Illinois Basketball: Observations about the upcoming Illini week 3

The Illinois basketball team continues its non-conference slate with games against No. 10 Duke and Missouri this week.

Here are three noteworthy observations as Tuesday’s tip-off is vastly approaching.

1. The Illini dropped one spot in the AP Poll after losing to Baylor.

Despite a competitive first half, the squad couldn’t muster up consistent offense down the stretch. A 22-8 Baylor run made the difference, as the Illini fell 82-69. Turnovers and mental miscues will be detrimental if the Orange and Blue want to remain relevant across the nation.

It was announced on Monday that even with the loss, Illinois kept its top 10 ranking, only falling to No. 6. Duke, who was No. 8, lost to Michigan State before rebounding with a win against Bellarmine, 76-54.

2. The Illini look to snap a three-year Braggin’ Rights losing streak.

Even though Illinois is facing stiff competition early in the season, old foes aren’t hard to forget about.

In an agreement between both programs, Illinois and Missouri will face off for Braggin’ Rights supremacy once again, but the Tigers earned the hosting nod after winning a coin flip just prior to the season officially starting. The game is traditionally held in St. Louis, Missouri, at a neutral site.

The Illini hope to secure Braggin’ Rights for the first time in three years, as Brad Underwood was able to take care of business by beating Missouri in his first season as head coach. While the stakes may be higher, the objective to win a key SEC-Big Ten rivalry game remains the same, even without spectators in attendance.

The game takes place Saturday, December 12, at 6:30 p.m.

3. Take it one game at a time.

As the old saying goes, “you can’t win them all.” This is the case for the Illini, who showed flashes of excellence by winning two of its first three games by convincing margins.

Although its non-conference game against UT-Martin was scrapped due to COVID-19 concerns, the Illini gave themselves extra rest before traveling to Durham.

The team can only control what’s in front of them, and by knocking off the Blue Devils, it will give them a sense of confidence as they move closer to conference play in just a matter of weeks. Week three of Illini basketball is officially underway.