Illinois basketball leaves no doubt en route to the Sweet 16

Illinois basketball ended its regular season with some questionable play. They lost five of their last nine games and left fans wondering if this team would be able to fulfill the potential that allowed them to win 12 straight games at one point this season. A lot of their losses were tough to stomach and highlighted a lack of mental toughness. The losses to UCLA and to Wisconsin (twice) left fans hoping that the team was not headed towards a quick March exit. However, the Illini fought and took advantage of their seeding.

They beat both Penn and VCU by large margins to leave no doubt en route to their second Sweet 16 in three years. They have utilized their size and physicality beautifully and have upped their intensity on the defensive side of the ball, and have simply remained solid. Andrej Stojakovic and David Mirkovic have both imposed their will physically, and the Illini have benefited. As a result, Illinois basketball won its first two games by a combined margin of 56 points.

Mental Toughness

What made this team so fun to watch was that they kept battling during their 12-game win streak. No matter the adversity, this veteran-led team was able to stay strong and make the plays necessary to beat Purdue, Nebraska, and Ohio State on the road. The same kind of mental toughness has come through these past two games. On the Armchair Illini Podcast, we have always emphasized that the NCAA tournament can be a place where teams that have been struggling can start anew and get hot. Whether it was the 2024-25 Michigan team that lost four of its last six regular-season games, or the 2023-24 Alabama team that lost four of its last six games of the season, the Tournament can flip.

That same Michigan team won the Big Ten tournament and made the sweet 16, while that aforementioned Alabama team made the Final Four. The Illini have their work cut out for them in the Sweet 16. However, with the way that they are playing, any game is winnable.

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