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Illinois Basketball: 5 takeaways from the Illini win over Rutgers

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 30: Rutgers Scarlet Knights Guard Corey Sanders (3) and Illinois Fighting Illini Guard Mark Alstork (24) get their arms tangled on their way up the court during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 30, 2018, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 30: Rutgers Scarlet Knights Guard Corey Sanders (3) and Illinois Fighting Illini Guard Mark Alstork (24) get their arms tangled on their way up the court during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 30, 2018, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 22: Illinois Fighting Illini forward Kipper Nichols (2) reacts after making a three pointer during the game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Michigan State Spartans on January 22, 2018 at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 22: Illinois Fighting Illini forward Kipper Nichols (2) reacts after making a three pointer during the game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Michigan State Spartans on January 22, 2018 at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. This Illinois team is clicking

It is hard not to overreact to what I am seeing on the basketball court. Illinois has now won two games in a row and on Tuesday night, they were something special.

To break the losing streak, Illinois had to make a second half comeback against Indiana and it happened. They beat the Hoosiers 73-71. The feelings were good after this game because the Illini notched their first Big Ten win of the season and it came against arguably their most hated rival.

Illinois couldn’t relax, though. They welcomed in a Rutgers team that on paper isn’t good but took Michigan State to overtime on the road, barely lost to Florida State and beat No. 15 Seton Hall. You can’t let your guard down against the Scarlet Knights.

Thankfully, the Illini came out with a confidence and fire that I haven’t seen all year. They were tremendous against Rutgers, and you could tell they are starting to click with each other. This team is becoming a team in every sense. They are a single unit playing for one goal.

Listen, I realize it might be too late, but this team is clicking and it is fun to watch. They now sit at 12-11 overall and 2-8 in Big Ten play. They can lose one more game but need to win the rest to have any shot at the NCAA tournament. That would put them at 19 wins and two victories over top 25 programs.

Will it happen? Probably not but I have seen weirder things. Hopefully, the good vibes continue on and the Illini can win some more games down the stretch.

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