Illinois coach Bruce Weber reacts to a call during Illinois' 57-49 victory Wednesday at Iowa. (AP)
By Chris Hine
Now that the pesky business of defeating Iowa is out of the way, Illinois' focus turns squarely on Michigan State, which will visit Champaign on Saturday. ESPN's College Gameday will be there, as will many prospective recruits for the Illini.
The status of Michigan State guard Kalin Lucas is undecided. In Michigan State's 67-49 loss Tuesday to Wisconsin -- the Spartans' only loss in Big Ten play -- Lucas left the game with a sprained ankle.
"We don't know if he's going to play, you just can't worry about it," Illinois coach Bruce Weber said. "Even if he doesn't play, they're still a very good team. Obviously, I hope he's healthy for his own sake, for their sake. You don't want anyone hurt because when it happens to you, you know how it feels."
The Michigan State matchup is the first of the Illini's final eight Big
Ten games, most of which will be played against the top teams in the
conference. The last time Illinois and Michigan State played in East
Lansing, the Spartans won behind 20 points from Lucas, who's averaging
15.6 for the season.
"We've just got to prepare for Michigan State as if he's playing," Weber said. "And we know they're going to be physical, they're aggressive, they push the basketball, they've got a lot of people that can score."
KRUSHED: In they came, settling underneath the basket where Illinois was warming up. They were about 160 college-aged students, dressed in Iowa's colors. But just before tipoff, off came the black and yellow clothes to reveal all orange.
They were members of Illinois' Orange Krush, the Illini's student fans, who took three buses and arrived at Carver-Hawkeye Arena minutes before the game started.
"People ask is it a trap game?" Weber said after Illinois' 57-49 victory. "Are you going to have the emotion to get over the hump? To have them show up, have the disguises on, it's just a great boost of energy for our guys and they kept the noise going and had a great time. I was glad we could reward their travels with a win."
"We've just got to prepare for Michigan State as if he's playing," Weber said. "And we know they're going to be physical, they're aggressive, they push the basketball, they've got a lot of people that can score."
KRUSHED: In they came, settling underneath the basket where Illinois was warming up. They were about 160 college-aged students, dressed in Iowa's colors. But just before tipoff, off came the black and yellow clothes to reveal all orange.
They were members of Illinois' Orange Krush, the Illini's student fans, who took three buses and arrived at Carver-Hawkeye Arena minutes before the game started.
"People ask is it a trap game?" Weber said after Illinois' 57-49 victory. "Are you going to have the emotion to get over the hump? To have them show up, have the disguises on, it's just a great boost of energy for our guys and they kept the noise going and had a great time. I was glad we could reward their travels with a win."
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