University of Illinois NCAA News

Suddenly the only noise in an arena that had been loud all day was the happy screaming of the West Virginia Mountaineers, who had just managed possibly the program's biggest upset.

Oklahoma State will meet Illinois in the semifinals next Sunday of the National Duals.

The problem is they want him to do well so he can keep being nice to them. They want to think that nice guys don't finish last or even in the middle of the Big Ten.

Samantha Prahalis hit a 3-pointer from the right wing with 41 seconds left, giving No.

Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 15 points and Evan Smotrycz added 13, helping No. 22 Michigan remain unbeaten at home with a 70-61 win over Illinois on Sunday.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The trend does not bode well for Illinois. The Illini have lost their last six road games against ranked opponents.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State ranks first in scoring and shooting percentage among Big Conference women's basketball teams. Purdue ranks first in scoring defense and opponents field goal percentage. Who has the advantage when the 16th-ranked Boilermakers face the 10th-ranked Buckeyes today at Value City Arena? 'Defense wins championship,' Purdue forward Sam Ostarello said. Coach Sharon Versyp's team will also have to be efficient on the offensive end in the first of several key matchups down the stretch. The Boilermakers lead Penn State by a half game and Ohio State and Nebraska by one game in the league standings. 'We're the ones that have to win it for ourselves,' senior Brittany Rayburn said. 'We can't depend on other teams losing or other teams winning. It's still in our hands.' Purdue couldn't ask for a better situation to begin its most difficult stretch. The Boilermakers haven't played since the Feb. 5 win over Illinois, while today is the Buckeyes' third game in the last six days. 'This bye week has been awesome,' Ostarello said. 'All of us are getting re-energized, re-focused mentally and physically.' Since the win over the Fighting Illini, Versyp gave her team two days off and held a mini-scrimmage in an effort to stay sharp. 'It was good for us to take a little break on our bodies and our minds and get right back after it for what everybody is saying is the hardest month,' Rayburn said. Talented guards Ohio State features the high-scoring tandem of Samantha Prahalis and Tayler Hill. The duo is averaging a combined 40.9 points, which ranks second nationally behind UT-Martin's Heather Butler and Jasmine Newsome, who are averaging 41.9 points. Versyp knows the Buckeyes go as Prahalis and Hill go. 'They're the real deal,' the sixth-year coach said. 'We need to limit opportunities for them and let other people beat us. If other people beat us, that's a different situation.' Up and down Both teams are expected to run, but Versyp said transition defense and limiting turnovers are key for the Boilermakers. 'Both teams want to control tempo,' she said. 'We have to make shots. We can't have turnovers where they're going to get a lot of layups.' If Purdue has an advantage, it's inside. Ostarello is coming off a career-high 23 points against Illinois and has posted three double doubles this season. Productive games from Alex Guyton, Chelsea Jones and Antionette Howard are essential for the Boilermakers. 'Hopefully we can have our (power forwards) be able to isolate down low and move our (centers) away from the basket and attack a little bit,' Versyp said. 'Offensively, if we can go through the post instead of relying on the guards that's going to be a big part of the game.' Play 4Kay The Boilermakers will be wearing pink shoes today as part of the Play 4Kay initiative to help raise awareness about breast cancer. It's the sixth consecutive year ESPN will support the Kay Yow Cancer Fund in partnership with The V Foundation and WBCA. The Cancer Fund is named in memory of Yow, North Carolina State's long-time women's coach who died in 2009 after a three-decade battle with cancer. Purdue is scheduled to wear pink shoes again Feb. 19 at Michigan State and stage its own cancer awareness game Feb. 26 in the regular season finale against Indiana.

The Illinois Fighting Illini can add a major road victory to their resume as they visit the Michigan Wolverines .

Michigan Basketball Illinois at Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan - Crisler Center - Crisler Arena 1:00pm - 3:00pm DirecTV Channel: Local CBS After a long spell of being mostly on the road, Michigan returns to the comfort of home.

Illinois comes to Crisler Center for today's 1 p.m. tipoff on a slide, having lost five of its last six games, with the only win a one-pointer over Michigan State.

In the first-ever meeting between the two teams, Illinois edged UAB, 1-0, in eight innings on Saturday at the FIU Combat Classic.

The 2012 NFL Draft is just over two months away, and Illinois Fighting Illini defensive end Whitney Mercilus has been listed as a late first-round selection on various mock drafts around the web.

A 15-6 run midway through the second half propelled Indiana to an 84-71 win over Illinois at Assembly Hall in Bloomington on Thursday.

THE OPENING TIP The Hoosiers will welcome Illinois to Assembly Hall on Sunday, Feb.

He has shown me moments of being very capable, moments of being very odd , and moments of underachieving with his roster.

Cody Zeller wasn't about to have a Gisele moment. His foot stayed far away from his mouth.

Earlier this season, Illinois coach Bruce Weber glanced at the schedule and called this early February stretch the hardest of the season.

Taking a look at hoops news from Indiana, Purdue and the Big Ten. St. Louis Post-Dispatch Nathan Hart takes a look at Indiana's resurgence this season in advance of tonight's game against Illinois.

The No. 23 Hoosiers seek back-to-back wins for the first time in a month when they host the Illini, who are struggling but can beat a ranked opponent for the fourth time in five tries this season.

The NCAA basketball season is in full swing, meaning team records tell a fuller story and the Associated Press tells you who's on top.