Indiana is heating up at just the right time.
Winners of five of their last six, the Hoosiers have played their way back into the NCAA Tournament conversation. And after a much-needed six-day break, they’re set to face one of their toughest tests yet: a road trip to Champaign to take on No. 8 Illinois.
Let’s not sugarcoat it - this is a major challenge. Illinois comes in at 20-5 overall, 11-3 in the Big Ten, and tied for second in the conference standings behind Michigan.
While they’ve dropped two straight - both in overtime - they’d rattled off 12 wins in a row before that. Every one of their losses this season has come against ranked opponents, with the lone exception being Wisconsin, who just knocked off Michigan State and will likely be back in the rankings by Monday.
Illinois doesn’t just win - they dominate with size and precision. They’re currently the most efficient offensive team in the country, and they’ll put Indiana’s defense to the test from the opening tip.
“They’re just so big and balanced,” said Hoosiers head coach Darian DeVries. “There’s not much of a weakness you can attack.”
But Indiana isn’t showing up just to compete - they’re showing up to win. At 17-8 overall and 8-6 in the Big Ten, the Hoosiers have found their rhythm offensively, and that’s largely thanks to the electric play of guard Lamar Wilkerson.
Wilkerson is on a tear. He dropped 41 points in Indiana’s win over Oregon on Monday, just weeks after torching Penn State for 44. That makes him the first player ever to score 40-plus twice at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall - a historic feat in a building that’s seen its share of legends.
In Big Ten play, Wilkerson is averaging a league-best 24.4 points per game. He’s not just scoring - he’s doing it efficiently, and he’s doing it when it matters most. That’s why his name is now firmly in the Big Ten Player of the Year conversation.
“Just look at the numbers,” DeVries said. “He’s a focal point of every defense we face, and he’s still putting up monster numbers.
He’s doing it on both ends of the floor, and he’s an incredible teammate. There’s no question he belongs in the conversation for the best player in the league.”
Wilkerson’s long-range shooting has been a weapon all season - he’s already hit 84 threes - but what’s taken his game to another level lately is his willingness to attack the rim. That shift has opened up the floor not just for him, but for the rest of Indiana’s offense.
“He’s done a great job all year of finding his windows,” DeVries said. “Now he’s getting even more attention, and he’s learning how to get open in different ways.
Our guys have been great at screening for him and finding him in the right spots. When he gets in that zone, it’s tough to stop him.”
Wilkerson’s drives have created opportunities for frontcourt players like Sam Alexis and Nick Dorn. Alexis was a perfect 8-for-8 from the field against Oregon, taking full advantage of the space Wilkerson created. Dorn, who averaged 22.7 points in his first three starts, has cooled off from deep recently (just 4-for-22 in his last stretch), but his early production was crucial when Tayton Conerway went down with an ankle injury.
Conerway is working his way back to full strength, and the extended break between games should help. His return could add another layer to Indiana’s backcourt, though DeVries is taking a measured approach to his minutes.
“We’ll take it one game at a time,” DeVries said. “We’ve got a rotation that’s working, and as Tayton gets healthier, we’ll ease him back in. It’ll depend on how he’s playing and how the game unfolds.”
Tip-off between Indiana and Illinois is set for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, with national coverage on CBS. For the Hoosiers, it’s another chance to prove they belong in the postseason - and with Wilkerson leading the charge, they’ve got more than a fighting chance.