Key Highlights
- The 19th-ranked University of Iowa men’s basketball team hosts the 16th-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini on Sunday, January 11 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
- This game is the first top-20 matchup inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena since the 2020-21 season and could be Iowa’s first ranked win since 2023-24.
- Iowa has a 12-3 start, the best in program history since the 2020-21 season, with senior Bennett Stirtz leading the team in points and assists.
- Illinois enters the game with a four-game winning streak and three Big Ten losses against ranked teams on neutral courts or at home.
Preparation for Top-20 Matchup
The Iowa Hawkeyes are coming off a tough loss to Minnesota, where they faced a 14-point deficit at halftime before rallying. The team will look to bounce back against the Illinois Fighting Illini, who have been on a roll with four consecutive wins and an impressive scoring average of 86.7 points per game.
Senior Bennett Stirtz has been named to the John R. Wooden Award Top 25 Midseason Watch List, and he is one of only five players nationally with significant stats in points, assists, steals, and rebounds. His leadership will be crucial as Iowa aims for their first ranked win since last season.
Scouting Illinois
The Illini bring a four-game winning streak into Iowa City, having recently defeated Penn State by 26 points. Illinois boasts a balanced scoring attack with four players averaging double figures and six players scoring at least seven points per game.
Leading the charge is freshman Keaton Wagler, who averages 15.5 points and shoots 45.6 percent from the field. Kylan Boswell (14.5 PPG), Andrej Stojakovic (14.4 PPG), and David Mirkovic (12.7 PPG) are also key contributors, while Tomislav Iisic adds 9.9 points per game.
Series History
This matchup marks the 172nd game in the all-time series between Iowa and Illinois. The Illini lead the series, 94-77, but have won four straight games against the Hawkeyes and nine of the last ten. The two teams will meet for a third time this season, with the previous meetings resulting in split results at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
The game is scheduled for Sunday, January 11 at 11:05 AM Central Time on Mediacom Court inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
It will be televised on FOX, and Hawkeye Radio Network listeners can tune in with Gary Dolphin (play-by-play) and Bobby Hansen (color commentary).
Both teams are looking to make a statement as they prepare for the remainder of their conference schedules. The Iowa Hawkeyes hope to secure their first ranked victory since 2023-24, while Illinois aims to continue its winning streak.