Scouting Illinois, NIU basketball
Illinois (4-0) at Kent State (3-0)
When: 5 p.m. at SPI Convention Center
TV: Fox College Sports Atlantic
Radio: WIND 560-AM
Skinny: This South Padre Island Invitational semifinal figures to be Illinois' best test yet as the Golden Flashes have the personnel to match the Illini's three-guard lineup. Senior guard Al Fisher averages 22.3 points per game, while former Farragut standout Chris Singletary (15.3 ppg, 4.0 apg) just put a career-high 23 points on UNC-Wilmington.
Illinois, believe it or not, ranks among the nation's top 30 teams with its 77.0 free-throw percentage. Bruce Weber's guys ranked among the bottom 30 last year. Senior guard Trent Meacham, meanwhile, ranks No. 2 nationally in 3-point percentage (12 for 19) among those who make at least 3 3s per game.
The winner of this one gets the winner of the Texas A&M/Tulsa game in the SPI title game at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
Northern Illinois (2-3) at Alaska-Anchorage (0-4)
When: 3 p.m. at Sullivan Arena
Internet PPV: GoSeawolves.com
Radio: WSCR 670-AM, WLBK 1360-AM
Skinny: In a game that didn't end until 2:30 a.m. Thursday, the Huskies dropped their Great Alaska Shootout debut 79-58 to unbeaten Portland State. Sophomore guard Jake Anderson came out hot and finished with 16 points, but the Huskies' turnover issues continued as the Vikings took advantage of 20 NIU miscues. The Huskies can get to Saturday's consolation title game with a win over the Div. II Seawolves, who have three Australians, one New Zealanders and several Californians on their roster. Oh, there's also a freshman guard from a small town named Wasilla. Ever heard of that place?