Ben Verbrugge is a freelance sportswriter with a journalism degree from CSU Dominguez Hills. He is a member of the Los Angeles media and spends most of his time covering the NBA, NFL, and MLB.

Kasparas Jakucionis leads the Illini with 15.0 points per game, 5.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists, while Will Riley is shooting 48.8% from the floor and pouring in 15.4 points in his last 10 games.