Earlier this week, we asked fans if they felt Michigan and Illinois were rivals in basketball. And now the results are in.
Just 23% of voters consider Illinois one of Michigan’s rivals in basketball.
Here’s a look at what our readers had to say
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Acala: “No disrespect to them. Surely, there’s been some good games and highly ranked match ups here and there, but that alone does not make a rivalry. There is absolutely no sentiment or reactions at all, like when UM teams face MSU or OSU.”
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Reasonable Guy: Nah. Any time you play a highly ranked team, it’s a big game, and Illinois has had a pretty good run of late. That said, in the greater lens of history, they are definitely not a rival. UM’s rivals are: 1. OSU, 2. ND, 3. MSU.“
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Brady Boy: “No more of a rival than they are in football. Some good games here and there, but I’ve never circled my calendar for Illinois.”
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Amywindow: “No. But EVERYBODY in the conference thinks Michigan is a “rivalry game.” When I see teams lay down for OSU football and MSU basketball/football while playing Michigan like their NCAA Championship/Super Bowl, I have to wonder why. My only conclusion is that Michigan is THE most prominent brand in the Big Ten.“
Last week, Michigan snapped a nine-game losing streak against Illinois, beating the Fighting Illini 84-70 in Champaign. Per FanDuel Sportsbook, Michigan has the best odds of winning the national championship at +340.
How did you vote this week? Let us know in the comments, and come back next week for another edition of SB Nation Reacts.
