Indiana’s road test at Illinois just got a little more interesting - and potentially a lot more difficult.
Kylan Boswell, Illinois’ starting guard and their top perimeter defender, is officially a gametime decision for Sunday’s matchup. Boswell’s been sidelined since late January with a fractured hand, missing the Illini’s last seven games. Even without him, Illinois hasn’t exactly stumbled - they’ve gone 5-2 in that stretch, picking up impressive road wins at Purdue and Nebraska, and pushing Michigan State and Wisconsin to the wire in close losses.
But make no mistake: Boswell’s return would be a major boost. He’s the kind of player who doesn’t always light up the box score, but his presence changes the entire tone of Illinois’ defense.
He brings on-ball pressure, disrupts rhythm, and gives the Illini a defensive edge on the perimeter that’s tough to replicate. Without him, Illinois has seen a slight dip in their defensive efficiency rankings, according to KenPom - not a freefall, but noticeable enough to matter in tight games.
Local reporter Jeremy Werner captured video of Boswell warming up ahead of Illinois’ overtime loss to Wisconsin, a sign that the sophomore guard might be trending toward a return. If he does suit up, expect him to draw the assignment on Lamar Wilkerson, Indiana’s backcourt scoring threat. That matchup could be pivotal - Wilkerson has the ability to break down defenses off the dribble, and Boswell is exactly the kind of defender who can make life difficult for guards who rely on rhythm and space.
Illinois was also without Andrej Stojakovic in the Wisconsin game, another absence that thinned out their rotation. But even short-handed, this Illini squad has continued to look like one of the most complete teams in the country. They’ve got length, athleticism, and a defensive identity that can smother opponents when they’re locked in.
With March creeping closer, Illinois is shaping up to be a legitimate threat in the NCAA Tournament. Getting Boswell back in the lineup would only sharpen their edge - and for Indiana, it means the road ahead in Champaign might be even steeper than expected.