Illinois basketball: 3 things the Illini need to do well against Northwestern

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CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 11: Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) is introduced to the crowd during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 11, 2020, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The Illinois basketball team is playing their first game as a ranked program this season against Northwestern on Saturday.

Illinois will have to play well and beat northwestern to add on to their winning streak. They are off too their best start in the Brad Underwood era as they are 12-4 overall and 4-2 in Big Ten play.

The Illini are riding a three-game win streak going into this game against Northwestern. The team has really hit its stride at the right moment after losing to Michigan State just a few weeks ago.

This team has been playing great basketball as they seem to have great team chemistry and are playing passion during this winning streak. Illinois is currently second in the Big ten just behind Michigan State. The Big Ten seems to be wide open this year. Illinois has played tremendous as their defense and rebounding may be the best thing about this team.

Illinois will need to take advantage of a Northwestern team that isn’t very good. The Wildcats are not playing well this season. They are just 1-6 in Big Ten play and 6-10 overall and are struggling at the moment. Don’t let the record fool you, though. This Northwestern team does have some quality wins.

Illinois will need to play well against Northwestern if they want to continue their winning streak. The Fighting Illini won’t have to play a perfect game, but they will have to play sound basketball.

Without further ado, here are three things the Illini need to do well against Northwestern to win.

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