MSU Faces Tough Test Against Illinois and Star Jakučionis

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State University’s men’s basketball team, ranked No. 12, faces its toughest challenge yet as it prepares to host No. 20 Illinois on Sunday at Breslin Center. The game, set for a noon tipoff on CBS, pits the Big Ten-leading Spartans (15-2, 6-0) against a surging Illinois squad (13-4, 5-2) led by freshman phenom Kasparas Jakučionis.

MSU, riding a 10-game winning streak, has not faced a ranked opponent since its Maui Invitational victory over then-No. 13 North Carolina on Nov. 27. Illinois, meanwhile, has rebounded from a midseason slump with a dominant 94-69 win over Indiana on Tuesday, fueled by Jakučionis’ return from a two-game absence due to an arm injury.

“To me, he’s one of the best players I’ve seen,” MSU head coach Tom Izzo said of Jakučionis after practice Friday. “I think they’re the best team I’ve seen so far.”

Jakučionis, a 6-foot-6 shooting guard from Lithuania, averages 16.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. His well-rounded play and experience with FC Barcelona have drawn praise from Izzo, who called him “very comfortable in his own skin” and “a pleasure to coach.”

Illinois’ roster, rebuilt through the transfer portal, features 7-foot-1 Croatian center Tomislav Ivišić, who leads the team with 8.8 rebounds per game, and transfers Kylan Boswell and Tre White, who contribute 11.8 and 10.9 points per game, respectively. The Illini lead the nation in rebounding margin (+12.4) and rank second in rebounds per game (45.47).

“They got a lot of new pieces that could do a lot of different things, and they’re talented,” said MSU guard Jaden Akins, who leads the Spartans with 14.2 points per game. “We just gotta be locked in on both sides of the ball.”

MSU’s defense, which ranks seventh in holding opponents to 27.8% from 3-point range, will face an Illinois offense averaging 87.3 points per game, fifth-best in Division I. The Spartans’ ability to contain Jakučionis and crash the boards will be critical in what promises to be a high-stakes matchup.

After Sunday’s game, MSU will have six days off before facing Rutgers at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Spartans then embark on a challenging February schedule, including road games against USC and UCLA.

Sunday’s game will serve as a measuring stick for MSU’s rapid growth and its ability to compete against elite competition. With a crowd expected to be in full force, the Spartans will look to extend their winning streak and solidify their standing as one of the nation’s top teams.