The Alabama Crimson Tide will play their third of four straight Quad 1 games against the Illinois Fighting Illini on Wednesday. The Crimson Tide are coming off a loss against Purdue. This is the sixth time Alabama and Illinois will face each other, with Alabama holding a 4-1 advantage.
In their last matchup, Alabama struggled rebounding against Purdue, the 16th-best offensive team in the nation. Purdue rebounded nearly half of their missed shots in the game and built a 52-28 overall advantage on the boards. Illinois, on the other hand, is one of the best offensive teams this year. So, how will these two teams hold up against each other? Let’s find out.
Prediction
Alabama offers a balanced offense with six double-figure scorers, but its depth can be unpredictable. When Philon and Holloway play at a high level together, the Tide is difficult to stop. The bigger issue, however, is defense, as Alabama has conceded 96 and 87 points in its last two games. The Crimson Tide ranks 12th in offensive rating and 54th in defensive rating, as per KenPom.
Illinois enters as the sixth-best team nationally, with top-three offensive efficiency and strong defensive metrics. Veteran guard Kylan Boswell is having a breakout season at 18.5 points per game, while freshman David Mirkovic is matching that output and coming off a dominant 27-point, 21-rebound performance.
Even with Tomislav Ivisic still returning from injury, Illinois has significant depth. The freshman duo of Mirkovic and Keaton Wagler pairs well with experienced contributors like Boswell, Andrej Stojakovic, and Ben Humrichous. Their overall balance and talent give them a strong chance to beat Alabama by four or more. ESPN matchup predictor estimates Illinois having a 57.6% chance of beating Alabama in this game.
Alabama vs Illinois lineups
Alabama lineup
PG: Labaron Philon
SG: Aden Holloway
SF: Houston Mallette
PF: Taylor Bol Bowen
C: Aiden Sherrell
Illinois lineup
PG: Kylan Boswell
SG: Keaton Wagler
SF: Andrej Stojakovic
PF: David Mirkovic
C: Jason Jakstys
Injury Report
Alabama HC Nate Oats has provided an update on Keitenn Bristow, who has yet to debut for the Crimson Tide. Bristow, a transfer student from Tarleton State, was out with an ankle injury. On Nov. 17, Oats confirmed that Bristow has practiced in a limited capacity over the last three days. However, he will remain a game-time decision. In the meantime, Jalil Bethea, who was out due to a foot injury, will not be playing in this game.
For the Fighting Illini, center Tomislav Ivisic continues to recover from his injury and will remain out for this game. His twin brother Zvonimir Ivisic, also suffering from a knee injury, remains a game-time decision. On the other hand, Brandon Lee, Ty Rodgers, and Mihailo Petrovic also remain game-time decisions due to their respective injuries.
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