Illinois Basketball: 3 observations from the Illini loss to Rutgers

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PISCATAWAY, NJ – FEBRUARY 15: Andres Feliz #10 of the Illinois Fighting Illini in action against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during in a college basketball game at Rutgers Athletic Center on February 15, 2020 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

3. Penn State game is huge

Illinois came into the Rutgers game needing to split their next two contests. We had the game at Rutgers and then go on the road to Penn State on Tuesday. There needs to be one win in there somewhere.

Well, now that we let the game against Rutgers go, the Penn State contest on Tuesday is extremely important. These two games have gone from hopefully win to boost our standing to need to win to play in the postseason.

Do you remember that one time we were in the lead in the Big Ten? Those were the days. That was actually only a couple of weeks ago. Now we have popped off four-straight losses and are sixth in the conference standings. To get a double-bye, we need to get into the top four, which we are only a half-game back somehow.

Illinois now sits at 16-9 overall and 8-6 in Big Ten play. Going into the game against Rutgers, we were projected as the No. 7 seed in the NCAA tournament. That loss hurt because I bet that drops us down to a No. 8 or 9 seed now. Another loss on Tuesday would continue to have us drop out of the NCAA tournament guarantee altogether.

Next. Illini lineup with Ayo Dosunmu & Kofi Cockburn returning. dark

I don’t want to be on the bubble. This is way too good of a team to be struggling to make the NCAA tournament. The Penn State game has become increasingly big by the day. Hopefully, we can get Ayo back and everything will be okay.

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