Illinois basketball vs Rutgers: Gameday preview and guide

Illinois basketball will return home for another Big Ten matchup on Thursday night as it hosts Rutgers. The Illini are coming off an impressive road win in Philadelphia on Saturday, securing their second conference victory of the season.

Date: Thursday, January 8
Time: 7:30 p.m. CST
Channel: BTN
Line: Illinois -21.5

Illinois is seeking its fourth straight win and aims to remain undefeated since the calendar turned to 2026. While the Illini defeated Penn State by just eight points at the Palestra, they controlled the game from start to finish. This matchup against Rutgers sets up as another favorable opportunity, as the point spread suggests.

Thursday’s game will be Illinois’ first home conference contest since the heartbreaking buzzer-beater loss to Nebraska on December 13. Expect the Illini to come out motivated and eager to reassert their dominance on their home floor.

Rutgers enters the game with an 8–7 record and has struggled mightily this season. The Scarlet Knights rank just 154th in KenPom, the lowest mark in the Big Ten. While they are coming off an overtime win against Oregon inside the RAC, they have dropped their six other Power Five matchups this year.

Defensive rebounding has been a major issue for Rutgers, as it ranks among the worst teams nationally in that category. That weakness should be exploited by Illinois, which figures to control the glass throughout the night.

It will be crucial for the Illini to start fast and defend their home court. Home losses have plagued Illinois teams in the past, and avoiding slip-ups against lesser opponents like Rutgers is essential moving forward.

With the spread sitting at 21.5 points, this game is not expected to be close. Illinois basketball should take care of business and carry its momentum into a massive Quad 1A road opportunity at Iowa on Sunday.

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