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Illinois Basketball: Illini tumble five spots in the latest AP Top 25

By Rees Woodcock

Feb 24, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts off the bench during the second half against the Ohio State Buckeyes at State Farm Center. Underwood was ejected from the game in the second half. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts off the bench during the second half against the Ohio State Buckeyes at State Farm Center. Underwood was ejected from the game in the second half. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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In one of the biggest drops this season, the Illinois basketball team finds themselves just inside the top 20.

February was a pretty rough month for the Illini, as the program went 5-3. One of those three losses came this past week, though.

Ohio State was trouncing Illinois in the second half but narrowly held on against the Orange and Blue. The Buckeyes would come away with an 86-83 win over the Illini. But Illinois would rebound well on Sunday.

The Illini traveled up to Ann Arbor on Sunday and beat the Wolverines. Michigan was kept at arm’s length for most of the game, and Illinois was able to come away with the big win on the road, 93-85.

It looks like the loss to Ohio State was a big factor in the most recent AP Top 25. They have Illinois dropping five spots down to No. 20 in the nation. This big of a drop comes as a surprise considering the Ohio State game ended up being close, and the Buckeyes are a top 25 program. I would expect a spot or two but not five spots.

Illinois basketball could climb a few spots with a strong final week.

I know it is crazy to say, but Illinois only has two games left of the regular season. It feels like the 2021-22 campaign just started the other day.

The final two games for the Illini are both road tilts. Penn State comes to Champaign on Thursday for the first matchup of the season between the two teams. This series has been streaky, as Illinois has won the past three games while the Nittany Lions took the six games before that. This should be a win for the Illini, though.

Illinois’ final game is a little tougher. No. 24 Iowa comes to town in hopes of exacting revenge from the early season defeat. The Illini got the best of the Hawkeyes back on December 6, but Illinois only won that game by four points. This should be a good matchup.

There aren’t too many games left, so Illinois can’t make a mistake. Beating Penn State and Iowa are crucial. If we win these two games, I would think we would be around No. 15 in the nation.

Next. 5 observations from the Illini win against Michigan. dark

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