Minnesota Golden Gophers vs Illinois Fighting Illini Picks and Predictions February 8th 2025

Kasparas Jakucionis, No. 23 Illinois Look to Regain Form Against Minnesota

Freshman standout Kasparas Jakucionis and No. 23 Illinois will aim to snap out of a recent slump when they visit Minnesota for a Big Ten showdown on Saturday in Minneapolis. While Illinois looks to reestablish itself in the conference race, the Golden Gophers hope to knock off their third ranked opponent at home this season.

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Jakucionis, Illinois Searching for Answers

Jakucionis, one of the top freshmen in the country and a projected NBA lottery pick, is experiencing his first real struggles at the collegiate level. After consistently putting up big numbers throughout the season, he has failed to score in double figures in back-to-back games for the first time, shooting 4-for-16 from the field and 0-for-7 from three-point range in that stretch.

Despite the slump, Illinois head coach Brad Underwood remains confident that his star guard will bounce back.

“He’s a hundred percent (healthy),” Underwood said. “He’s top of the scouting report, and he’s going through a moment. Everybody goes through it, and he’s got to keep fighting his way out of it. We’re going to keep supporting him.”

Jakucionis’ struggles have coincided with Illinois’ rough stretch, as the team has lost four of its last six games, including an 82-73 defeat at Rutgers on Wednesday. The Fighting Illini have also been plagued by turnovers, and Jakucionis has been a major contributor to that issue, committing 23 turnovers in his last five games.

Underwood acknowledges the mistakes but doesn’t want Jakucionis to lose his aggressive mindset.

“I like his aggressive plays,” Underwood said. “He’s going to have some of those (turnovers). I don’t want him thinking about them. He’s a good enough player that he shouldn’t dribble off his foot, he shouldn’t lose the ball. Those are mental carelessness mistakes. But I don’t worry about them too much.”

Illinois will look to right the ship behind Jakucionis (15.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 5.3 APG), Tomislav Ivisic (12.8 PPG), Kylan Boswell (11.9 PPG), and Will Riley (11.3 PPG).

Minnesota’s Strong Home Court Presence

While Illinois struggles to regain form, Minnesota (12-11, 4-8 Big Ten) is eyeing another marquee home victory. The Golden Gophers have already beaten two ranked teams at Williams Arena, knocking off then-No. 20 Michigan (84-81 OT) on Jan. 16 and then-No. 15 Oregon (77-69) on Jan. 25.

Head coach Ben Johnson has seen his team battle through adversity after starting conference play 0-6. Minnesota has since won four of its last six Big Ten games, including a 69-61 road victory at Penn State on Tuesday.

Johnson emphasized how meaningful every win is for his squad.

“Every win is meaningful,” Johnson said. “… Our guys put in so much time, and we demand so much from them. So when they’re able to pull through, they need to celebrate that. They need to feel good.”

Minnesota is led by Dawson Garcia, who is having a stellar season, averaging 20.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Mike Mitchell Jr. and Lu’Cye Patterson (10.7 PPG each) provide additional scoring support.

A potential X-factor for the Gophers could be Brennan Rigsby, who broke out for 14 points on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting performance against Penn State after going scoreless in his previous four games.

“I just try to stay ready at all points in the game and whenever my name is called,” Rigsby said. “I think that’s when we’re at our best, when we have multiple guys getting it going.”

Key Matchups and Factors to Watch

Jakucionis’ Response to His Slump – Can the Illinois freshman shake off his recent struggles and return to form?
Dawson Garcia’s Impact – The Gophers’ leading scorer has been tough to stop at home. Illinois must contain him to avoid another road loss.
Turnover Battle – Illinois has struggled with giveaways, while Minnesota will look to capitalize on mistakes.
Illinois’ Defense Against Minnesota’s Shooters – The Golden Gophers have shot well at home, and the Illini must defend the perimeter effectively.

Can Illinois Get Back on Track?

Illinois is looking to shake off its recent struggles, while Minnesota has the confidence of already taking down two ranked teams at home this season. If Jakucionis can rediscover his rhythm, Illinois has a strong chance of coming away with a much-needed road win. However, if Garcia and the Gophers control the pace and capitalize on turnovers, Minnesota could add another ranked victim to its list.

This game presents a crucial opportunity for both teams—Illinois looking to stay relevant in the Big Ten race and Minnesota aiming to keep its home-court magic alive.