Yet it should have been encouraging in equal measure that Illinois was able to withstand a bullish run from Washington (10-5, 1-3) and deliver in other areas to avoid a letdown after its upset of Oregon in Eugene days before.

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.

Penn State faces Illinois. Our college basketball odds series has our Penn State Illinois prediction, odds and pick for Wednesday.

Illini basketball’s leading scorer will be sidelined in the Wednesday, January 8 game against Penn State, according to Illinois Athletics. KJ is out with a left forearm injury. Jakucionis is averaging 16.

Just around the time No. 22 Illinois might have begun believing it had everything figured out, an unranked and unheralded opponent welcomed the Illini into their home and showed them just how much more there was to learn.