NORTHWESTERN BASKETBALL: GAME DAY INFORMATION
DATE	OPPONENT	TIME	LOCATION	TELEVISION	LIVE STATS
Sunday, Jan. 6	Illinois	12 p.m.	The New Welsh-Ryan Arena Evanston, Ill.	BTN	Sidearm
Radio: WGN Radio AM-720 (Dave Eanet and Nate Taphorn) Social: Twitter (@NUMensBball) \| Instagram (@numensbball) \| Facebook Notes: Northwestern \| Illinois

EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern (9-5) will play its second Big Ten home game of the season on Sunday afternoon as the Wildcats host Illinois (4-10) at the new Welsh-Ryan Arena. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m.

Here.
Home isn't a place.
It's a feeling. #B1GCats | #PoundTheRock pic.twitter.com/8lpe7suS32
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) January 4, 2019

The last time NU battled Illinois, the 'Cats eked out a hard-fought overtime victory, dispatching the Fighting Illini, 72-68, at Allstate Arena on December 1, 2017. Senior forward Vic Law was six-of-11 from the field in the contest, finishing with 16 points.

Northwestern seeks to improve its home prowess this year as the Wildcats are 7-2 at the new Welsh-Ryan Arena. NU's two home setbacks have been an overtime loss to Oklahoma and a two-point loss to a top-five Michigan team.

STORYLINES TO WATCH

THANKS FOR THE HELP!: NU has been able to effectively move and share the ball on the offensive side this year: NU has assisted on 64.4 percent (225-of-349) of its made field goals this season. That mark is in the upper echelons of college basketball — it ranks sixth nationally and second in the Big Ten, trailing only Michigan State.

KEEPING IT UNDER: In Northwestern's last nine games (since November 28), opponents have scored under their scoring average coming into the contest. NU has held their opposition to just 63 points per game, a top-30 mark in the nation and the fourth-best average in the Big Ten.

BIG TIME IN THE BIG TEN: The Wildcats have relied on seniors Dererk Pardon and Vic Law through three games of Conference play. Pardon is averaging 21.0 points per game in B1G contests, the third-best Conference clip, thanks in part to shooting 72.5 percent from the field. Law is averaging 13.3 points per game and averages 2.3 triples per game.

When it matters most ?? #B1GCats | #PoundTheRock pic.twitter.com/Q4mK5Z28N1
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) January 4, 2019

QUOTABLES

"We've been a team that has really fought all season long. … There's a lot of basketball left to be played in the season."

Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins on his outlook

"We have to embrace the process of preparation for these games. We have to understand with each of these games — the physicality, the intensity, how every possession matters."

Collins on the team's mindset and growth

"We know what Dererk Pardon is going to do night-in and night-out. He's going to battle. He's going to give you everything he's got."

Collins on senior center Dererk Pardon's contributions

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Northwestern Set to Take On Illinois

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Players Mentioned

Vic Law

Dererk Pardon

Northwestern University Athletics

Northwestern University Athletics

Northwestern Set to Take On Illinois

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