ILLINI KEY: If Illinois is going to succeed without some of its key players, the Illini are going to have to play a lot better defense than they did in a season-opening 93-81 loss to North Florida.
OPPONENT KEY: The Bison have a lot of momentum coming off their 79-71 overtime win over UC Davis, in which they scored 21 unanswered points to finish the game. That could prove challenging for the Illini against a team that made it to the second round of last year?s Big Dance.
NOTEWORTHY: Illinois is now playing without starters Kendrick Nunn, Jaylon Tate and Leron Black due to injuries. ? Tate underwent surgery after Friday night?s loss to correct an open dislocation in his right little finger and has no expected return date yet. ? Both Mike Thorne Jr. and Malcolm Hill recorded double-doubles in the opener. ? They were the first Illini duo to score 20 points each since D.J. Richardson and Brandon Paul in a win over No. 1 Indiana during the 2012-13 season. ? Friday?s loss was the team?s first in November under John Groce, who is now 21-1 in the month. ? North Dakota State is the second of three straight Illini opponents that made the 2015 NCAA tournament. (North Florida and Providence also made it last season). ? The Bison have won 73 games over the past three seasons, the best three-season stretch in program history. ? North Dakota State is also one of just nine mid-major programs in the country with at least 23 victories in each of the last three seasons. ? Illinois leads the all-time series with North Dakota State 4-0 last winning in Champaign 90-61 on Dec. 22, 1981.
OPPONENT KEY: The Bison have a lot of momentum coming off their 79-71 overtime win over UC Davis, in which they scored 21 unanswered points to finish the game. That could prove challenging for the Illini against a team that made it to the second round of last year?s Big Dance.
NOTEWORTHY: Illinois is now playing without starters Kendrick Nunn, Jaylon Tate and Leron Black due to injuries. ? Tate underwent surgery after Friday night?s loss to correct an open dislocation in his right little finger and has no expected return date yet. ? Both Mike Thorne Jr. and Malcolm Hill recorded double-doubles in the opener. ? They were the first Illini duo to score 20 points each since D.J. Richardson and Brandon Paul in a win over No. 1 Indiana during the 2012-13 season. ? Friday?s loss was the team?s first in November under John Groce, who is now 21-1 in the month. ? North Dakota State is the second of three straight Illini opponents that made the 2015 NCAA tournament. (North Florida and Providence also made it last season). ? The Bison have won 73 games over the past three seasons, the best three-season stretch in program history. ? North Dakota State is also one of just nine mid-major programs in the country with at least 23 victories in each of the last three seasons. ? Illinois leads the all-time series with North Dakota State 4-0 last winning in Champaign 90-61 on Dec. 22, 1981.
