Illinois Basketball: Illini schedule set for the 2018-2019 campaign
The Illinois basketball schedule is finally set and there are some fans who seem scared of what we are going to face.
Let me just say this; I am so glad we are actually playing some competition in the non-conference. Illinois has only played three ranked non-conference games in the last three seasons. This is no way to get a team prepared for the gauntlet we call the Big Ten. The Illini need tough competition early so the young players and newcomers can go up against some of the best programs.
This season, there is a legit shot the Illini play three ranked teams in their non-conference schedule. This is exciting. Illinois could knock off a ranked team. At the bare minimum, Illinois will at least have a good strength of schedule in case they are on the bubble. This would help them get into the NCAA tournament.
The Big Ten schedule was set yesterday which finished off the schedule for the upcoming season. Honestly, I don’t feel like the Big Ten is amazing this season. The schedule doesn’t really scare me that much. There are a few teams who I look at as potential losses, though.
Nebraska and Ohio State are the first team games for the Illini. These are the random games in the middle of the non-conference slate. A split there would be reasonable, in my opinion. The big question remains; can Illinois take advantage of the weaker teams?
It seems like, over the past few years, the Illini lose a lot of games they are supposed to win. Can Illinois take down Iowa in the lone game this season? The Hawkeyes struggled last year but Illinois still managed to lose to them, twice.
The Illini did sweep Rutgers last season but it seems like in the past there have been issues with them as well. That should be another win on the board to help the Orange and Blue get back to the postseason.
Penn State lost a lot of talent from last year too. Can Illinois stop losing to a Nittany Lions team that always struggles at basketball? The Illini haven’t beaten Penn State since 2015.
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There are some must-win games on the schedule this upcoming season. I will be curious how Illinois will play in the non-conference and if they win some of the games they are supposed to win. With that said, I am still excited for basketball season.