If you weren't excited for March before Thursday night's classic between the Illinois basketball team and the Iowa Hawkeyes, then you'd better be excited now.
The Illini, who were walking into that game as a heavy underdog, took the ninth-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes to the brink. They fought tooth and nail all game long and turned it into a ballgame that we won't soon forget.
It was a moment that, sadly, did not go Illinois' way. But overall, it was the epitome of March and what this time of year is all about. We saw two conference rivals duke it out in one of the hardest places to play, and we walked away as fans thinking that this tournament is going to be electric.
The Illini had us believing even more during their time in Iowa City. But with the No. 22 Minnesota Golden Gophers traveling to Champaign for Illinois' final game of the regular season, what are some questions that we should be asking ourselves before their 1:00 p.m. CT/2:00 p.m. ET tipoff?
1. Can the Illini bounce back after a tough loss in Iowa?
Illinois put on one hell of a show against the No. 9 team in the country on Thursday. They kept the game close from the opening tip to the final buzzer, not allowing the Hawkeyes to lead by more than 10 points all game long.
Now, the Illini will need to keep that same energy as they look towards Minnesota at the State Farm Center. This will certainly not be a walk in the park for Shauna Green and Co., as the Golden Gophers have won nine of their last ten games against the heart of their schedule.
If Illinois wants to win this game, we cannot regress in any way. This program showed we can hang with the best of them in Iowa City, but they will need to bring that same intensity back home against a well-rounded Minnesota squad.
2. Will Illinois overcome Minnesota's stout defense?
The Golden Gophers have been locking down their opposition all season long. As of writing this, head coach Dawn Plitzuweit's squad is ranked No. 26 in points allowed, giving up 57.3 points per game.
Minnesota, however, will be taking on an Illinois squad that is stout across the board when it comes to scoring. This team has scorers all over the floor, with the likes of sophomore Berry Wallace and freshman Cearah Parchment leading the team with 18.9 points and 13.8 points per game, respectively.
This will be another big test for this young Illinois squad, especially against a team that's as well-rounded as Minnesota's. The confidence is there, and the talent is there. They just need to put it all together in the final game of the regular season.
3. How will the matchup between Cearah Parchment and Sophie Hart work out?
Parchment has become a superstar before our very eyes in her first year with the Illini. The Whitby, Ontario, product has turned into a player that opposing teams fear, averaging 13.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game in 28 games played.
But on Sunday, the freshman phenom will be tasked with taking on a much more advanced big in 6-foot-5 senior Sophie Hart. Hart, a senior who has spent three years with Minnesota, has become one of the most dominating forces in the Big Ten when playing in the post. The Farmington, Minnesota, native has made a living in the paint, averaging 10.6 points and 6.2 rebounds on a 55.5% field goal percentage.
This is going to be a very physical battle underneath the basket, especially on the offensive glass. Hart has been a problem for opposing bigs when it comes to creating second-chance points, averaging roughly four offensive rebounds per game through 28 games. Parchment should get a lot of help from Wallace and the rest of her teammates. But defending Hart will certainly need to be a top priority.