Illinois Basketball: Remaining Games Based on Quadrant

Illinois Basketball: Remaining Games Based on Quadrant

Illinois Basketball has had quite the up-and-down season. They initially impressed everyone with an exhibition game at home vs Kansas. Afterward, they struggled through some “buy-games” at home. As soon as they started to find their peak against Missouri, the Terrence Shannon Jr saga happened. Though they have been pretty good throughout the year, the resume once again lacks that true signature win. Illinois has three quad-one victories at this moment. They beat Michigan State at home, FAU on a neutral site (slipping), and Ohio State on the road (slipping as well).

The chances for achieving that signature win atop their resume are running thin. The Big Ten is in a down year overall. Additionally, a lot of Illinois’ big-time wins are prone to falling off of the top quadrant. Here is how their remaining games project based on the quadrant.

Quadrant 3/Quadrant 2

Illinois Basketball has two quad 3 games ahead. They will host the Michigan Wolverines on 2/13. After a few weeks on 2/28, they will host the Minnesota Gophers. The Wolverines are a true enigma. They beat the Wisconsin Badgers at home and were subsequently neutered on live television in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Gophers have improved under Ben Johnson and may be a trap game for the Illini.

Illinois Basketball will have three quadrant-two games. They face two road games against Maryland and Penn State. These two games could be difficult as Maryland has always been a nightmare for Illinois for some inane reason. Additionally, Penn State was the absolute bane of every Illini fan’s existence last year. Both teams are struggling, however, Illinois will need to bring their A-game vs both teams on the road.

Quad 1

This is where Illinois basketball needs to pick two of three in my opinion. Two of three will secure a stronger seed in the NCAA tournament and keep fans at ease knowing that their team is peaking. Illinois will end their season with these three games to start off March: at Wisconsin, at home vs Purdue, and at Iowa. I think that winning two of those three games is a must. Illinois did not end the season well last year at all, and the results were awful. If Brad Underwood wants to get the March Monkey off of his back, he has to find a way for his team to peak at the right time.

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