Illinois Basketball: Five Most Important Games Left For The Illini
By Ricky Widmer
Jan 18, 2015; Champaign, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Nnanna Egwu (32), guard Kendrick Nunn (25) and guard Jaylon Tate (1) prepare for a free throw against the Indiana Hoosiers at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports
Illinois basketball has 7 games left on their Big Ten schedule. Which of the Illini’s remaining games are the most important heading into postseason play?
Illinois received a huge victory this past weekend over Michigan State on the road in East Lansing.
Just over a week ago, Illini fans seemed crushed as their team sat a meager 3-5 in the Big Ten.
Injuries to Rayvonte Rice and Aaron Cosby also didn’t help Illini fans feel any better.
However, the Illini have been a different team since their game against Penn State on January 31st.
After winning their last three games, the Fighting Illini now sit 8th in the Big Ten entering their last seven games of the season.
Those seven games are filled with quality match-ups. The Illini will play four home games, three road games, and one game against a possible Top 5 team.
Among their last seven games, five of those games will also be against teams that the Illini have played earlier this season. The teams that will get a second look at the Illini include: Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Nebraska, and Purdue.
Despite the suspension to both Rayvonte Rice and Aaron Cosby, Illinois has done enough to get themselves back into the NCAA Tournament discussion.
However, the Illini still have work to do!
Here are the five most important games left on the Big Ten schedule for the Fighting Illini:
Next: Maize and Blue: Round Two