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Illinois Basketball: 4 big questions for the Illini against Nebraska

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 06: Alfonso Plummer #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini drives to the basket during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at State Farm Center on January 6, 2022 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 06: Alfonso Plummer #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini drives to the basket during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at State Farm Center on January 6, 2022 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Jan 6, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood directed his players from the bench during the first half against the Maryland Terrapins at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Will Illinois avoid the dreaded trap game?

If you just look at the Big Ten standings, you will see Illinois at the top and Nebraska at the bottom. The Cornhuskers are 6-10 on the season and 0-5 in Big Ten play.

That doesn’t mean they are a cakewalk team, though. Any game on the road in the Big Ten is tough because, well, it is the Big Ten.

As a newly ranked team, everyone who isn’t ranked is going to give Illinois their best shot. This includes a Nebraska team that hasn’t won a game in the conference, but they do have a good coach that knows how to win games.

While Illinois has dominated the series, especially since Kofi Cockburn arrived on campus, I am not going to overlook this game. But I will be watching to see if the Illini are looking ahead and not thinking about Nebraska.

The Cornhuskers have been competitive this season at home. They took No. 13 Ohio State to overtime less than two weeks ago. There is fight in this Nebraska program.

So, on Tuesday, I am going to see if Illinois is prepared. I want to see this team come out with some fire and put Nebraska away early. There is a chance the Illini are looking ahead to Michigan and Purdue coming up. I don’t want to see that, though. I want to see if we are prepared for Nebraska.

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