Happy Game Day Illini Nation! And welcome to another free post of The Dunker Spot.
Enjoy a Brad Underwood pregame presser to start your day. Highlights include:
3:33 - Brad getting chippy with being asked about other players possibly having flu symptoms
6:34 - Minnesota’s offensive identity and use of a seven man rotation
skip the part in the middle where he flounders to describe the difference between an appeal and a challenge (5:01 for the masochists) [to be transparent, I don’t understand the difference either]
WHAT TO WATCH TODAY
Clearly, all eyes will be on Big Ten Network today at 11am when Illinois takes on the visiting Golden Gophers. Besides that, though:
The Big Ten invades the West Coast today with three matchups…and two are worth your Saturday evening.
#4 Michigan @ Oregon – 3:00 PM CT on NBC
The Wolverines should cruise. Keep an eye on it because Muck Fichigan.
#5 Purdue @ USC – 5:00 PM CT on Peacock
The Boilermakers will be hunting a Quad 1 road win as SC sits at NET 46. Purdue rarely disappoints when stakes are high, but USC’s been scrappy at home. This one has some upset potential.
#12 Michigan State @ Washington – 5:00 PM CT on BTN
Possibly a sneaky good game. Spartans are taking on Washington in Seattle, giving them a chance at a Quad 1 road win (Washington at NET 57). Win or lose, Tom Izzo is going to be super grumpy about something.
ILLINI IN THE PROS
NBA
Ayo Dosunmu, Chicago Bulls
Ayo Dosunmu gave Chicago everything he had Friday night in a heartbreaking 112-109 loss to Brooklyn, dropping 18 points on efficient shooting while trying to drag the Bulls back into the game. It's the kind of performance that's become routine for Ayo this season, stepping up when Chicago needs production—but it wasn't enough in the end. Down 3 with just a few seconds left, Bulls coach Billy Donovan brought in Dosunmu to see if he could get the in-bounds and run the length of the floor, but to no avail. The Nets hung on to win despite sitting 14th in the East. The Bulls remain stuck in Play-In purgatory at 19-22.
Will Riley, Washington Wizards
Will Riley is still carving out his role in Washington's rebuilding rotation, contributing 6 points on 2-for-8 shooting with 2 assists in Friday's 128-115 loss to Sacramento. Riley seems to have been having what's been a typical developmental season: flashes of scoring ability, inconsistent shooting nights, and slow increase in minutes as Washington plays for ping-pong balls and gives its young core the reps they'll need down the road.
G-League
Coleman Hawkins, Grand Rapids Gold
Thursday's Grand Rapids win over Noblesville was vintage Hawkins: 7 points on perfect shooting (1-for-1 from two, from three, and the line), 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and a +6 in a ten-point victory. Steady Eddy…. he’s averaging 7.5 points, 7.0 boards, 3.8 assists per game. Not knocking anyone’s socks off, but performing every night.
Giorgi Bezhanishvili, Windy City Bulls
Giorgi Bezhanishvili delivered exactly what Windy City needed Wednesday night in their 27-point demolition of San Diego: smart, efficient basketball. The Georgian big man went perfect from the field (4-for-4) and the line (1-for-1) for 10 points, added 5 boards and a steal, and posted a plus-20 in 27 minutes of blowout work. He’s living almost exclusively around the rim (three-point attempts remain nearly nonexistent), and while the free-throw percentage sits around 58% (shocker!), he’s giving Windy City consistent production in the dunker spot every night.
Malcolm Hill, Delaware Blue Coats
Malcolm Hill had a night to forget Wednesday as Delaware got steamrolled by College Park, 139-113. Just 2-for-7 from the field, salvaged only by perfect free-throw shooting (4-for-4), and a brutal minus-20 in 31 minutes of garbage time. It stings because Hill’s been the Blue Coats’ most consistent weapon all season at 17 points per game on elite 47%/45%/85% shooting splits. Clunkers like this stand out precisely because they’re rare.
Luke Goode, South Bay Lakers
Yes…I’m going to try to do most former Illini. Even if they soured their repuation with Illini Nation with a departure. Even if that departure was to Indiana…
Luke Goode is still finding his footing with South Bay, but Tuesday's performance against San Diego showed flashes of what the Lakers are developing: pure floor spacing. He went 2-for-4 from deep, added 3 assists without a turnover, and finished with 8 points in just under 17 minutes.
Dain Dainja, Sioux Falls Skyforce
The Dainja Zone put together a quietly excellent outling this past Tuesday for Sioux Falls in their win over Memphis: 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks, and a plus-10 in 25 minutes. The efficiency and rim protection were exactly what the Skyforce needed, and it mirrors his season-long production—14.7 points and 5.9 boards per game as a legitimate double-digit scorer. He did have 4 turnovers, but those might be the only blemishes on an otherwise clean night.
THIS DAY IN ILLINI HISTORY
A Great Day to Play the Golden Gophers (or shoot free throws with the last name Smith)
Minnesota visits Champaign today, and history suggests it is going to be a great day on the basketball court. Illinois is 3-0 all-time against the Gophers on January 17 when onee or both of the teams is ranked, including the memorable 1981 ranked battle when #18 Illinois edged #20 Minnesota 80-76 behind Mark Smith’s perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line .
But that’s wasn’t the only free throw clinic on this date. January 17, 2004: “Chainsaw” Nick Smith went 10-for-10 in an 88-82 win over Iowa
Two different Smiths, perfect from the line, 23 years apart on the same date.
That win against Iowa in 2004 launched the longest home winning streak in program history—33 straight wins in the Assembly Hall. That game also started an 18-game Big Ten home win streak. Both streaks still stand as records.
Quick hits: Stephen Bardo posted 4 blocks against Minnesota in 1987 (tied for 7th among Illinois freshmen).
Today’s matchup? History says circle the Gophers when the calendar reads 1/17.
OTHER NEWS AND NOTES
New Commit Alert! I won’t pretend to know much at this point, but Illini Inquirer will be one of your go-to sources for more information there (link in tweet).
Evan Miya Podcast The awesome Evan Miyakawa has a new podcast that I highly recommend. On the recent first episode, Illinois comes up a couple times including discussion on Illinois looking like a Tier A team nationally and potentially being the most underrated team in the country (discussion around 18:30). This podcast is definitely worth a full listen for the college basketball fan.
That’s it for today! Thanks for reading! I-L-L!