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Illinois Basketball: 5 NBA Draft 1st round picks the Illini faced last season

By Rees Woodcock

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; A general view of a video board displaying all thirty first round selections in the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; A general view of a video board displaying all thirty first round selections in the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 22, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Michigan Wolverines forward D.J. Wilson (5) during practice the day before the Midwest Regional semifinals of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Sprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Michigan Wolverines forward D.J. Wilson (5) during practice the day before the Midwest Regional semifinals of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Sprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3 DJ Wilson – Michigan Wolverines

There is one team specifically the Illini have struggled with over the last decade and that is the Michigan Wolverines. This team has got the best of the Illinois basketball team many times and they were 2-1 against the Orange and Blue last season, including a Big Ten Tournament thumping.

DJ Wilson was a big part of the Wolverines basketball team last season. He really helped propel them to a run in the Big Ten Tournament and into the NCAA tournament as well. He was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the No. 17 pick in the NBA Draft last night.

Illinois actually won the first game of the season against Michigan 85-69. This was an impressive win in Champaign as the Illini moved to 12-5 and gave fans hope to start Big Ten Conference play. Despite the impressive win the by the Illini, Wilson still went off for 19 points and 4 rebounds. He also shot 8-of-12 from the field as well.

The second game against Michigan didn’t go so well. Illinois went down 10 at halftime and couldn’t recover. They ended up losing the game 66-57. Wilson had 19 points again and added in another 7 rebounds and 5 assists. He also shot 7-of-10 from the field as well.

The rubber match between these two teams was in the Big Ten Tournament. Illinois came slow out of the gate and never recovered. They fell to the Wolverines 75-55. Wilson had a quiet game but still efficient. He dropped 11 points and 6 rebounds while shooting 4-of-5 from the field.

Illinois struggled against Wilson this past season and now he is going to the NBA to tear up that competition next.

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