Illinois Fighting Illini vs. West Virginia Mountaineers Preview
Where: WVU Coliseum — Morgantown, West Virginia
When: Thursday, November 24, 2016, 2:30 PM ET
Line: Illinois Fighting Illini (TBA) vs. West Virginia Mountaineers (TBA); total: TBA– view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPNU
Writer’s Pick: West Virginia Mountaineers
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Betting on the Illinois Fighting Illini (TBA)
Some late-game mistakes, including a head-scratching 22 turnovers, sent Illinois back down to earth with its first loss of the season against Winthrop on Monday night, 80-84.
The Illini appeared to have sealed the deal when Jaylon Tate drained a three-pointer with less than four minutes left in regulation gave them a 70-60 advantage. But that’s exactly when the Eagles’ Keon Johnson caught fire, answering back with seven-consecutive points and a game-tying three that allowed them to steal the win in the extra period.
The loss was definitely a good lesson for Illinois, which now prepares for its toughest test of the season against No. 19 West Virginia later this afternoon. The Mountaineers have won all of their three games thus far, and boast an offense that’s putting in nearly 100 points per contest.
Illinois’ defense should hold up here, as it’s managed to limit opponents to no more than 69 points in every game this season.
It should be the same case offensively as long as Malcolm Hill, the team’s leading scorer (20.6 PPG) gets it going. He finished with 14 points in the loss to the Eagles, but shot just 4-of-17 from the field and was held scoreless in the final 25 minutes.
Betting on the West Virginia Mountaineers (TBA)
West Virginia has shown us that it’s not just about defense this season. The offense has racked up at least 87 or more points in the first three games, including back-to-back 100-point outputs in the last two versus Mississippi Valley State and New Hampshire.
In the latter game, it was Esa Ahmad who led the charge, finishing with 14 points, eight boards and two assists, while the team’s leading point-getter Nathan Adrian—along with four other players—also scored in double-figures.
This balanced attack is the result of the Mountaineers’ unselfishness with the rock. They currently rank eighth in the country with 21.7 assists per game. Yes, it’ll be harder to move the ball around freely against a respected Illinois defense, but West Virginia should still find a way to pile up the points and come out on top through its own defense.
The Mountaineers are priced at +7,500 to win it all this season.
Writer’s Prediction
West Virginia (-20) wins it, 81-65.
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