Scouting Illinois @ Michigan St.

By Lindsey Willhite

Illinois (17-9, 7-6) at Michigan St. (14-11, 6-7)

When:8 p.m. at Breslin Center

TV: ESPN

Net: ESPN3.com

Radio: WIND 560-AM

The skinny: ESPN’s College GameDay crew chose Michigan State as today’s destination months ago, when conventional wisdom presumed both of these teams would be in the top 15 and battling for the Big Ten title. Instead, this marks just the fourth time in their last 26 meetings in which neither the Illini nor the Spartans are ranked in the Top 25. Michigan State has dropped six of its last eight games, though senior guard Kalin Lucas appears to be regaining his elite-level quickness after rupturing his Achilles’ tendon last March. He’s averaging 21.3 points in his last six games. The Illini haven’t won at MSU since 2006, but Bruce Weber hopes his guys will lighten up and play with abandon after Wednesday’s tense 2-point home win over Michigan. “You’ve got a great opportunity,” he said. “All the lights are on. Lot of people are watching nationwide, the late game. It’s an opportunity for our guys to shine.”