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Illinois Basketball: Illini roadmap to winning the Big Ten in 2021-22

By Rees Woodcock

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood watches from the baseline during a NCAA Big Ten Conference men's basketball game against Iowa, Monday, Dec. 6, 2021, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.211206 Ill Iowa Mbb 034 Jpg
Illinois head coach Brad Underwood watches from the baseline during a NCAA Big Ten Conference men's basketball game against Iowa, Monday, Dec. 6, 2021, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.211206 Ill Iowa Mbb 034 Jpg /
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Dec 11, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts off the bench during the second half against the Arizona Wildcats at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

Heading into the main Big Ten schedule, the Illinois basketball team sits with a 9-3 record overall and a 2-0 Big Ten record.

This is a good start to the season, especially considering the Illini lost their potential All-American point guard in Andre Curbelo, our All-American center Kofi Cockburn missed three games, and the team had to gel with new pieces added.

Even with that all going on, Illinois is still 9-3 and has beaten five power-five programs in this stretch. The team is playing well and will only continue playing better as the season progresses.

But with the non-conference in the books, it is time to look ahead at the Big Ten schedule. This is where Illinois will make or break their season.

Illinois basketball has a shot to be atop of the Big Ten at the season’s end.

I don’t think it is crazy to say that the Illini could legitimately win the Big Ten regular season. In my personal record book, if Illinois can win the Big Ten regular season this year, that would make back-to-back seasons of accomplishing that goal. Despite being a half-game ahead of Michigan last year, the Wolverines were crowned the winners.

There are 18 games remaining in the season, so let’s break this down into three five-game seasons and a three-game season. My goal would be to go 4-1 in each of the five-game sections and 3-0 in the final section.

Section 1: @Minnesota, Maryland, @Nebraska, Michigan, #3 Purdue

This isn’t too terrible of a start in the main Big Ten schedule. Let me start off with the expected wins. I have Illinois beating Maryland, @Nebraska, and Michigan. All three of these teams have a combined record of 21-16 overall and they are 1-4 in the Big Ten.

Minnesota will be tough as they are 10-1 overall, but the only quality team they played, No. 19 Michigan State, they lost. I could see Illinois taking this game.

The final game would be against No. 3 Purdue. They are really good this season, but ever since Kofi Cockburn rolled up, they haven’t been able to beat Illinois. The Illini are 3-0 against Purdue with an averaging margin of victory of 17 points since Kofi joined the program. I have Illinois taking this matchup.

Record after Section 1: 14-3 (7-0)

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