Illinois Basketball: Previewing Illini games No. 6-10
By Eric Bruce
The Illinois basketball team continues its march through middle of the pack mid-major teams but things get tougher very soon.
The Illini have been generally impressive so far this season. Outside of a small scare at the end of the UT-Martin game, they have largely dominated their opponents. What has impressed me is the Illini’s ability to keep the pedal down in the last 10 minutes, preventing the competition from gaining any hope (again, setting aside the UT-Martin game).
However, while the Illini have played well against so-so competition, they will be tested soon. After a game against another middling mid-major, Illinois will face stiff challenges from an ACC team and two Big Ten rivals, before concluding this five-game stretch against what might be the weakest opponent on their schedule. (See my preview of the first five games, including tomorrow’s match against Augustana, here).
Game #1: North Carolina Central
On November 24 the Fighting Illini hosts the North Carolina Central Eagles of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. This would have been a troubling situation if the Eagles had visited last year. They were 25-9 overall, and 13-3 in the MEAC. The Eagles were a “First Four” in the Big Dance last year, losing that game to UC Davis. In fact, that was their second Tournament berth in a four-year period. However, NC Central is a shadow of its former self after losing all five starters. As of this writing, they are 2-3 on the year, with losses to UIC, Evansville, and UT-Martin. Look for the Illini to sharpen its skills in this match as it prepares for the next three games.