Who's Playing
UMKC @ No. 23 Illinois
Current Records: UMKC 0-2; Illinois 1-0
What to Know
The UMKC Kangaroos have quite the challenge ahead of them as they're expected to be blown off the court. They will take on the #23 Illinois Fighting Illini at 9 p.m. ET Friday at State Farm Center.
The contest between UMKC and the LSU Tigers on Wednesday was not a total blowout, but with the Kangaroos falling 74-63 on the road, it was darn close to turning into one. Allen David Mukeba Jr. had a rough night: he played for 37 minutes but put up just seven points on 3-for-11 shooting and four turnovers.
Meanwhile, the Fighting Illini took their matchup against the Eastern Illinois Panthers on Monday by a conclusive 87-57 score. Illinois relied on the efforts of Coleman Hawkins, who shot 5-for-8 from beyond the arc and finished with a double-double on 23 points and 12 rebounds, and Terrence Shannon Jr., who had 24 points along with eight boards.
Illinois' win lifted them to 1-0 while UMKC's defeat dropped them down to 0-2. We'll see if Illinois can repeat their recent success or if UMKC bounces back and reverse their fortune.
How To Watch
- When: Friday at 9 p.m. ET
- Where: State Farm Center -- Champaign, Illinois
- TV: Big Ten Network
- Follow: CBS Sports App
Odds
The Fighting Illini are a big 24-point favorite against the Kangaroos, according to the latest college basketball odds.
The oddsmakers had a good feel for the line for this one, as the game opened with the Fighting Illini as a 23.5-point favorite.
Over/Under: -110
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Series History
This is the first time these teams have played each other within the last seven years.
