Illinois Seeks First Big Ten Win Tonight Against Wisconsin

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00:00A big 10 bash tonight in Illinois. The Illini looking for

00:07Big Ten win number one after losing in OT on Friday in

00:12Evanston against those cats. Always good as a dog. Same

00:16story for Wisconsin. Upset last week, John inside the Kohl

00:21Center by Michigan. In fact, Wisconsin lost both of its

00:25games a week ago to the Maize and Blue. The in-state showdown

00:29against Marquette. Tonight, though, in Champaign looking for

00:35win number one in Big Ten competition. The Illini, a six

00:39and a half point home favorite inside the State Farm Center,

00:42John. What's the key matchup in your estimation? Well, I think

00:46you have to look at what Illinois does defensively

00:48against John Tonje, who did not have a great game on Saturday

00:52against Marquette, but has played like a first or second

00:54team All-American so far this season. But Ben, when you look

00:58big picture right now, this is a litmus test type week for

01:01Illinois and Brad Underwood. Are the Illini going to be a

01:05team that just has a lot of unique long-term prospects with

01:08great upside like Yaka Shonis, Eva Sitch and Will Riley? Or is

01:12Illinois going to be a bona fide contender for the Big Ten

01:16regular season title and a high seed in the NCAA tournament

01:19after tonight's tilt against Wisconsin, Tennessee will visit

01:23Champaign on Saturday. That is a gargantuan five-day stretch

01:27for the Illini.