- Matchup: Minnesota Golden Gophers vs Illinois Fighting Illini
- Date: Saturday, January 17, 2026
- Venue: State Farm Center, Champaign, IL
- Broadcast: ESPN+
This page may include affiliate links at no extra cost to you, thanks for your support.
The Illinois Fighting Illini (14-3) are set to face off against the Minnesota Golden Gophers (10-7) at the State Farm Center this Saturday.
The Minnesota Golden Gophers recently played against Wisconsin, suffering a close defeat with a score of 78-75. In that contest, the Gophers committed 14 personal fouls while Wisconsin had 19. From beyond the arc, Minnesota hit 14 out of 33 attempts. Wisconsin shot 77.8% at the free throw line, successfully converting 14 of 18 attempts. On the boards, Wisconsin secured 32 rebounds—6 of them offensive—yet did not record any blocks. The Badgers also dished out 17 assists and stole the ball once. Defensively, Minnesota allowed their opponents to shoot 45.5% from the field, permitting 25 of their 55 attempts to go in. Minnesota recorded 20 assists and forced 5 turnovers, along with 3 steals. The Gophers collected a total of 26 rebounds, with 4 coming offensively, and shot 66.7% from the free throw line, making 16 of 24 attempts. Overall, Minnesota achieved a field goal shooting percentage of 51.9% (27 out of 52), while connecting on 5 out of 18 from deep.
Jaylen Crocker-Johnson stood out in the match, shooting 53.8% from the field without any assists. Over 34 minutes of play, he secured 8 rebounds and scored 20 points on 7 out of 13 shooting.
As they head into this matchup, the Golden Gophers hold a record of 10-7 for the season. They surrender the ball 11.1 times per game while averaging 16.3 fouls per contest. The team averages 34.5 rebounds per game and has recorded 315 assists this season, ranking 23rd in Division 1. Minnesota is hitting 33.0% from three-point range (129 of 391) and 69.0% from the free throw line. They average 73.1 points per game (272nd nationally) with a shooting percentage of 46.2% from the field.
Defensively, Minnesota forces 11.7 turnovers per game and commits 19.4 personal fouls. They allow opponents to shoot 33.6% from three-point territory and are ranked 36th in points allowed per game (66.8). The Gophers’ defensive field goal percentage stands at 42.2% (398 of 944), with opponents averaging 31.9 rebounds against them, and they rank 186th in assists allowed with 229 so far this season.
In their most recent outing, the Illinois Fighting Illini triumphed over Northwestern, finishing 79-68. The Illini gathered 19 defensive rebounds and 13 offensive boards, totaling 32 for the game. They committed 7 turnovers while making 6 steals. Northwestern was called for 14 fouls, allowing Illinois to attempt 8 free throws, all of which they converted successfully for a perfect percentage. Illinois also sank 11 of 30 three-point attempts (36.7%). Overall, they shot 30 for 63 from the field, achieving a shooting percentage of 47.6%. The Illini allowed Northwestern to shoot 39.3%, converting 22 of 56 attempts. From beyond the arc, Northwestern shot 36.0%, hitting 9 of 25 attempts, while Illinois finished with a strong 15 out of 17 at the free throw line (88.2%). Defensively, they allowed Northwestern to snag 26 rebounds total, including 12 offensive boards.
Keaton Wagler made a significant contribution for the Fighting Illini, converting 5 out of 9 attempts, equating to a field goal percentage of 55.6%, and collecting 5 rebounds. In 34 minutes of play, he scored 19 points and dished out 4 assists.
The Fighting Illini are sitting at a solid 14-3 record for the season. Offensively, they boast a shooting percentage of 47.7%, placing them 70th in college basketball. Illinois has amassed 1,455 points this year, averaging 85.6 per game, along with 41.8 rebounds per contest. They are averaging 14.6 assists per game (163rd in the nation) and turning the ball over 9.8 times per game. The Illini incur approximately 13.2 fouls per game and hit an impressive 80.2% from the charity stripe.
On the defensive end, Illinois ranks 47th in points allowed per game at 67.5. They force 8.4 turnovers each game and limit opponents to a 39.5% shooting percentage from the field (27th in D-1). The Illini allow 31.2% from three-point range (135 of 433), with opponents converting 70.0% of their free throws. On average, they surrender 12.3 assists and 31.0 rebounds per game, ranking 94th and 29th respectively on defense.
Who will come out on top in tonight’s NCAA matchup against the spread?
Selection: Choose Illinois
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up or make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission always at no extra cost to you. Thanks for helping us keep this site running.
