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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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Jan 31, 2023; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Coleman Hawkins (33) and teammate Terrence Shannon Jr. (0) celebrate during the second half at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

Illinois 79 at Penn State 58 (State College, Pennsylvania) – Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Thankfully, Illinois only gets one matchup with Penn State this season. It seems that the Nittany Lions always have our number. Last season, Illinois was swept by Penn State. This result should be different, though. The Nittany Lions lost their top five scorers from last season, which includes two current NBA players. I think Penn State will take a huge step backward in 2023-24.

  • Illinois record – 21-5

Illinois 66 vs Iowa 51 – Saturday, February 24, 2024

Two out of the final five games of the season are against Iowa. Last season, Illinois lost the only game against the Hawkeyes on the road by two points. The top two players for the Hawkeyes have departed the program with the main loss being Kris Murray, who averaged over 20 points per game. I think there is a solid change Iowa takes a step backward this season too. With this game being in Champaign, look for the Illini to emerge victorious.

  • Illinois record – 22-5

Illinois 85 vs Minnesota 62 – Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Another home game should bode well for Illinois. We get Minnesota coming to town in late February. The Golden Gophers dropped both games against the Illini last season, and they got worse this year. Two out of their top three players transferred out, and that was from a team that won just nine games in 2022-23. I expect Illinois to take care of business against Minnesota.

  • Illinois record – 23-5

Illinois 71 at Wisconsin 77 (Madison, Wisconsin) – Saturday, March 2, 2024

The 2022-23 season might not have ended the way we wanted it to, but Illinois did have some good games in the conference season. We swept the season series against Wisconsin, winning each game by 10 points. That Badgers team only won 17 games in the regular season, but they do return nearly all of the talent from that squad. I expect Wisconsin to be much improved in 2023-24. With this game being on the road and Wisconsin looking better, I think Illinois could drop it.

  • Illinois record – 23-6

Illinois 74 vs #3 Purdue 69 – Tuesday, March 5, 2024

I have Illinois going into West Lafayette and dropping the first game of the series to Purdue by four points. The second game is in Champaign. While the Boilermakers have a dominant center in Zach Edey, I think Illinois’ guards get the best of Purdue at home. This is going to be a big game for NCAA tournament seeding.

  • Illinois record – 24-6

Illinois 79 at Iowa 73 (Iowa City, Iowa) – Sunday, March 10, 2024

I have Illinois pounding Iowa in the first matchup of the season, but that game was in Champaign. The second matchup should be closer since it will be in Iowa City. This is the final game of the season, so I expect it to be a tough game. I think the Hawkeyes will hang tough, but Illinois is just too talented to fall to Iowa.

  • Illinois final record – 25-6

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