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Illinois Basketball: 5 observations from the Illini loss to Notre Dame

By Rees Woodcock

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 02: Genesis Bryant #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini dribbles the ball against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the second half of the game in the second round of the Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament at Target Center on March 2, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Fighting Illini defeated the Scarlet Knights 81-55. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 02: Genesis Bryant #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini dribbles the ball against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the second half of the game in the second round of the Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament at Target Center on March 2, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Fighting Illini defeated the Scarlet Knights 81-55. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MARCH 02: Jada Peebles #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates her basket against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights with teammate Genesis Bryant #1 in the first half of the game in the second round of the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament at Target Center on March 2, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MARCH 02: Jada Peebles #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates her basket against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights with teammate Genesis Bryant #1 in the first half of the game in the second round of the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament at Target Center on March 2, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /

5. Illinois just went toe-to-toe with a top team

I don’t want to play the moral victory card because a loss is a loss. When you lose, it is never fun. But, honestly, I was proud of this Illinois basketball team for what they looked like on Saturday.

It was just two years ago when this Illini team was one of the worst programs in the country. If this game was held back in 2021-22, Illinois would have been beaten by 60 or more points. That wasn’t the case on Saturday, though.

Illinois held our own against Notre Dame. We fell to the Irish by 11 points. This isn’t just a solid team either. I believe Notre Dame is going to be a top-three seed in the NCAA tournament come March. This program has an incredible amount of talent, and we put up a fight.

Let’s not forget, Shauna Green doesn’t have all of her players in the program yet either. She is molding the current team off transfers and the players who were already on the team. Over the next couple of seasons, Illinois will continue to improve as the talent starts flowing in.

Just days ago, Illinois was able to land a five-star in Berry Wallace. I love what we have with Cori Allen and Gretchen Dolan. This team is building, and as long as we are competitive, I think the sky is the limit. There are no victories in losses, but there is positivity you can use to build for the future. I love the path of this program.

Next. 5 observations from the Illini win over Valparaiso. dark

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