Missouri Tigers vs Illinois Fighting Illini Picks and Predictions December 22nd 2024

Missouri Faces Illinois in Braggin’ Rights Matchup

Riding a 10-game winning streak, Missouri takes on Illinois in the 42nd consecutive Braggin’ Rights rivalry game on Sunday in St. Louis.

Tigers Riding High

The Missouri Tigers (10-1) enter the rivalry matchup on a high, having upset then-No. 1 Kansas by nine points two weekends ago. Their 10-game winning streak has been fueled by depth and relentless defensive pressure, with 11 players averaging at least 10 minutes per game.

This depth has allowed Missouri to rank eighth nationally in turnover percentage, forcing opponents to cough up the ball on 23.2 percent of possessions, according to KenPom.

Head coach Dennis Gates emphasized the importance of maintaining their dominance in regional rivalries.

“We’ve been able to get a win versus No. 1 Kansas, and now we focus on Illinois,” Gates said. “We have to try to protect both sides of the border.”

Missouri’s leading scorer, Caleb Grill (13.6 points per game), has been out since Nov. 27 with a neck injury but practiced on Saturday and could return. Other top contributors include Duke transfer Mark Mitchell (13.5 ppg), Indiana transfer Tamar Bates (12.3 ppg), and Anthony Robinson II (11.5 ppg, 2.5 steals per game).

Illini Look to Rebound

The Illinois Fighting Illini (7-3) are seeking to bounce back after a heartbreaking loss to No. 1 Tennessee last weekend. A buzzer-beating layup by Tennessee’s Jordan Gainey dashed Illinois’ hopes of a statement win.

Despite the setback, Illinois has been powered by freshman phenom Kasparas Jakucionis, a projected NBA lottery pick. Jakucionis has scored 20 or more points in each of Illinois’ past five games and is averaging 16.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game. However, his aggressive style has also resulted in 4.0 turnovers per game, the highest in the Big Ten.

Illinois coach Brad Underwood spoke highly of the rivalry’s unique atmosphere.

“11,000 of their fans, 11,000 of ours,” Underwood said. “The gold and black. The orange and blue. It’s such a special game for our sport.”

The Illini rely heavily on Jakucionis but will need supporting players to step up against Missouri’s deep rotation.

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Key Matchup

Missouri’s depth and defensive pressure will challenge Illinois’ star-heavy approach. Jakucionis’ ability to handle Missouri’s swarming defense and limit turnovers will be critical for Illinois. On the other hand, Missouri will need to capitalize on their bench depth and maintain their high-pressure defense to disrupt Illinois’ rhythm.

With both teams looking for bragging rights in this heated rivalry, Sunday’s matchup promises to be a thrilling clash of styles and strategies.