Trayce Jackson-Davis nearly perfect & more takeaways against Illinois

Indiana basketball waltzed into the State Farm Center and dominated the Fighting Illini, 80-65, thanks to a nearly perfect game from Trayce Jackson-Davis.

Rivalry? That seemed to be overhyped just a bit too much by the media and Illini fans prior to Thursday’s domination by the Hoosiers in Champaign.

Indiana basketball now leads the all-time series 95-91 over the Illini, winning two straight for the first time since March 2019 and their third double-digit win at Illinois since 1997. In a game completely dominated by All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis, Brad Underwood and the Illini had no answer and did not know how to adjust to guarding the Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year.

Check out the highlights below:

Here are my six takeaways from the Hoosiers’ dominant showing against Illinois in Champaign:

Six takeaways from Indiana basketball 80-65 win @ Illinois:

#6. Is Indiana basketball back?

Coach Mike Woodson and Indiana basketball look like a completely different team after hitting rock bottom last week at Penn State. From raising the roof in Assembly Hall against No. 18 Wisconsin to complete domination in Champaign against a streaking Illini team, the Hoosiers look to be back into their November form approaching a huge stretch of games in Big Ten play.

Now standing at 12-6 overall and 3-4 in the Big Ten before a huge prime-time matchup against Michigan State on Sunday, the Hoosiers are ninth in the conference standings and seem to be trending toward an AP ranking if they can pull off the home victory over the Spartans.

Led by Trayce Jackson-Davis’ career night, Jalen Hood-Schifino and the role players had huge games for Mike Woodson and it was a total team effort to knock out the Fighting Illini on Thursday night.