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Illinois Basketball: 5 biggest storylines for the Illini in 2019

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 14: The Illinois Fighting Illini huddle up before the game against the Old Dominion Monarchs at State Farm Center on December 14, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 14: The Illinois Fighting Illini huddle up before the game against the Old Dominion Monarchs at State Farm Center on December 14, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – DECEMBER 11: Illinois forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili (15) reacts during a college basketball game between the Michigan Wolverines and Illinois Fighting Illini on December 11, 2019 at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

3. One of the biggest upsets in the last decade

I think we all remember where we were when Tyler Griffey made the game-winning layup against No. 1 Indiana back on February 7, 2013. This was the biggest upset I have witnessed from the Illinois basketball team in my lifetime.

Since that day, the Illinois basketball team has taken a bit of a dip. But the current campaign is showing some promise. With an 8-4 record, the Illini are trending in the right direction of getting back to the postseason. One of the wins that will help them get over the hump is when we beat No. 5 Michigan.

Back on December 11, 2019, Illinois welcomed in a Michigan team that had only one loss on their record and that was to the No. 1 ranked Louisville Cardinals. This Wolverine bunch also beat No. 6 North Carolina and No. 8 Gonzaga as they headed into the matchup against the Illini.

Illinois had control of the game for the most part. They had a two-point lead at halftime and then increased that lead to 10 points with less than 10 minutes to go in the game. Michigan would fight back, but the Illini were just too much. Illinois ended up winning 71-62.

This was a huge upset in college basketball. It was easily one of the biggest storylines in 2019. Illinois was able to take down the No. 5 team in the nation. It will help them with their resume come tourney time. And it was the highest-ranked team Illinois has beaten since that fateful day in 2013 when we took down the Hoosiers.

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