Thursday, November 24, 2016

Barclays Center

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The Illinois Fighting Illini travel to Barclays Center to play the West Virginia Mountaineers on Thursday, November 24, 2016. The opening line for this game has West Virginia as 9 point favorites. The Fighting Illini come into this game with an overall record of 4-1. The Mountaineers have an overall record of 3-0 and a home record of 3-0.

Malcolm Hill comes into this contest averaging 20.6 points per game while playing 31.8 minutes per night so far this season for the Fighting Illini. He pulls down 7.8 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.6 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage is currently at 84%. Tracy Abrams averages 12.8 points per game in 26.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.6 assists per contest and 3.2 rebounds per game for Illinois. His field goal percentage is 63% for the year while his free throw percentage is 90%.

Nathan Adrian averages 13.3 points per game while playing 25.7 minutes per contest this year for the Mountaineers. He grabs 8 rebounds per game and has 4.3 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage currently is at 78%. Esa Ahmad averages 10.7 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 21.7 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.3 rebounds per contest and 2.3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is 78%.

Illinois averages 82.2 points per contest this season which ranks them 58th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 12.5 and their shooting percentage is 49% as a team which has them ranked 53rd. Behind the arc they shoot 40% which is good for 51st in the country. They average 35 rebounds per game and 12.2 assists per game which ranks them 224th and 213th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 269th with 15.5 per game. The Fighting Illini allow 69.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 114th in the nation. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc ranking them 150th and 198th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 32.2 rebounds a game which ranks 61st and they give up 9.8 assists per contest which puts them in 38th place in the country. They force 17 turnovers per game which ranks them 33rd in Division 1.

West Virginia averages 98 points per game this year which ranks them 4th in Division 1 college basketball. Their average scoring margin is 42.7 and their shooting percentage is 51% as a team which has them sitting in the 28th spot in the country. Behind the arc they shoot 40% which is good for 48th in the nation. They average 43.3 rebounds per game and 21.7 assists per contest which ranks them 25th and 7th respectively. In the turnover department the Mountaineers rank 41st with 11.3 per game. The Mountaineers allow 55.3 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 9th in the country. They also allow a 36% shooting percentage and a 28% average from behind the arc ranking them 17th and 52nd in those defensive statistics. Opponents average 34.7 rebounds a game which ranks 117th and they give up 10.3 assists per contest which puts them in 54th place in the nation. The Mountaineers force 27 turnovers per game which ranks them 1st in college basketball.

Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Trends

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 0-2 against the spread

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 0-3 against the over/under

West Virginia Mountaineers Betting Trends

The West Virginia Mountaineers are 0-0 against the spread

The West Virginia Mountaineers are 0-0 against the over/under

Illinois Fighting Illini Injuries

11/10/16 F Kipper Nichols Eligibility eligible to return Dec. 17

West Virginia Mountaineers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Tony's Pick: Take West Virginia -9

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