'Cats Travel to Champaign to Face No. 5 Illinois

Tuesday, February 16

Urbana-Champaign, IL

8 p.m.

Northwestern

#5 Illinois

'Cats Travel to Champaign to Face No. 5 Illinois

2/15/2021 12:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball

NORTHWESTERN MEN'S BASKETBALL: GAMEDAY INFORMATION
DATE	Opponent	TIME	LOCATION	Television	Live Stats
Tuesday, February 16	#5 Illinois	8 pm CT	State Farm Center Champaign, IL	Big Ten Network	Live Stats
Radio: WGN 720 AM Social: Twitter: @NUMensbball \| Instagram: @numensbball VIRTUAL PRESS BOX \| DIGITAL PROGRAM

EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern will travel downstate to Champaign on Tuesday for a rivalry game against No. 5 Illinois. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. CT and will be televised on Big Ten Network.

The Wildcats dropped a defensive battle on Saturday at Rutgers, 64-50. Anthony Gaines led the way for the 'Cats with a season-high 11 points and six rebounds. Northwestern rejected seven shots for the second consecutive game, the first time they have done so in back-to-back games since November 2017.

Earlier in the season, Northwestern fell to the Illini 81-56 at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Robbie Beran led the 'Cats in scoring with 11 points on 3-of-6 shooting.

STORYLINES

A win over Illinois would mark the first time in program history that the Wildcats have defeated two top-top five opponents in a season.
Chris Collins is seeking his first win at the State Farm Center as Northwestern's head coach, despite being 4-4 against the Illini at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
The Wildcats are shooting 36.0% from three as a team, which would be the highest mark in the Coach Collins era (2013-present).
This marks Northwestern's 11^th game against a ranked opponent this year, the most in a season since the 1998-99 Wildcats also faced 11 top-25 teams.
Illinois is the fifth top-10 opponent for the 'Cats this year, the most since they faced five in 2012-13.