Here are three bold predictions to keep an eye out for in the Illini-Spartans game: 1. Illinois will be outrebounded. The Illini might have a bit more size and a higher rebounding

Scott Richey covers college basketball for The News-Gazette. His email is srichey@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter ( @srrichey ).

After sixth-year center Oumar Ballo controlled the loose ball, he looked to one teammate — senior forward Luke Goode. As quickly as the pass arrived in Goode’s hands, it left them. He rose up from the right wing, releasing the orange ball into a backdrop of scarlet and gray.

After the first-half de-pantsing by Illinois, Indiana further embarrassed itself when Goode dangerously barreled into Illini center Tomislav Ivisic, who barked at Goode, setting off a mini-scrum in which Ballo – in his most spirited action of the night – rushed from halfcourt to the baseline to get in a shove on Ivisic.

Indiana women’s basketball got tripped up at Assembly Hall on Thursday night in a disappointing 68-54 loss to Illinois. The Illini led for all but 86 seconds as they ended an eight-game losing streak at Indiana that dated back in 2012.

The Hoosiers trailed by as many as 15 points in the first quarter, but even as they turned up their intensity to cut into the Fighting Illini’s lead, their efforts fell short. Indiana suffered a 54-68 loss to Illinois on Thursday inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington.

Indiana basketball suffered one of the most lopsided home losses in program history on Tuesday night to Illinois:

The Indiana Hoosiers trail by as many as 30 points in the first half of a home game against the Illinois Fighting Illini.

Then again, sandwiching a 10-point home loss to an average Big Ten opponent between 25-point-plus massacres of conference foes – Penn State and Indiana – is taking up-and-down to an extreme. By now, we know what the No.

Yet another win for Illinois comes with even more records. The Illini bounced back from their disappointing home loss to USC with a commanding victory Tuesday night over the Hoosiers in Bloomington. And it was the kind of defeat IU has NEVER had in history.