No. 19 Arkansas will face Illinois in a neutral-site game on Thanksgiving Day in the Thanksgiving Hoops Showcase, with tipoff set for 3 p.m. CST at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
Family Ties
One intriguing storyline in this matchup is the faceoff between Arkansas big man Zvonimir Ivisic and his twin brother, Illinois big man Tomislav Ivisic, both from Croatia. Zvonimir is in his second collegiate season, while Tomislav joined Illinois after playing last season for SC Derby in Podgorica, Montenegro.
“We talk every day on FaceTime,” Zvonimir said. “Actually, we haven’t talked about this game yet. I’m waiting for him to arrive tonight so I can see him. Then we’ll talk about the game—talk trash, obviously.”
Previewing Illinois
The Illini, led by head coach Brad Underwood, are coming off dominant wins over Maryland Eastern Shore (87-40) and Little Rock (92-34), both common opponents for Arkansas. Underwood is nearing 150 wins at Illinois, ranking fifth in program history for all-time victories.
Illinois and Arkansas have faced off five times, with Illinois holding a 4-1 series lead. However, the Razorbacks won the most recent meeting, a 73-63 victory in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
Freshman forward Will Riley leads Illinois in scoring, averaging 17.2 points per game on efficient shooting splits of 50.7% from the field and 54.8% from three-point range. Lithuanian freshman guard Kasparas Jakucionis plays a significant role, averaging 12 points per game while leading the team in assists (6.3 per game) and steals (1.8 per game). Tomislav Ivisic, the team’s second-leading scorer, averages 15.5 points and a team-high 8.7 rebounds per game.
Previewing Arkansas
The Razorbacks are fresh off a dominant 109-35 win over Maryland Eastern Shore, where they shot 55.6% from the field and an improved 44.1% from beyond the arc. Arkansas is getting healthier, with forward Trevon Brazile returning to action after missing two games due to injury. Brazile played 12 minutes in the win, contributing two points, two rebounds, and an assist.
Broadcast Information
Time: 3 p.m. CST
Date: Nov. 28
Location: T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, Mo.
TV: CBS
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