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

Section 3: @#3 Purdue, Northwestern, @Rutgers, @#10 Michigan State, #13 Ohio State

Wow, this is a tough stretch of five games. I have Illinois entering this five-game schedule with a great record, but things could get bumpy here.

Northwestern is the only game where I look at these five teams and think Illinois should be a lock to win that one. I would say Rutgers should be a win, but they aren’t a pushover by any means. The Scarlet Knights have won two of the past four matchups with Illinois. They also beat Purdue this season when the Boilermakers were the No. 1 team in the country. I think Brad Underwood has found the secret sauce against Rutgers, though. Illinois has won the last two matchups by an average of 28.5 points. I will take Illinois in this one too.

Despite Kofi being 3-0 and, potentially, 4-0 heading into the second matchup against Purdue, I see the Boilermakers finally getting the best of the big man. Purdue is a better team this season due to their guards being better. They don’t have to rely on size in the paint to win games. I see the Boilermakers taking down Illinois in West Lafayette.

I then have Illinois traveling to Michigan State and playing a close game against the No. 10 ranked Spartans. I don’t think Michigan State is as good as their ranking, but this is a tough road game for the Orange and Blue. I see Illinois dropping this game purely based on it being a road matchup.

The final game in the five-game stretch is home against No. 13 Ohio State. This matchup has been great the last five years with each team winning four games. There has only been one double-digit victory in the last 10 matchups as well. Andre Curbelo had a big game in the last two matchups in which Illinois won, so if he is healthy by this game, I think Illinois will win.

Record after Section 3: 21-6 (14-3)