NCAA Basketball: Illinois surges, Shaka Smart’s future, and more weekly takeaways

2) Surging Illinois

While Texas and Shaka Smart have some questions they need the answer, the biggest winner of the week might just be Illinois.

The Fighting Illini picked up victories at Purdue and at Michigan, putting them in first place in the Big Ten all by themselves. That ability to win on the road is something no one else in the conference has shown. Road teams have only won 12 games in Big Ten play this season, and Illinois now has three of them.

We know the Illini play great defense – and defense travels – but it has been the improvement of their offense, particularly in the halfcourt, that has allowed them to go on this run of six straight wins. They still don’t shoot it particularly well from three, yet the Illini are executing much better in the halfcourt, which was their biggest weakness.

The elevated play of sophomore guard Ayo Dosunmu has been a big reason for that, as he has given head coach Brad Underwood legitimate star production to rely on. Over the last five games, Dosunmu is averaging 19.2 points and 5.4 assists per game. He has also come up big when the Illini have needed him to, hitting the game-winner against Michigan with less than a second left.

There’s no real reason to think Illinois will fall off anytime soon, either. Five wins on this streak have been over teams projected to make the NCAA Tournament (Purdue twice, Wisconsin, Rutgers, Michigan).

They can solidify their place at the top of the Big Ten in the next two weeks, as their next four games are against Minnesota, at Iowa, and then home vs. Maryland and Michigan State. Don’t bet against the Illini having a clear lead at the top of the conference after that.

Speaking of tough upcoming stretches…