. Notably, 15 men's and women's basketball alumni have committed to gifts totaling more than $9.6 million toward the project.
Highlighting the renovation is the naming of the men's practice court in honor of Fighting Illini icons and distinguished professional basketball executives Mannie Jackson and Jerry Colangelo.
Epps Garners Rookie Honor
Jayden Epps is the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week after averaging 14.0 points, 4.0 assists and 2.5 rebounds while carrying a 4.0 assist-to-turnover ratio in standout performances against Nebraska and Iowa.
Epps scored 16 points at Iowa, with 14 coming in the second half of a back-and-forth game that went down to the wire. It marked his most points in conference play and second-highest scoring total this season. Epps also tied his career high in assists with five while not committing a turnover in 30 minutes of play in Iowa City.
In the home win over Nebraska, he totaled 12 points, three rebounds and three assists.
Epps has scored in double figures in each of the last four games, averaging 13.8 points during this stretch.
