Illinois has proved it can win without the player coach Brad Underwood believes is the best in college basketball.

Still, the No. 4 Fighting Illini (18-6, 14-4 Big Ten) surely would like to have Ayo Dosunmu back in action for Tuesday's powerhouse matchup with No. 2 Michigan (18-1, 13-1).

Dosunmu missed the past two games with a broken nose and it's uncertain whether he'll return for the showdown in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Illinois recorded a 16-point home victory over last-place Nebraska on Thursday, then held off No. 23 Wisconsin 74-69 for a road win on Saturday.

Dosunmu is averaging 21.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists for Illinois, which sits in second place in the Big Ten. The Wolverines can clinch the regular-season conference championship with a victory on Tuesday.

The teams originally were scheduled to meet on Feb. 11 but the game was postponed due to coronavirus issues at the Ann Arbor campus.

Illinois also had a makeup game last week against Michigan State, a loss in which Dosunmu suffered his injury.

Illinois' top post player, Kofi Cockburn, has filled in as the top scoring option in Dosunmu's absence. Cockburn had 24 points against the Cornhuskers and 19 against the Badgers. Guard Andre Curbelo contributed 17 points and seven rebounds on Saturday.

Cockburn will be matched up against one of the top freshmen in the country in Hunter Dickinson. In Michigan's 73-57 road victory over Indiana on Saturday, Dickinson had 13 points and seven rebounds.

The forward combination of Franz Wagner and Isaiah Livers combined for 37 points and 16 rebounds.