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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 forward Ty Rodgers (20) dribbles the ball against Arkansas Razorbacks guard Ricky Council IV (1) during the first half at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

Illinois 75 at Ohio State 64 (Columbus, Ohio) – Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Illinois only gets Ohio State once this season. In 2022-23, Illinois split the two-game series with each team winning at home. This time around, the Illini travel to Columbus for the only matchup. Ohio State finished below .500 last season, and they lost their top two players. I see the Buckeyes being pretty mediocre, at best, in 2023-24. Look for a nice road win for Illinois in Columbus.

  • Illinois record – 18-3

Illinois vs Nebraska – Sunday, February 4, 2024

This wasn’t much of a matchup last season. Illinois thrashed the Cornhuskers in both matchups by 16 points. A team that was .500 a year ago has now lost two out of their top three scorers. That usually doesn’t bode well for the future. I think Nebraska is about average once again, and the Illini pounce on them in Champaign.

  • Illinois record – 19-3

Illinois 62 at #4 Michigan State 67 (East Lansing, Michigan) – Saturday, February 10, 2024

I have Illinois knocking off the Spartans in game one in Champaign by five points. Winning in East Lansing against a top-10 team like Michigan State will be extremely tough, though. Illinois has the dogs to do it, but there are going to be games we drop during the 2023-24 campaign. I think, despite a tough fit, Illinois probably falls to the Spartans in one of the best games of the season.

  • Illinois record – 19-4

Illinois 82 vs Michigan 69 – Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Illinois is projected to take down Michigan in the first game of this matchup in Ann Arbor. When the Wolverines come to town in mid-February, it should be much of the same. The Wolverines are going to have another down year, and it wouldn’t shock me to see Juwan Howard on the hot seat after the season.

  • Illinois record – 20-4

Illinois 67 at Maryland 76 (College Park, Maryland) – Saturday, February 17, 2024

I firmly believe that Maryland will finish the season ranked inside the top 20 nationally. This is a good Terrapins program that has a lot of talent coming back. Illinois nipped Maryland in the first game of the season in Champaign, but I see the Terrapins taking this one in College Park. This will be a really tough game late in the Big Ten schedule.

  • Illinois record – 20-5
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