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Illinois Basketball: Game-by-game prediction of the 2023-24 Illini season

By Rees Woodcock

Oct 10, 2023; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood speaks to the media during the Big Ten basketball media days at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2023; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood speaks to the media during the Big Ten basketball media days at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 16, 2023; Des Moines, IA, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts after a play against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the first half at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

Illinois basketball starts on Monday, so it is time to look at where the program could finish the 2023-24 season.

I believe this will be one of the best Illini teams in the last couple of decades. We are starting the year ranked No. 25 in the preseason AP Top 25 poll. With the way the schedule is laid out and the talent we have on the roster, I don’t see Illinois dropping out of the ranking anytime soon either.

Here is a game-by-game prediction of the Illinois basketball 2023-24 season

Illinois 101 vs Eastern Illinois 58 – Monday, November 6, 2023

The opening game of the 2023-24 campaign is against Eastern Illinois. This is a Panthers team we beat by 30 points last season, and Illinois is a better program this time around. Eastern Illinois finished last season 9-22 overall, so I don’t expect this to be much of a game from the jump.

  • Illinois record – 1-0

Illinois 85 vs Oakland 60 – Friday, November 10, 2023

Illinois didn’t play Oakland in 2022-23, but this is another bad team that we can feast on. Getting these cupcakes in the first couple of contests is nice to get things tuned up a bit. Look for another blowout game for the Illini here. We should easily move to 2-0 on the season.

  • Illinois record – 2-0

Illinois 81 vs #5 Marquette 75 – Tuesday, November 14, 2023

This is the first true test of the season for Illinois. We get No. 5 Marquette in a tough matchup. The Golden Eagles are coming to Champaign, though. Marquette was able to get to the second round of the NCAA tournament last season after going 25-6 and winning the Big East. They are a tough team, but I think with our experience and homecourt advantage, Illinois gets a big resume-building win.

  • Illinois record – 3-0

Illinois 92 vs Valparaiso 61 – Friday, November 17, 2023

Valparaiso used to be a pretty scary mid-major, but they have fallen off the cliff a bit over the past few years. Finishing at 11-21 overall last season, this isn’t your father’s Valpo. They aren’t a very good team, and I expect Illinois to jump on them early and often.

  • Illinois record – 4-0

Illinois 88 vs Southern 64 – Sunday, November 19, 2023

I believe Southern should be another easy win for Illinois, but this team is going to be battle-tested. Before the Illinois matchup, the Jaguars will play TCU, UNLV, and No. 12 Arizona on the road to open the season. I still feel the Illini should win this game with relative ease, though.

  • Illinois record – 5-0
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