Illinois Basketball: 5 observations from the Illini win over Michigan State

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CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 05: Illinois Fighting Illini forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili (15) reacts to a play late in the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 5, 2019, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. Best I have seen Illinois play in years

I know that I am too positive at times when it comes to Illinois basketball. We have gone through some rough years, but the team I am watching right now is playing better than any team in the past few seasons.

It is easy for someone to look at the 8-15 record and say the Illini are bad. Yes, they haven’t played well, at times, this season, but this team isn’t bad. This team is young and inexperienced. They have also played the second hardest schedule in the nation, according to kenpom.com.

Despite the record and the likelihood that they aren’t dancing this season, besides in the locker room, this Illinois team continues to fight. They haven’t given up on the court or on the coaching staff. They continue to fight every night and that is what we are seeing on the floor. They are improving each and every day.

The Illini have won three out of their last four games and four out of their last seven. They have two top 15 victories in there as well. The last time Illinois beat two ranked teams in a three-game stretch was back in 2014. And the last time we beat two top 15 teams in a three-game stretch was back in 2010.

It has almost been a decade since Illinois had a stretch of games that they just had. This team is playing some of the best basketball I have seen in a long time and, hopefully, we can finish the season strong.

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