Illinois basketball looks to break Maryland losing streak in Big Ten Tournament

While the women’s Big Ten Tournament started on Wednesday, the Illinois basketball team begins the trek to the top of the mountaintop on Thursday.

The Illini were able to finish ninth in the Big Ten, so we secured the single bye in the Big Ten Tournament. As a No. 9 seed, Illinois will take on No. 8 Maryland at 11:30 a.m. CT on Thursday.

Maryland is a familiar foe for the Orange and Blue. Last season, Illinois secured the single bye as well, and the No. 6 seed Illini beat No. 11 Rutgers in the first round. We advanced to the next round to take on No. 3 Maryland. The Terrapins had a better team last season, and it showed on the court, as they beat us 73-58.

Getting to the quarterfinals last season was a solid accomplishment. In the seven seasons prior to the 2022-23 campaign, Illinois either had the worst or second-to-worst record in the Big Ten. So, day one was always our landing spot. Getting the single bye last season and winning a game was great to see. For the second year in a row, Illinois has secured the single bye as well.

The women’s Illinois basketball team doesn’t have a great history against Maryland

Illinois has a chance to win another second-round game and advance to the Big Ten quarterfinals for the second year in a row. But that won’t be an easy task, as Maryland awaits.

While on paper, this game doesn’t look daunting, Illinois hasn’t had the easiest time with the Terrapins. Since Maryland joined the Big Ten, they have steamrolled over us every season.

The Illini have played 13 games against Maryland since they became members of the conference. We are 0-13 against the Terrapins, and we have lost those 13 games by an average of 21.4 points per game.

If there was a season for Illinois to beat Maryland, it would be this season. We fell to the Terrapins by eight points in Maryland back in January. They came to Champaign in February and beat us by 16 points in that matchup, though.

Maryland isn’t the same team they have been in the past. Most of the losses Illinois has suffered in this matchup have come at the hands of a top-10 Terrapins bunch. This team has been great over the past decade, but Maryland has taken a step back this season.

The Terrapins are 17-12 overall and were 9-9 in the Big Ten. They are a beatable team. Illinois needs the senior leadership to step up and make plays. We have the horses to get to the next round. A win today would be huge for the program.