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UPDATE: Rayvonte Rice is a game-time decision for Wednesday's game.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>RT <a href="https://twitter.com/SLGreenberg">@SLGreenberg</a>: As of this morning, Rayvonte Rice is officially a 'game-time decision' for tonight vs. PUR <a href="http://t.co/8fQQY2a5vw">http://t.co/8fQQY2a5vw</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Illini&src=hash">#Illini</a></p>— Jeremy Werner (@WernerESPNCU) <a href="https://twitter.com/WernerESPNCU/statuses/423472594650537984">January 15, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Following Illinois loss to Northwestern on Sunday night, questions surfaced about Rayvonte Rice's health. Rice scored a season-low eight points while shooting 2-for-11 from the field in 31 minutes. His mobility was clearly limited, as was his finishing ability.
Last night and this morning, John Groce indicated that Rice dealt with a sore hip during the game. Here's the tweet, per the Chicago Tribune's Shannon Ryan.
#Illini coach Groce says Rayvonte Rice was dealing with a sore hip. Made him less "mobile" than usual. Rice scored season-low 8 pts at NU.
— Shannon Ryan (@sryantribune) January 13, 2014
Rice's hip was evaluated further on Monday, and he was diagnosed with an adductor strain, according to WCIA's Aaron Bennett.
UPDATE: John Groce said on his radio show tonight that Rayvonte Rice has an adductor strain. He's day-to-day #Illini
— Aaron Bennett (@WCIA3Aaron) January 14, 2014
He is day-to-day, meaning that he potentially could miss the Fighting Illini's matchup with Purdue on Wednesday. An injured Rayvonte led the Illini to their worst loss in decades, so an absent Rice--against a better team--might very well serve as the white flag.
Without Rice are the Illini doomed in what has become a vital conference game?
