Illinois Basketball: 5 observations from the Illini loss to Florida Atlantic

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CHAMPAIGN, IL – DECEMBER 29: Illinois Fighting Illini Head Coach Brad Underwood looks on as Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) checks into the college basketball game between the Florida Atlantic University Owls and the Illinois Fighting Illini on December 29, 2018, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. This is a devastating loss

Any loss is killer for the Illinois basketball team, but this loss, in particular, was extra painful. Illinois doesn’t have too many games they are going to be projected to win, so we can’t lose the ones we should win.

Heading into the game on Saturday afternoon, the Illini were 14-point favorites over Florida Atlantic. This shouldn’t have been a game but leave it to the Orange and Blue to drop a game they should win. This loss hurts for the team and fan morale too.

Illinois was hosting a big-time recruit in Kofi Cockburn on Saturday. He is a big man from the class of 2019 who could really help this program get back on the map. Losing to a team like the Owls shows him that this program is heading in the wrong direction. That is not what we needed.

I also heard a multitude of fans booing the Illini team and coaching staff for most of the game and rightfully so. What we saw on the court against Florida Atlantic is not what we expect to see. This Illini team didn’t represent how much talent we really have on it.

Overall, this was a devastating loss for the Illinois basketball program. I believe this is what we call rock bottom. There is no way to go but up from here.

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