Illinois, for the second time in three games, faced a top-5 opponent away from State Farm Center and walked out a winner,
The Illini worked the inside-out game and hit the boards hard in the first half on Sunday in Lincoln. Nebraska, to its credit, started out hitting three-pointers like it was throwing paper into a wastebasket, hitting four of its first six behind the arc. They would make 11 out of 18 three-pointers in the first half. Inside the arc was a completely different story as the Illini held Nebraska to 3-of-14 shooting.
Advertisement
Keaton Wagler was almost invisible with only five points in the first half. He didn’t need to score, as the Ivisic brothers worked inside and out for a combined 17 points. Tomislav had 10, and Big Z had seven. But the Cornhuskers went on a late 14-2 spurt to lead at the half by six.
In the second half, it was a different story. Wagler found his way in, around, and over the Husker defense for 23 points, giving him 28 for the game. Nebraska was 11-of-18 from the arc in the first and could only manage 4-of-17 in the second half. Nebraska outscored the Illini from the field 65-57. The Illini outscored the Huskers 21-4 at the free-throw line. Wagler had 10 of those.
When Kylan Boswell went down, fans hoped the Illini could survive the gauntlet of Purdue, Nebraska, and Michigan State with a win or two. They have convincingly won two games against highly ranked opponents. Since the loss of Boswell, the Illini have outscored opponents by 9.25 PPG and out-rebounded them by 4 rebounds per game. They shot 44% for the field and 36% from the arc. Defensively, everyone has gotten in the act. Big Z has become an elite rim protector. Mirkovic and Humrichous have stepped up their intensity on defense. Wagler and Stojakovic are getting better every game.
Advertisement
So, where does this leave Illinois? They are in control of their own destiny. If I can steal a line from NCIS, “Sit Rep!”
The Illini and Michigan are 10-1, Michigan State and Nebraska are tied at 9-2.
Purdue and Wisconsin are 8-3.
Illinois has games at Michigan State, at home against Wisconsin, and at home against Michigan. If Illinois wins those three games, they could lose one game to a team like UCLA and still take the Big Ten title.
Michigan has to play Illinois and Purdue on the road and Michigan State at home. And they have to play eight games in 19 days, 5 of those on the road, including a non-conference game vs. Duke in Washington, D.C.
Advertisement
Michigan State plays Illinois at home but faces Wisconsin, Purdue, and Michigan on the road.
Nebraska has only Purdue at home. But they would lose a tiebreaker to Illinois and Michigan.
Purdue has a chance as they face Michigan, Michigan State, and Wisconsin at home, and only Nebraska on the road, but it would still need help.
Wisconsin is a long shot.
If the Illini stay the course, they will get one of the four coveted double -byes in the Big Ten Tournament. You would have to figure at least at this point; Michigan, Illinois, and probably Nebraska are set for the double bye.
Michigan State has the edge at the moment for the fourth spot, but you cannot count out both Purdue and Wisconsin.
Advertisement
Two other teams that could have a say on how the tournament gets seeded. Iowa and UCLA play Purdue and Nebraska, and both are capable of upsets.
The Illini have now won 11 games in a row since their loss to Nebraska on Dec. 13. They are 7-0 on the road, including four ranked wins. They are scoring 84.6 PPG overall and 80.3 PPG in the Big Ten. They only allow 68.2 PPG overall and 70.4 PPG in the Big Ten.
Illinois is ranked No. 5 by AP, They are No. 6 in the coaches poll, and No. 6 in the NET. KenPom has Illinois 5th overall, and 1st in offense.
Special, Unique, Elite!
I have heard many people say that this Illinois team is special, and they are drawing comparisons to the Flyin’ Illini of 1988-89, coached by Lou Henson, and the 2004-05 squad under Bruce Weber. I have heard analysts call them a unique mix of players. Then there is Coach Underwood’s favorite term, elite. Whatever term you want to use, there is no denying that this team has a ceiling that I don’t think has been reached yet.
