It is the game many have been waiting for a battle of top tier Big Ten teams. Unfortunately for the 4th ranked Fighting Illini, it may be coming at the worst possible time as the await word on whether their All American guard Ayo Dosunmu will be in the lineup when they clash with 2nd ranked Michigan Tuesday night in Ann Arbor. The Illini have been able to weather the storm without Dosunmu thus far defeating Nebraska last Thursday and holding on to defeat Wisconsin on Saturday but the Wolverines are a different animal all together. The Illini will need the calming influence, the tenacious defense, and all around skill Dosunmu brings to the table against Michigan. If the Illini can get a win Tuesday night they have an outside chance at a number 1 seed in the NCAA tourney. This game will be quite the litmus test for Head Coach Brad Underwood and the Illini.

As for Michigan they have been on quite the roll after returning from a 2 week COVID shutdown. The Wolverines have 3 players that average double figures and 6 average 8.2 ppg or more. They are led in scoring by their 7’1 Freshman Center Hunter Dickinson who averages 14.8 ppg and 7.8 Reb. The battle in the post between him and Kofi Cockburn should be excellent. Isaiah Liver is next averaging 14.5 ppg. The 6’7 forward also shoots almost 46% from three and would be the matchup that Dosunmu, should he play, would most likely pull. Franz Wagner also averages in double digits for the Wolverines at 13.3 ppg. The Wolverines like to spread you out offensively to open up space for Dickinson in the post. When teams send a double to Dickinson that is when he kicks it out to Michigan’s bevy of three point shooters. The fact that the Illini have Cockburn to match up with is Dickinson is a big plus for the Illini in this matchup.

Tip off for the Illini and Wolverines is scheduled for 6p CT on ESPN