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Illinois HC Brad Underwood previews crucial top-25 showdown with Ohio State
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Illinois and Ohio State both are top 25 Big Ten basketball teams and they’re scheduled to play each other Saturday at All-State Arena, better known as Assembly Hall, in Champaign, Illinois.
The 14th ranked Illini are sitting in third place in the conference at 5-2 and a modest 9-4 overall, though their schedule has included matchups with several of the country’s top teams. The Buckeyes are the 21st ranked squad nationally at 10-3 overall, and 4-3 in Big Ten play. That’s good for fifth place in the conference but well within striking distance of the leaderboard during this middle stretch of the season.
By a quirk of scheduling and neutral-site games, this is Ohio State’s first trip to Assembly Hall in four seasons. On New Years Day 2017, the Illini knocked off the Buckeyes 75-70 to open up Big Ten play for both programs.
Illinois head coach Brad Underwood offered media a few comments on the game during a Friday afternoon press conference. He discussed the Buckeye’s tendency to play “small ball” this season and offered a stark metaphor for how Ohio State would guard Kofi Cockburn, the Illini’s towering seven-foot center from Jamaica.
The coach’s comments can be read below.
#illini Underwood on Ohio State's small-ball fives on Kofi: "They're going to stick a knee right up Kofi's butt."
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) January 15, 2021
#illini Brad Underwood: Trent Frazier is available to play Saturday vs. Ohio State. He practiced today.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) January 15, 2021
#illini Underwood: Duane Washington playing as well offensively from the wing spot as anyone in the Big Ten.
EJ Liddell is having a terrific season playing a small-ball 5 for them.
I am a huge Kyle Young fan, a guy who plays with physicality and toughness.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) January 15, 2021
Mark Schipper is a reporter, sportswriter, and aspiring novelist living in Chicago, Illinois.