Northern Iowa coach Ben Jacobson is preparing to face a different looking Illinois State lineup when the teams collide in Cedar Falls Wednesday night. Redbird center and leading scorer Chase Walker has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury early in a February 12th win over Valparaiso. UNI and Illinois State are both 10-8 in the Missouri Valley Conference.

With Walker out, Illinois State has at times feature a five guard lineup.

Illinois State beat the Panthers in the first meeting 59-54 a little more than a month ago.