By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular
January 5, 2025
The Illini slayed the Ducks on Thursday and now have a maturity test when they take on the Washington Huskies in Seattle on Sunday afternoon. The Huskies aren’t as talented as Oregon but they beat a red hot Maryland on Thursday and relish the opportunity to beat the hyped Illini. Illinois is a young team on the road and they have to be able to handle success when it happens.
Here’s a look at the details.
Setting the Stage
/ #22/20 Illinois (10-3, 2-1) at Washington (10-4, 1-2)
Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025 // 3 p.m. CT (1 p.m. PT) // Seattle, Wash. // Alaska Airlines Arena
TV: BTN – Guy Haberman (Play-by-Play) & Don MacLean (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play), Deon Thomas
Meet the Huskies
*UW wraps up a seven-game homestand vs. No. 20 Illinois.
*It will be Illinois’s first trip to Seattle to play Washington since 1927
*The Huskies are coming off of a 75-69 win Thursday over No. 24 Maryland It was UW’s first matchup with a ranked opponent of the season and UW’s first Big Ten win The 69 points were a season-low for the Terrapins The Dawgs held Maryland star Derik Queen to a season-low four points on 1-of-7 FG
*Great Osobor posted his fourth double double of the season with 20 points and 14 rebounds. Vazoumana Diallo registered career-highs with 18 points and six assists. Making three threes and all six attempts from the charity stripe, DJ Davis’ 17 points were his third most in a game this season » Making 18-of-23 free throws, UW shot over 75% from the line for the second straight game, the only two such performances of the season
*Former Illinois signee Jase Butler is playing about 10 minutes per game for the Huskies.
Keys to the Game
Prediction
The Illini should have the ability to win this game but expect wAshington to hang around and make it difficult before Illinois wins it, 81-70 and come home happy after a 2-game winning road trip.
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