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Illinois Basketball: 5 games that could be crucial to the Illini season

By Rees Woodcock

CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 13: Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood chats with his team during a Big Ten Tournament game between the Northwestern Wildcats and the Illinois Fighting Illini on March 13, 2019, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 13: Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood chats with his team during a Big Ten Tournament game between the Northwestern Wildcats and the Illinois Fighting Illini on March 13, 2019, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 05: Illinois Fighting Illini guard Tevian Jones (5) and Illinois Fighting Illini guard Da’Monte Williams (20) high five fans in the tunnel that leads to the locker room at the conclusion of 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) /

2. Illinois vs. Missouri

The second half of the Illinois non-conference schedule is pretty tough. I consider the two games against Maryland and Michigan to be non-conference because they are in the middle of the non-conference schedule, even though I know they are conference games.

After a win in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, the Illini play two tough games against Maryland and Michigan. Let’s say the worst-case scenario happens here and we drop both of those games. That would hurt, but it would also make the Braggin’ Rights game against Missouri that much more important.

The Braggin’ Rights game doesn’t need an introduction. Everyone knows it is a big game no matter the record. Illinois won five-straight before dropping the contest last season. Missouri has a few former Illini players and commits on their team. You can even pepper in the Illinois football team’s recruiting dominance in St. Louis lately. All of this makes for a great rivalry.

But there will be more on the plate against Missouri. Illinois might need this game to be a victory to avoid losing three out of four games early on in the season. The worst-case scenario would be the Illini entering the game 7-3. They can’t drop to 7-4 or the season will be looking bleak. That is why Illinois would need to win this game to move to 8-3. Winning these big games early on will help the team with confidence and it will propel them to a potential postseason berth. This game could determine how the season goes.

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