NCAA Basketball will see a massive clash emanating from the Big 10 Conference when the #7 ranked Iowa Hawkeyes take on the #16 Illinois Fighting Illini. The Illini and Hawkeyes both have had rough games recently and will look to rebound big in this clash.

The Hawkeyes are coming off a shock loss to the Indiana Hoosiers. They have a 12-3 record on the season and are still being projected for some major NCAA tournament success. They are led by favorite to become College Player of the Year, Luka Garza.

The Illinois Fighting Illini are coming off a win over Penn State but had lost a major game to the Ohio State Buckeyes prior to that. Their record is 10-5, with a loss here possibly damning them to the bottom tier of the AP Top 25.

So, which one of these teams will leave this game with the win?

NCAA Basketball: Do the Hawkeyes add another win for their season?

The Hawkeyes have the best offense in the country, and that success has been built off Luka Garza’s back. The big-man is shooting almost 70% from the field and has the entire Hawkeyes team around him coalescing to add more production for this elite team. With Garza, they can win any game on any given day.

Is Luka Garza Solidifying Himself as the Favorite for Naismith Player of the Year?

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However, the Illini pride themselves on their defensive ability. With star player Kofi Cockburn taking on the Garza challenge, the sparks will be flying from the start. However, Illinois make their money scoring on opponents as well, so we should be locked into an offensive battle, regardless.

The Hawkeyes will be starting the game with Connor McCaffrey, CJ Frederick, Jordan Bohanon, Joe Wisekamp, and Luka Garza. Meanwhile, the Illini will be taking the floor with Ayo Dosunmu, Adam Miller, Trent Frazier, Jacob Grandison, and Kofi Cockburn.

For our pick, we will be siding with the Hawkeyes. While they did fall to the Hoosiers, they are very stacked and won’t allow losses like that again. The Illini are capable of giving them a beating, but it doesn’t look like Iowa will let that happen.