Iowa @ Illinois: What is on the Line, Prediction

Head coach Fran McCaffery and the Iowa Hawkeyes will be visiting Champaign to take on the Illinois Fighting Illini Sunday night, but they will not be welcomed kindly.

At the end of their previous February match-up, emotions flared between McCaffery and the Illini coaching staff, leaving the two squads with bad blood. Both teams will be eager to knock off one another as they fight for a double-bye in the Big-Ten tournament.

Here is what is on the line for the Sunday night match-up.

An Illinois win

The Illini would clinch the fourth seed and a double-bye with a victory on Senior night.  The Illini would finish the season 21-10 (13-7).  This would be a drastic improvement from last year as they finished 12-21 (7-13).

A win on Senior night against the Hawkeyes would provide the Illini with confidence and momentum heading into the Big-Ten tournament.

An Illinois loss

With a loss, the Illini would miss the opportunity to get a double-bye in a competitive Big-Ten conference.  The Fighting Illini would enter the Big-Ten tournament as either a 5-seed or 6-seed, depending on what happens with the remainder of the Big-Ten battles Sunday.  Illinois would finish the season 20-11 (12-8).

It would not be a great look for Illinois to enter March Madness on a two-game losing skid. 

Prediction

Based off of the disputes which occurred at the end of the previous match-up, it is safe to predict both teams will come out fighting harder than usual.  Illinois Sophomore guard Ayo Dosunmu will be the difference maker in a high-scoring battle, scoring over 21 points and leading the Illini to a 71-65 Senior night win.