Illinois Basketball: 5 Games Determine If Illini Are Contenders
Illinois vs. Michigan State (March 1, 2017; 8:00PM CT)
The last game that will predict whether the Illinois basketball team is a contender or pretender is the second to last game of the season against Michigan State.
The Spartans are a great team year in and year out. They always have great recruiting classes and experience on the team.
Michigan State lost a lot of talent from last year’s team but they do return some good players, though.
More from Writing Illini
- Illinois Football: 5 Illini players who need more snaps against FAU
- Illinois football vs. Florida Atlantic first half and game betting lines
- Bret Bielema has made Illinois football a nationally competitive program
- Illinois Football: Predicting how the Illini will finish the 2023 season
- Illinois Football: Illini quarterback controversy is on the horizon
Gavin Schilling is back as a senior. He was a great player off the bench for the Spartans but now will be called upon to be a big impact player.
Tum Tum Nairn will also be looked upon for veteran leadership. He was another player that came off the bench and was a sparkplug for the Spartans.
Michigan State also has a great recruiting class coming in as well.
Josh Langford is a big, 6-foot-6, shooting guard that was a 5-star in the class of 2016. Miles Bridges was also a 5-star and he is a 6-foot-7 forward.
Michigan State then had Cassius Winston coming in who is a solid point guard that will help lead this team.
Despite losing some players, Michigan State has reloaded and will be pretty good this season.
The reasons this is one of the top five games to see if Illinois is a pretender or contender is because Michigan State will be a top ten team and this game is at the end of the season.
Next: Illinois Basketball: Jacob Epperson’s Role With the Illini
Illinois needs to keep the winning momentum to get a good seed in the postseason and with a win against Michigan State that will hopefully solidify a top seven seed in the NCAA Tournament.