Illinois Fighting Illini vs Maryland Terrapins Picks and Predictions January 23rd 2025

Freshman Phenoms Take Center Stage as No. 17 Illinois Hosts Maryland

The No. 17 Illinois Fighting Illini return home looking to bounce back from a tough loss, while the Maryland Terrapins aim to build on recent momentum when they meet in a Big Ten battle Thursday night in Champaign.

While both teams are in the thick of the conference race, much of the attention will be on their star freshmen, who could soon be hearing their names called in the NBA Draft.

Maryland’s Derik Queen Adjusting to Big Ten Grind

The Terrapins (14-5, 4-4 Big Ten) have been relying heavily on freshman center Derik Queen, who entered January as one of the most dominant rookies in the country.

However, the 6-foot-10 standout has hit a rough patch, failing to reach double figures in four of Maryland’s last six Big Ten games. In Sunday’s 69-66 win over Nebraska, Queen managed just three points in 27 minutes.

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Kevin Willard on Queen’s Development

Head coach Kevin Willard remains unconcerned, emphasizing that Queen is still learning how to battle against experienced Big Ten big men.

“I think everybody just needs to take a deep breath and realize he’s a freshman going against fifth-year seniors,” Willard said. “He’s as talented of a player as there is, and he’s going to be in that three-letter league pretty soon, but we’re asking a freshman to do a whole lot in a league that’s full of fifth-year COVID guys, physical guys.”

Queen is still averaging 15.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, though his numbers have dipped since conference play began.

“He’s fine. He’s going to figure it out,” Willard said. “This league will make you struggle. He understands that.”

Key Players for Maryland

• Derik Queen (15.1 PPG, 8.1 RPG) – Needs to regain his early-season form.
• Jahmir Young (Team’s leading scorer, key playmaker in backcourt)
• Julian Reese (Physical presence in the paint, must help Queen battle Illinois’ bigs)

Illinois’ Kasparas Jakucionis and Will Riley Making Strides

While Maryland has a dominant post presence in Queen, Illinois (13-5, 5-3 Big Ten) boasts two electric freshman playmakers in Kasparas Jakucionis and Will Riley.

Jakucionis: The “Maestro” at Point Guard

Jakucionis had a rough night in Illinois’ 80-78 loss to No. 12 Michigan State, logging less than nine minutes before fouling out. His absence was a major blow, as head coach Brad Underwood emphasized just how impactful the freshman guard is.

“The best player in the game played eight minutes,” Underwood said. “There hasn’t been one player in the country — or one team in the country — guard him with any success. He’s a maestro. He is completely different than anybody else. If he’s not the best point guard in the country, he’s very close. And he’s 18 years old.”

Jakucionis, who sat out two games earlier this month due to a wrist injury, is averaging 15.9 points, 5.3 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game.

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Will Riley Steps Up

With Jakucionis sidelined by foul trouble, freshman Will Riley had a breakout game against Michigan State, scoring 19 points off the bench.

“Will Riley kind of broke out of what he’s been in,” Underwood said. “He’s a freshman. He’s had to go through being at the top of the scouting report and missing some easy shots. But he’s got that capability offensively.”

Riley had scored just 28 points over his previous five games, so his emergence could be a game-changer for Illinois.

Key Players for Illinois

• Kasparas Jakucionis (15.9 PPG, 5.3 APG, 5.1 RPG) – The engine of Illinois’ offense.
• Will Riley (Coming off breakout 19-point performance) – Must build on momentum.
• Coleman Hawkins (Veteran leader, provides experience in tough matchups).

Can Illinois Contain Queen and Keep Its Freshmen Rolling?

With Maryland relying on Queen and Illinois leaning on Jakucionis and Riley, the battle of the freshmen will be key.

• Will Queen break out of his Big Ten slump?
• Can Jakucionis avoid foul trouble and control the game?
• Will Riley provide another scoring boost off the bench?

With both teams looking to solidify their standing in the Big Ten, expect a fast-paced, high-energy battle as Illinois looks to protect its home floor while Maryland aims for a statement win on the road.