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Illinois Basketball: Illini Road Map to the Postseason

By Rees Woodcock

Jan 25, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of Nike basketballs on a rack before a game between the Boston College Eagles and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at McCamish Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 25, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of Nike basketballs on a rack before a game between the Boston College Eagles and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at McCamish Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Illinois Basketball team fell to the Maryland Terrapins last night in what ended up being a very depressing final quarter of the game.

This loss really puts a big question mark on whether or not the Illini will make the postseason. They needed to win their home games to really help solidify a bid come March.

But, now that Illinois has dropped a home game to Maryland, let’s look at that they have next.

Illinois currently sits at 12-6 overall and 2-3 in the Big Ten. I am going to base this road map on how the Illini are currently playing.

Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini /

Illinois Fighting Illini

The next game is at No. 17 Purdue which is likely a loss. That would bring Illinois’ record to 12-7 overall and 2-4 in the Big Ten.

Illinois then has a stretch of games that consists of at Michigan, home against Iowa, and at Penn State. This is a three game stretch that is potentially the light at the end of the tunnel.

These three games are very winnable considering all three are toward the bottom of the Big Ten this season. Let’s just say Illinois takes two of the three and falls in a heartbreaker to one of the teams.

That would then put the Illini record at 14-8 overall and 4-5 in the Big Ten.

No. 18 Wisconsin and No. 24 Minnesota are the next games for the Illini and both are at home. I think Illinois falls to the Badgers but beats the Gophers. They are now 15-9 overall and 5-6 in the Big Ten.

Illinois then enters the home stretch and this will determine everything in my opinion. I think the Illini have a chance to make the tournament based on the final seven games.

The Illini play Penn State, Northwestern, and Michigan State all at home in the final seven games. I believe they can win these games because Illinois has played tough at home this season.

Winning the remaining three home games would bring the record to 18-9 overall and 8-6 in the Big Ten. That leaves four road games left.

The four road games are against Northwestern, Iowa, Nebraska, and Rutgers. All four of these are winnable, but knowing Illinois, they won’t win all of them.

I think the final game of the season against Rutgers will be a victory. That gives Illinois 19 wins. So, now all they have to do is beat either Northwestern, Iowa, or Nebraska to hit that 20 win mark.

Illinois will knock off one of those teams, I am thinking Iowa, and hit that 20 win mark this season. They can still finish 20-11 overall and 10-8 in the Big Ten. All they would need is one more win in the Big Ten Tournament.

Next: 3 Observations From the Maryland Loss 2.0

This season isn’t over by any means, but last night really put the Illini in a much tougher position. If the Illini can just follow this plan and potentially knock off someone they shouldn’t, I think we can still go dancing.

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