Chambana Sun

No. 18 Illinois will face Ohio State in a highly anticipated matchup at the sold-out State Farm Center on Sunday, February 2, 2025, at 12 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast nationally on CBS and available for live streaming on CBSSports.com.

The Fighting Illini, under head coach Brad Underwood, have had a strong season with a record of 14-7 overall and 6-5 in Big Ten play. They are currently ranked No. 18 in the latest NCAA NET rankings and hold the second position in the Big Ten standings. Illinois leads the nation in rebounds per game and has been recognized for its effective field goal percentage defense.

Coach Underwood is actively participating in the annual Suits & Sneakers Week as part of the Coaches vs. Cancer (CvC) program. This initiative, a collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), aims to raise cancer awareness through various activities. Underwood has been deeply involved with CvC for many years and was named Chair of its Coaches Council last May.

In addition to his coaching duties, Underwood hosts an annual fundraiser called Kickin' Cancer at Gordyville USA near Champaign. The event attracts notable guests from the basketball community and raises significant funds for cancer research.

Illinois boasts a formidable roster this season with standout performances from freshman Kasparas Jakucionis, who has tied an Illini freshman record with eight games scoring over 20 points. Sophomore Tomislav Ivisic also contributes significantly with near double-double averages per game.

The upcoming game against Ohio State marks another chapter in their long-standing rivalry dating back to 1914-15. Illinois leads the all-time series against Ohio State with a record of 111-82 and is looking to continue its winning streak after securing recent victories against Northwestern and Nebraska.

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