As we come down the stretch of the regular season, the Illinois basketball team is sitting in a great position.
The Illini are currently 22-6 overall and 13-4 in the Big Ten. Coming off a loss to unranked UCLA was a bad look. I figured that would have dropped Illinois out of any conversation for a top seed in the NCAA tournament. But the reaction to that loss was completely different from what I had originally thought.
Even with the Illini falling to the Bruins, the AP Top 25 didn’t drop us a single spot. We still remained at No. 10. Why? Well, I think it partially had to do with that not being a terrible loss for Illinois, but moreover, Illinois has played a tough schedule this season.
The Illini have the No. 8-ranked strength of schedule this season. I think all but three of those teams ahead of Illinois in strength of schedule are ahead of us in the AP Top 25.
On top of the AP Top 25 not changing, Illinois hasn’t seen movement in the poll that really matters, the NET Rankings. We still sit at No. 4 in the NET Rankings. That is even after a loss to UCLA.
So, what does this all say to me as Illinois welcomes in the No. 3 team in the country and the No. 1 team in the NET Rankings in Michigan this Friday?
Illinois has nothing to lose.
For this game only, the Illini are playing with house money. We are going up against one of the top teams in the country, and if we fall to the Wolverines, I don’t think you are going to see a drop in the rankings in any poll. If so, it would be a couple of spots in the AP Top 25. The NET Rankings will probably remain solid.
Now, that doesn’t mean a loss wouldn’t hurt as a fan. I want Illinois to beat the snot out of Michigan because it would mean 10 straight wins in the series, it would mean a possible No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, and it would be glorious to beat Morez Johnson Jr.
Illinois should come out on Friday night loose and energetic. The worries of losses and ramifications should be out the window and out of their minds. This should be a fun game where we rediscover our groove again and hopefully put Michigan away.
The final two games for the Illinois basketball team is where we can start playing well
It hasn’t been an easy trek for the Illini as of late. We have dropped three out of the last five games, and all three have been in overtime.
Illinois is so close to being 25-3 overall and 16-1 in the Big Ten. But we can’t think about what has already happened. We have to think about the future.
Regardless of the result of the Michigan game, Illinois can finish the season strong with two weak opponents in Oregon and Maryland. Victories in those games should seal up the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament.
An Illinois team that finishes, at worst, 24-7 overall and 15-5 in the Big Ten is a team that is locked into a No. 2 seed or better in the NCAA tournament. Let’s play some loose and free basketball on Friday and see if we can improve that standing and finish on a three-game winning streak.