Despite No. 12 Illinois’ two-game losing streak, the MSU men’s basketball team will have its hands full Sunday at Assembly Hall.
The Illini (15-6 overall, 4-4 Big Ten) haven’t lost a Big Ten game at home this season, but they are coming off a 78-67 loss to conference leader No. 25 Ohio State (16-3, 7-1) on Tuesday.
Illinois fell 88-57 against Indiana on Jan. 26.
“They’re playing well right now,” sophomore guard Marcus Taylor said “They’ve just had a couple of downfalls.”
MSU (12-8, 3-4) is coming off a 71-44 win over archrival Michigan.
And for the Spartans, whose only road win came Jan. 19 against Penn State, the win over the Wolverines was a huge boost, Taylor said.
“This is a big confidence builder,” Taylor said.
“We just have to take that to Illinois Sunday. We just have to realize we can win on the road, we just have to play smart.”
But with the Illini three games behind the Buckeyes, Illinois can’t afford to lose another conference match.
That’s not the only reason it will be hard to win in Assembly Hall.
The student section at Assembly is among the rowdiest in the Big Ten, Taylor said.
“That was one of the toughest crowds we played against,” Taylor said of last season.
“The minute we walked in they were yelling at us and things like that. We have to make sure we take the crowd out of it early.”
While the fans will be a problem for the Spartans, the biggest obstacle MSU will have to overcome is Illinois’ lineup.
“They’re athletic at every position and they’re skilled at every position,” junior forward Adam Ballinger said.
That athleticism is led by guard Frank Williams. Despite the decline in statistics from last year’s Big Ten Player of the Year, he’s still an offensive threat.
But Illinois head coach Bill Self is more worried about Williams’ defense than his 12.8 points per game.
“I don’t think the numbers have bothered me as much with Frank because his numbers are better than last year,” Self said. “Defensively he can do a lot better.
“He can’t be one of five, he has to be our best perimeter defender.
“When Frank is not doing that guys tend to take it on themselves, or take marginal shots and then we’re not tough and we don’t guard - it all starts with him.”
Like MSU, the Illini’s roster has been depleted all season.
But unlike the Spartans, Illinois is nearly back to full strength.
Forwards Lucas Johnson, who tore his right Anterior Cruciate Ligament, and Damir Krupalija, who sprained his right foot, both returned to the lineup Jan. 23 against Wisconsin.
But the Illini are still without the services of guard Brett Melton, who has missed the last 11 games with an ankle sprain.
Even though Johnson won’t be at full strength Sunday, MSU will still have to pay him extra attention, Ballinger said.
“My guess is he brings a lot of energy to their team even though he may not be 100 percent,” Ballinger said. “He’s come back after that big injury and probably brings a lot of enthusiasm to their team and helps out in that way.”
