Maryland Terrapins vs Illinois Fighting Illini Picks and Predictions March 14th 2025

Maryland and Illinois Set for Big Ten Quarterfinal Clash

The No. 11 Maryland Terrapins and No. 24 Illinois Fighting Illini will go head-to-head in a high-stakes Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal showdown on Friday night in Indianapolis.

Maryland (24-7), the tournament’s No. 2 seed, enters the game well-rested after earning a double bye. Meanwhile, seventh-seeded Illinois (21-11) is coming in hot, fresh off a dominant offensive performance in its opening-round win.

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Maryland’s Strengths and Challenges

The Terrapins have been one of the most consistent teams in the Big Ten, finishing the regular season with an impressive 11-2 stretch. Their lone matchup with Illinois this season was a one-sided affair, with Maryland cruising to a 91-70 victory on January 23 in Champaign.

But if there’s one concern for Maryland, it’s how they’ve performed coming off extended breaks.

“We have not been good coming off byes,” Maryland head coach Kevin Willard admitted.

That pattern showed up throughout the season. The Terrapins lost to Ohio State on February 6 after a seven-day layoff, then fell to Michigan State 58-55 following a five-day break. Earlier in the season, a four-day pause preceded losses to Washington and Oregon.

Still, Maryland has been elite on the offensive end, ranking 27th in the nation in scoring at 81.5 points per game. They boast a balanced attack, with all five starters averaging in double figures.

• Derik Queen (Freshman, C): 15.7 PPG, 9.2 RPG
• Ja’Kobi Gillespie (Guard): 14.9 PPG, 4.7 APG
• Julian Reese (Senior, F): 13.2 PPG, 9.3 RPG

When Maryland dominated Illinois earlier this season, Queen and Reese combined for 52 points and 23 rebounds, overwhelming an Illini squad that was without Tomislav Ivisic and had to deal with foul trouble for Morez Johnson.

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Illinois Peaking at the Right Time

Illinois appears to be a different team now. After struggling with injuries, the Fighting Illini have regained their form and have looked much more like the squad that was ranked No. 13 in mid-January.

Illinois extended its winning streak to four games with a 106-94 victory over Iowa in the tournament’s second round on Thursday. Their offense was unstoppable, draining 12-of-26 three-pointers and outscoring Iowa 24-5 at the free-throw line.

“We’ve been shooting it pretty good,” Illinois head coach Brad Underwood said. “That’s been the one thing. And we’ve cut our turnovers down a lot. I think we’re starting to get closer to that ceiling where we play closer to 40 minutes than 35 or 32.

“We’re headed in the right direction now that we’re healthy.”

The Illini have five players averaging double figures, led by freshman guard Kasparas Jakucionis (15.0 PPG, 4.7 APG). Ivisic, now fully healthy, was dominant against Iowa, putting up 19 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists.

Illinois also got a huge boost from Will Riley, the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year, who scored 21 points off the bench. He’s been a steady offensive weapon all season, averaging 12.2 points per game.

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What’s at Stake?

The winner of this game advances to the Big Ten semifinals on Saturday, where they’ll face either third-seeded Michigan or sixth-seeded Purdue.

For Maryland, this is a chance to prove they can overcome their struggles after extended rest and continue their push for a conference title. For Illinois, this is an opportunity to keep their late-season momentum rolling and avenge an earlier loss to the Terrapins.

With both teams firing on all cylinders and packed with offensive firepower, this quarterfinal battle promises to be a must-watch showdown in Indianapolis.