Illinois Basketball: 4 takeaways from the loss to Maryland

4. Momentum for the program

Wait a second, how can a team who has lost three games in a row have any momentum? Well, let me tell you, they can. I think they can. I think they currently have momentum and it will help with the next six non-conference games.

Illinois lost the game on Sunday night in a terrible way. They went down huge in the first half only to come back and have an opportunity to win the game in regulation if it wasn’t for a really bad inbounds pass. In addition to that, in overtime, Illinois tied it up but then Maryland was fouled with essentially no time left on the clock and they made a game-winning free throw. That is how the game went.

But, to just leave it at that would be wrong because there is so much more you can take from what happened on Sunday night. I truly believe there is momentum based on what happened in the second half of that game for the Illini.

Illinois was down 19 points at halftime and at one time in the second half down 22 points. Underwood and the team learned so much about what their capabilities are on the basketball court. They made that big of a comeback and should have won the game. That is a lot of positive to take into the next game.

Next: What an emotional roller coaster for Illini fans

The Illini could easily be 8-1 right now. The players have to have a chip on their shoulder, and they should want to taste that victory they have been starved of right now. There is a fire lit underneath this team and now the second half has built up their confidence. They know they can be a dominant team now. I feel sorry for the rest of the non-conference. This team is coming for you.