Game Thread | Notre Dame at Illinois
Notre Dame (3-2) at Illinois (4-2) | ACC-Big 10 Challenge
Date: Nov. 29
Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
Where: State Farm Center | Champaign, Ill.
TV: ESPN2 | Jason Benetti and Robbie Hummel
Line: Illinois -4.0
O/U: 139.5
Quick Facts
- Illinois leads the all-time series 27-15
- Mike Brey is 2-0 head-to-head against Brad Underwood.
- Brey is 33-29 against the Big Ten, while Notre Dame is 277-240-1 against the conference.
- Nate Laszewski is averaging 10.4 rebounds per game, which was tied for the ACC lead as of Nov. 27.
- Dane Goodwin is shooting 46.2% from three-point range this season.
- Paul Atkinson Jr. has scored in double-figures in 35 straight games.
THE STARTERS
Notre Dame
| Name | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| Prentiss Hubb | 5.6 | 2.8 | 3.0 |
| Cormac Ryan | 9.6 | 3.4 | 2.2 |
| Dane Goodwin | 15.0 | 5.8 | 0.4 |
| Nate Laszewski | 7.6 | 10.4 | 1.0 |
| Paul Atkinson Jr. | 14.2 | 6.6 | 1.2 |
Illinois
| Name | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| Da’Monte Williams | 3.7 | 7.2 | 2.5 |
| Alfonso Plummer | 12.7 | 2.0 | 0.8 |
| Austin Hutcherson | 3.0 | 2.0 | 0.2 |
| Coleman Hawkins | 10.7 | 6.2 | 2.7 |
| Kofi Cockburn | 26.3 | 10.0 | 1.0 |
Preview
| Category | Notre Dame | Illinois |
| Points | 70.8 | 74.3 |
| Opponent Points | 62.4 | 64.5 |
| FG% | 44.2% | 44.4% |
| Rebounds | 38.0 | 43.3 |
| Assists | 12.6 | 15.7 |
| Blocks | 3.4 | 3.3 |
| Steals | 5.0 | 6.3 |
It could be an interesting night at Illinois as the Illini are battling the flu and injuries.
Illinois could b without three starters, Andre Curbelo (questionable/injury), Trent Frazier (out/injury) and Jacob Grandison (questionable/flu), along with backup post Benjamin Bosemans-Verdonk (out/flu).
Curbelo: 9.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 5.5 apg
Frazier: 8.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.3 apg
Grandison: 10.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.2 apg
Bosemans-Verdonk: 2.3 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 0.3 apg
That said, Illinois still has its best player in Kofi Cockburn, who has been on a tear since returning to action. The 7-foot, 285-pounder will be a tall task for Paul Atkinson and Nate Laszewski, but if the Irish can get him in foul trouble, it would be a step in the right direction.
Notre Dame will also need to get big contributions from Prentiss Hubb and Nate Laszewski, who have been off to slow starts offensively. Laszewski has rebounded extremely well and will need to come up big tonight.