A 25-point loss Saturday at Iowa was thought to be the low point for Indiana basketball, as fans howled, pundits picked apart and everyone with an opinion or a one-liner hit social media to zing fourth-year Hoosiers coach Mike Woodson.

In his first game in ten days, Kasparas Jakucionis went for 19 points in the first half to lead the Illini to a rivalry road win. No. 19 Illinois took on former teammate Luke Goode and his Indiana Hoosiers in a midweek road tilt.

Kasparas Jakucionis made a tiebreaking layup with 32 seconds left, and No. 22 Illinois survived a furious comeback bid by Washington to squeak out an 81-77 victory Sunday at Alaska Airlines arena.

In the two games missed by Illinois' Kasparas Jakucionis leading into Tuesday's road matchup with Indiana, the Illini learned that they didn't necessarily need their dynamic freshman guard to survive. But they were also reminded how much better life is with him in the lineup.

Illinois got its star player back on Tuesday and delivered another emphatic conference victory, dismantling Indiana 94-69. It was a total Illini avalanche from the opening tip. Illinois delivered a resounding knockout blow early in the first half,