Chicago Colleges Report

Illini's Maniscalco expected to play vs. PSU

January, 17, 2012

1/17/12

4:22

PM CT

By Scott Powers | ESPNChicago.com

Illinois senior point guard Sam Maniscalco is expected to play at Penn State on Thursday after missing the last three games due to injury.

Maniscalco did not play against Northwestern, Nebraska and Ohio State after re-aggravating a left ankle injury. He’s had two surgeries on the ankle in the last two years and has dealt with reoccurring pain off and on this season.

“We got him in a little scrimmage [Monday],” Illinois coach Bruce Weber said on Tuesday. “He was fine. I don’t think we can play him 30 minutes, but if we can do what we did last time where he sat him after exhibitions or whatever, we kind of scripted the minutes, 10-15 minutes.

“You’re going on the road, and he’s been through it. He’s come up big at the end of games, shot-clock plays, taking the ball out of bounds, so there’s a lot of things we can use him for. Hopefully, he gets a little feel, and you get him a few minutes against Wisconsin [on Sunday.]”

Maniscalco has played in 15 games, starting 13, and averages 9.9 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 27.7 minutes this season.

Scott Powers | email

Reporter

Scott Powers is a general reporter for ESPNChicago.com. He is an award-winning journalist and has been reporting on preps, colleges and pros for publications throughout the Midwest since 1997.

Tags:

Illinois Fighting Illini, Basketball, Big Ten, Illinois Fighting Illini, Sam Maniscalco

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ABOUT THIS BLOG

Scott Powers

Powers is an award-winning journalist and has been reporting on preps, colleges and pros for publications throughout the Midwest since 1997. He joined ESPNChicago in May 2009 and lives in Chicago.

Adam Rittenberg

Rittenberg joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four years at the Daily Herald, where he covered sports at Notre Dame, Northwestern, DePaul and several other colleges. He lives in Chicago and writes for the Big Ten blog.

Brian Bennett

Bennett joined ESPN.com in August 2008 after nine years at The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., where he covered college sports and the University of Louisville beat. He lives in Louisville and writes for the Big Ten blog.

Matt Fortuna

Fortuna joined ESPN.com in 2011 after working for MLB.com and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, where he covered college sports. He grew up in New York and is a Penn State graduate. Fortuna's Notre Dame blog is here.

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Chicago Colleges Report