Preview: Maryland looks to honor Lefty against 14th-ranked Illinois

Illinois (18-6, 9-4) vs. Maryland (14-11, 6-8)When & where: Feb. 17, 2024 | 5:30 PM | Xfinity Center TV: FOX -- Jason Benetti | Robbie Hummel Radio: 105.7 FM | 980 AM | SiriusXM channel 372 Betting odds: Maryland +2.5 Maryland's road win against Illinois back on Jan. 14 gave fans optimism for a possible midseason turnaround after picking up its first and only signature win of the season. Head coach Kevin Willard has since guided the Terps to a 3-5 record, but after completing the season sweep against Iowa on Wednesday night, Maryland will look to do the same when 14th-ranked Illinois heads to College Park on Saturday afternoon. Maryland's road win against Illinois came with Terrence Shannon Jr. unavailable due to legal matters, but the star Illini is back with the team as he enters Saturday second in the Big Ten in scoring (21.1), just ahead of Jahmir Young. Meanwhile, Maryland trailed by as many as 11 points against Iowa before staging another second-half comeback this season, sparked by a game-high 21 points from Jahmir Young and a career-high 17 points from DeShawn Harris-Smith. The big question heading into Saturday is the status of Mady Traore and Jordan Geronimo, both of whom left Wednesday's win early with undisclosed injuries. After falling at Michigan State last weekend, Illinois responded in a big way on Tuesday night after blowing out Michigan in a 29-point win in a game they led by as many as 37. Led by Terrence Shannon Jr. with a game-high 31 points, Illinois saw four players finish in double figures as they tallied a season-high 22 fast-break points. Shannon is averaging 25 points over his last four games, while Coleman Hawkin leads the team in steals (1.7) and blocks (1.2) per game. Meanwhile, Maryland will wear their white throwback uniforms in honor of former head coach Lefty Driesell, who passed away at 92 on Saturday morning. Maryland previously announced plans to honor members of the 1984 team along with the 2004 ACC Championship team on Saturday. Fans can purchase the first-ever One Maryland gameday collectible to gain access to exclusive content and an on-court postgame experience. Related Links Former Maryland HC Lefty Driesell passed away at 92Preview: Terps prepare for top five road game vs. SyracuseGary Williams on ’04 ACC championship, ACC days, thoughts on WillardLocal four-star edge still has Maryland in his top group (+)