Illinois expects 'big-time game' against Kentucky: "Definitely a little extra fire"

Kentucky is expecting a ‘really, really good team’ on the opposing bench when the Wildcats take on No. 6 seed Illinois in the Round of 32 on Sunday. Headlined by the likes of Kasparas Jakucionis, Will Riley and Tomislav Ivisic, the Fighting Illini rank No. 2 in 3-point attempts and rebounding margin, No. 11 in scoring and No. 14 in offensive efficiency.

Led by Brad Underwood and Orlando Antigua, it’s a good group.

They have a game to play, too, though. Kentucky ranks No. 4 in scoring and top-30 in field goal percentage (No. 25), effective field goal percentage (No. 21) and 3-point percentage (No. 29) while sitting ahead in offensive efficiency (No. 11). How are they evaluating the Wildcats ahead of tonight’s matchup in Milwaukee?

For starters, the name on the front of the jersey is always something to consider. They understand the magnitude of playing the University of Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament.

“It’s going to be a big-time game,” guard Kylan Boswell said. “It’s crazy playing the Kentucky Wildcats. For me, I’ve always watched them growing up. It’s a different program now, but it still has the same name on their chest. That’d be huge for us as a team (to win), it’d be good.”

“It’s definitely a different team, a whole new energy and a whole new feel for them. I really don’t even try to compare them to last year’s team, they play differently,” Louisville transfer Tre White, who scored 11 in the matchup at the Yum! Center last season, said of the Wildcats. “I’m just ready to go to work. There is definitely a little extra fire underneath me, for sure.”

And don’t forget about Ivisic’s connection to the blue and white. His brother, Zvonimir, knows a thing or two about Kentucky and has told him plenty dating back to his time in the #FreeBigZ days.

Nothing but glowing reviews for the program.

“His experience there was great. He told me all of the best about the fans, about the culture there, about the facilities, about the city,” Tomislav said of Zvonimir. “I only have a good opinion about Kentucky, I only know good things about it.”

There is a lot more to the matchup than the logo, though. What do they know about this group as a team and what separated the Cats as a No. 3 seed?

“We’ve been watching a lot of film on them. I don’t know who my matchup is yet, but I’ve been watching film on Koby (Brea) and Otega (Oweh). I think we’re good matchup-wise,” Boswell said.

“Honestly, just their versatility. It’s their ability to play with speed and shoot the ball,” Riley, a former five-star recruit who considered Kentucky out of high school, added. “They’re well-coached and they’re very experienced.”

There are similarities to their team, actually.

“Great team, physical team, they love running. I would say they are similar to us,” Ivisic said. “It’s a completely new team for them, but we’re gonna be ready for them. We’ve got to be focused for 40 minutes and execute our plan and be ready for the game. … It’s not going to be easy, and I know we’re going to do everything that we can to win the game. We’ll be ready.”

It’s not quite the SEC — again, the league did shatter the all-time record — but the Big Ten is competitive with similar qualities. That has White feeling confident they can compete.

“They’re a good team, a fast team, an aggressive team, a smart team. I feel like the Big Ten has done a good job of giving us different looks at teams like that,” he said. “I feel like we’re kind of ready. We’re not really worried about other teams. If we kind of just stick to our principles, it’ll be the looks that we want.”

Two individuals stand out in the early returns ahead of tonight’s battle: Lamont Butler and Amari Williams.

“He’s cold. He’s one of the best guards in the country, without a doubt,” Boswell said of Butler. “He’s a great defender and I know his leadership is through the roof for that team. For us, I mean, his shoulder has been a little bruised up, so we don’t know what that whole situation will look like. But regardless of that, he’s still going to be elite for them.”

“Physical guy, their second point guard,” Ivisic added of his matchup in Williams. “He plays a lot on the perimeter for them. He’s a great passer, a physical player. He’s a great fit for them. I wouldn’t say it makes my job harder, because I’m used to playing against different types of big guys, but I’ll do my best to stop him to help my teammates win.

“We’ll be ready for him and the whole team.”