Illinois Basketball: 5 observations from the Illini win over Rutgers

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CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 09: Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andres Feliz (10) and Illinois Fighting Illini center Adonis De La Rosa (12) battle with Rutgers Scarlet Knights forward Eugene Omoruyi (5) over a loose ball during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 9, 2019, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois.(Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. This win wasn’t just another win

I know this title sounds kind of confusing. A win against Rutgers shouldn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things. But, in reality, this was a big win for the Illini and one that will go a long way this season.

Illinois was coming off a big victory, at home, against No. 9 Michigan State on Tuesday. This was their third win in the last four games. The Illini were flying high, so it would have been easy to have a letdown game. Everything was set up for this to happen.

But, the Illini didn’t let that happen. They didn’t let the big win against the Spartans get them too confident. They know every game is a big one and that is the mentality they had against the Scarlet Knights. Illinois didn’t fall into the trap game.

The Illini have now won three-straight games and four out of their last five. This is a streak that no one saw coming just a month ago. Illinois is playing some of the best basketball I have seen them play in years. The coaching staff is clicking, the team is clicking and everyone is buying in. This team is only going to get better from here.

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