- Illinois basketball vs. Michigan State (W – 74-55)
I was extremely surprised by the lack of transfer portal additions for Michigan State this offseason. They did okay with landing two top-65 freshmen, but Tom Izzo didn’t go get transfer players. Michigan State was able to land one transfer, and it was four-star Frankie Fidler from Nebraska-Omaha. The bold prediction I have for this season is that Michigan State isn’t good, and it is Tom Izzo’s last year.
- Illinois basketball at Wisconsin (W – 71-65)
Winning on the road in the Big Ten is never easy no matter how bad the opposing team is that season. Wisconsin isn’t going to be good in 2024-25, but they are always tough at home. It shocks me that the Badgers didn’t do much in the offseason with their roster. They landed a couple of good transfer portal players, but everything else was pretty blah. It is weird to say, but I think Illinois sweeps Wisconsin this season.
- Illinois basketball vs. #7 Duke (SentinelOne Classic in New York) (L – 91-88)
A random huge matchup against a non-Big Ten team late in the year? Sure, that sounds like a fun game. Duke and Illinois match up in Madison Square Garden toward the end of this season. The Blue Devils should have a really good team too.
Duke went to the Elite 8 last season, but they also lost some serious talent. The top four scorers on the team are all gone. That doesn’t mean much, though. Duke brought in an incredible haul. They secured five top 21 players from the class of 2024, which includes the No. 1 overall player, Cooper Flagg. He is an incredible talent. They are also bringing in three four-star transfer portal players, one of which is former Purdue guard, Mason Gillis. Duke is going to be stupid good this season.
- Illinois basketball vs. Iowa (W – 79-69)
Iowa basketball wasn’t that good last season. They made the NIT and finished with 19 wins, but that team lost a couple of key players. Losing Tony Perkins at point guard is huge. I do like the fact they got Owen Freeman back in the frontcourt, though. He is a rising star.
The Hawkeyes didn’t do much this offseason with additions, though. They secured the No. 85 player in the class of 2024, and they also brought in two unranked transfer portal recruits. That is an unimpressive haul for Iowa. I could see the Hawkeyes being around 17-19 wins once again and missing the NCAA tournament.
- Illinois basketball at Michigan (W – 71-69)
I am not going to lie, it brought me great joy to see Michigan win eight games last season. On the same note, it was also shocking. Michigan had a much-needed overhaul of their roster and coaching staff. Their top returning player is Nimari Burnett. Somehow, he is still in college.
With Florida Atlantic’s head coach Dusty May in tow, Michigan brought in a ton of talent this offseason. The freshmen recruits aren’t anything to write home about, but the transfer portal haul is impressive. FAU big man Vladislav Goldin is now with Michigan. Illinois has experience against him. Michigan also landed Roddy Gayle Jr. from Ohio State and Sam Walters from Alabama. They should be decent in 2024-25. I still like this matchup for the Illini, though. Michigan’s strength is the frontcourt, and we can match up well with them.
- Illinois basketball vs. #14 Purdue (W – 75-60)
Purdue had a great run to the national championship last season, but that is not the Boilermakers squad you are getting in 2024-25. Zach Edey is gone, and he is one of the greatest college players of all time. In addition to Edey, Purdue also lost Lance Jones and Mason Gillis. That is three out of the top five scorers on the team.
I am not impressed by the offseason haul either. Purdue brought in five freshmen. I like Daniel Jacobsen, as he was good in the Team USA games, but they may lean too much on freshmen this season. The Boilermakers failed to land a transfer portal player too, which blows my mind. Purdue is definitely going to take at least one step back this season.
- Final Illinois basketball record – 25-6 (16-4 Big Ten)