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Illinois Basketball: Future of Illini season depends on Nebraska game

By Rees Woodcock

Nov 11, 2016; Champaign, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Malcolm Hill (21) and center Mike Thorne Jr. (33) and guard Tracy Abrams (13) and guard Aaron Jordan (23) and guard Jalen Coleman-Lands (5) await the end of a timeout during the first half against the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 11, 2016; Champaign, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Malcolm Hill (21) and center Mike Thorne Jr. (33) and guard Tracy Abrams (13) and guard Aaron Jordan (23) and guard Jalen Coleman-Lands (5) await the end of a timeout during the first half against the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Illinois basketball team goes into the game tonight needing a victory to continue their quest to the NCAA Tournament. This is a dance the Illini haven’t been a part of in the last four years and hopefully, that will change this season.

Beating Nebraska in Lincoln is a must tonight. Illinois currently sits with 16 wins this season and winning the final three games plus a Big Ten Tournament game win would get them to that coveted 20 win mark. This should get them into the postseason.

A loss tonight, though, would put Illinois behind the eight ball. This game tonight will go one of two ways. The Illini could still be in the running for that bid they are looking for or they could fall to the Cornhuskers and start planning their NIT trip.

John Groce doesn’t have a winning record versus many Big Ten teams since taking over Illinois. He has struggled in conference play overall, but one team he has had some success with is Nebraska.

Illinois has four wins and three losses under Groce against the Cornhuskers. This gives me hope for today’s game because the Illini do have a winning record against Nebraska. It also gives me hope that Illinois is playing well right now.

The Illini are currently on a two-game winning streak and have won three out of their last four games. Illinois last won two games in a row in the Big Ten back on March 4, 2015. The leading scorer that day was Rayvonte Rice with 23 points and Nnanna Egwu led in rebounds with eight.

You would then have to go back to February 12, 2015, to find the last time Illinois won at least three out of their last four Big Ten games. Let’s just say it has been a long time since winning has been a part of the Illini culture. That could all start changing today.

Next: Good, bad and ugly scenarios for the Illini

The game tonight will send the Illini in one of two directions. Win and their postseason push continues, but lose and you could kiss the NCAA Tournament goodbye. I want to pick the Illini in my bracket, so please win today.

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