It’s time to tip off the Sweet 16 in Houston, Texas. And for the Big 12, Kelvin Sampson and the Houston Cougars have advanced to the Sweet 16 and find themselves in the midst of a deep NCAA Tournament run, one year after they finished as the NCAA Tournament runner-up behind the Florida Gators. Their opponent in the next round is Illinois, led by Brad Underwood. The Cougars are listed as a two-seed, while the Fighting Illini check in at No. 3. Here’s a preview, prediction, key storylines, and updated odds to keep an eye on in this matchup as we get set for tonight’s game.
Houston vs. Illinois Basketball Updated Odds
The Cougars opened as a 2-point favorite over Illinois, with an over/under of 144 total points. As we approach tip off on gameday, the Cougars are up to a 2.5-point favorite and 139.5 or 140.0 total points.
Key Storyline: Size vs. Effort
In this one, the key storyline to focus on is the difference in size. While no one said that size wins games, it certainly helps in areas like rebounding and defense. Of the top eight contributors for Illinois, the shortest player sits at 6-foot-2, with the tallest jumping up to 7-foot-2. On average, the Fighting Illinois stand at 6-foot-9 across their top eight players. Houston, while having some size, enters at a slight disadvantage. Thankfully, the territory isn’t anything new for the Cougars, and their sheer effort and defensive energy seem to make up for it. Size vs. effort is going to be a big thing to watch here.
Match Up to Watch: Illinois Offense vs. Houston Defense
Entering the contest, Illinois sits at No. 2 in the Big Ten in terms of scoring offense. They’re posting 84.7 points per game, a mark that would place them at No. 2 in the Big 12 Conference, trailing just Arizona. On the opposite side of things, Houston has the Big 12’s best defense, which shouldn’t come as a shock. The Cougars are surrendering just 62.3 points per game, which ranks No. 2 nationally, and would place them atop the Big Ten by a wide margin.
Prediction: Houston 75, Illinois 69
If you’ve watched Houston basketball over the past few years, you should know by now that absolutely no one wants to see a Kelvin Sampson-led team in March. The Cougars are incredible yet again, just one year removed from a second-place finish in the National Championship game. Illinois is incredible, and they have a really deep bench. Still, this game feels like it’s Houston all day. Give me the Cougars controlling the pace and shutting down Illinois’ offense, at least enough to emerge victorious.
