The last time MSU (19-5, 10-3 Big Ten) played Illinois (17-8, 9-6 Big Ten), the Spartans narrowly escaped in an 80-78 win fueled by free throws and offensive rebounds, and was the team’s “best 40 minutes” played the entire season, according to Izzo.

Illinois’ star player and projected No. 8 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Kasparas Jakucionis, only played eight minutes and put up three points and assists last time after getting into early foul trouble and eventually fouling out with seven minutes left. Due to Jakucionis’ absence, freshman forward Will Riley came off the bench and helped Illinois keep an even first half. He exploded with 16 points in the first half but went quiet in the second. On the season, Riley has averaged 12 points on 42% shooting. 

Illinois remains a formidable team, winning four of its last six games and boasting an 11-3 home record.

Jakucionis averages 16 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game. In Illinois’ recent 83-78 win over UCLA, he posted 24 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.

Tomislav Ivisic, who averages similar numbers, added 16 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. In the last MSU-Illinois matchup, he contributed 13 points, four rebounds, and five assists. Jakucionis and Ivisic have formed a strong duo for Illinois, and unless foul trouble disrupts them as it did for Jakucionis last time, they could pose significant challenges for MSU.

MSU must limit Illinois from firing three-pointers as effectively as it did last time. Though Illinois averages over nine per game, the Spartans held them to just five while shooting 3-for-10 themselves. Instead, they got the job done down low, like many wins, but Izzo is still wary of the Spartans' shooting ability, especially after their loss to Indiana, a game that MSU shot 4-for-23, or 18%, from three-point range.

"We’re a good team. We’re not a great team yet," Izzo said during media availability. "We still have a chance, but there’s a lot of teams that have a chance right now."

Izzo said the Spartans need to shoot the ball better. As a team that averages 80 points per game, less than 18 come from beyond the arc, on 29% shooting. The team excels in pouring points in the paint, but MSU couldn’t get past Indiana’s zone defense, which led to forcing three-point shots up throughout the 40 minutes.

"I’m glad we’re going on the road against a good team. I want to see how we respond," Izzo said. "We could play great and lose, that’s the way it works in this league. I don’t think we can play badly and win, it usually doesn’t happen on the road."

MSU and Illinois tip off at 8 p.m. Saturday in Champaign, airing on FOX.