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Game 7 preview | No. 24 Illinois at Rutgers; 3 p.m., Saturday

scott richey, the news-gazette, champaign-urbana, ill.
·5 min read

Dec. 2—Lineups

No. 24 Illinois (5-1)

Starters

P Name Yr. Ht. PPG Hometown

G/F Ty Rodgers So. 6-6 7.5 Saginaw, Mich.

G Terrence Shannon Jr. Sr. 6-6 19.5 Chicago

G/F Marcus Domask Gr. 6-6 8.2 Waupun, Wis.

F Quincy Guerrier Gr. 6-8 6.5 Montreal

F/C Dain Dainja R-Jr. 6-9 10.3 Brooklyn Park, Minn.

FYI:

* Guerrier has posted double-digit rebounds in three of six games this season, with his 15-rebound effort in the Illini's Nov. 24 win against Western Illinois his season-high. It was nearly his career-high. The former Syracuse/Oregon forward had 16 rebounds — seven offensive, nine defensive — in a 62-56 win for the Orange against Northeastern on Dec. 16, 2020.

Off the bench

P Name Yr. Ht. PPG Hometown

G Luke Goode Jr. 6-7 8.8 Fort Wayne, Ind.

G Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn Fr. 6-1 5.7 Lafayette, Ind.

F Amani Hansberry Fr. 6-8 3.8 Silver Spring, Md.

Rutgers (5-1)

Starters

P Name Yr. Ht. PPG Hometown

G Noah Fernandes Sr. 5-11 9.0 Mattapoisett, Mass.

G Derek Simpson So. 6-3 10.7 Mount Laurel, N.J.

F Aundre Hyatt Sr. 6-6 12.0 Bronx, N.Y.

F Antwone Woolfolk So. 6-9 5.5 Cleveland

C Clifford Omoruyi Sr. 6-11 11.7 Benin City, Nigeria

FYI:

* Few teams turn their opponents over as frequently as Rutgers. While the Scarlet Knights are just inside the top 15 (forcing 17.3 turnovers per game), they rank fourth nationally behind Iowa State, Houston and Florida International in opponents' turnover percentage. Rutgers' six opponents have turned it over on 25.5 percent of their possessions.

Off the bench

P Name Yr. Ht. PPG Hometown

G Gavin Griffiths Fr. 6-8 9.8 Simsbury, Conn.

G Jamichael Davis Fr. 6-2 4.0 Chattanooga, Tenn.

F Oskar Palmquist R-Sr. 6-8 3.8 Kinna, Sweden

DetailsSite:

* Jersey Mike's Arena (8,000); Piscataway, N.J.

Radio: Brian Barnhart (play-by-play) and former Illini Deon Thomas

* (analysis) will have the call on the Illini Sports Network on WDWS 1400-AM, WDWS 93.9-FM, WHMS 97.5-FM, WPXN 104.9-FM, WDAN-1490-AM and WDNL 102.1-FM.

TV: Cory Provus (play-by-play) and former Illini Stephen Bardo

* (analysis) will have the call on BTN.

Series:

* Illinois leads 11-4.

Last meeting:

* Illinois won 69-60 on Feb. 11, 2023, in Champaign.

FYI: While the Illini have never lost to Rutgers at State Farm Center, their record at Jersey Mike's Arena (formerly known as Rutgers Athletic Center) is less impressive. The Scarlet Knights have won their last three home games against Illinois. The last road win in New Jersey for the Illini came Feb. 25, 2018, with Centennial graduate Michael Finke

* scoring a game-high 19 points in a 75-62 victory.

Beat writer Scott Richey's storylinesWhat's the status of Hawkins and Moretti?

Illinois will head into its toughest three-game stretch so far this season with Coleman Hawkins closer to returning than Nico Moretti. Hawkins has practiced this week in advance of the Illini's Big Ten opener Saturday at Rutgers after missing three games with tendinitis in his left knee. Moretti missed Illinois' last game after suffering a right foot injury against Southern. The redshirt freshman guard was in a protective boot that same night and again during the Nov. 24 game against Western Illinois, and coach Brad Underwood said Moretti was still "on the road to recovery." Underwood said he hoped Hawkins would be available against Rutgers, but the 6-foot-10 senior forward's status would be a game-time decision. "He's been practicing," Underwood said. "He's been an active participant."

Goode, Shannon leading way from deep

Illinois' three-point shooting has seen Luke Goode and Terrence Shannon Jr. at one end of the spectrum and everybody else at the other. The Illini's 31.6 percent three-point shooting — good for just 235th nationally — is anchored by Goode (45.9 percent) and Shannon (43.9 percent). Shannon has made a serious improvement after making 32.1 percent of his three-pointesr last season. Underwood doesn't want Shannon to necessarily "fall in love" with his three-point shot given the veteran guard's ability attacking the basket, but that level of efficiency on nearly seven attempts per game has been crucial for the Illinois offense. "Honestly, I've been doing the same things," Shannon said about his improved shooting. "I would say I'm more consistent this year with what I do on and off the court. Also taking better shots. A lot of the times last year I found myself taking shots I didn't need to take."

New-look Scarlet Knights await Illini

The most obvious change to this year's Rutgers roster is in the backcourt. Gone are Caleb McConnell (G League), Paul Mulcahy (Washington) and Cam Spencer (Connecticut). A trio of big guards that gave the Scarlet Knights a unique presence. In their place is 5-foot-11 Massachusetts transfer Noah Fernandes and 6-2 sophomore Derek Simpson. "Simpson is having a phenomenal year," Underwood said. "Noah Fernandes coming over from UMass has provided them some offensive punch shooting it as well as on the defensive side."

The News-Gazette's pickNo. 24 Illinois 63, Rutgers 61

One does not simply walk into the "Trapezoid of Terror." Rutgers' success in the Steve Pikiell era has turned Jersey Mike's Arena into a legitimate home-court advantage for the Scarlet Knights. Enough so that Illinois hasn't won in New Jersey since Brad Underwood's first season as coach. And had Rutgers guards Cam Spencer and Paul Mulcahy not bailed this summer as graduate transfers, it wouldn't be a stretch to think the Scarlet Knights could have extended that streak. Depth is a concern on the Banks, and Rutgers might be like most teams and not have an answer for Terrence Shannon Jr. (N-G prediction record — 6-0).