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Bracketology 2021: Illinois, Iowa, and Baylor among big winners

By Joey Loose

Michigan guard Mike Smith dribbles against Illinois center Kofi Cockburn, left, and guard Jacob Grandison during the second half of U-M's 76-53 loss at the Crisler Center on Tuesday, March 2, 2021.
Michigan guard Mike Smith dribbles against Illinois center Kofi Cockburn, left, and guard Jacob Grandison during the second half of U-M's 76-53 loss at the Crisler Center on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. /
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Bracketology Illinois Fighting Illini Ayo Dosunmu Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports
Bracketology Illinois Fighting Illini Ayo Dosunmu Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports /

Illinois

The best conference in college basketball this season has been the Big Ten. Those seven Big 12 teams would beg to differ, but it’s hard to argue against the depth and strength the Big Ten has shown. We could spend a lot of time talking about how each team has succeeded, but let’s not waste any more time.

Illinois had what is quite possibly the best week any college basketball team has had all season long. Missing star Ayo Dosunmu, the Illini went to #2 Michigan and won in a blowout, getting 22 points from Trent Frazier in an incredible team win. Dosunmu was back on Saturday, as the Illini went to #7 Ohio State and got another huge road win, with Dosnumu himself hitting the go-ahead shot in the final minute.

With these two big wins, the Illini secure second place in the Big Ten and are now 20-6, with that impressive 16-4 run through Big Ten play. The Illini have lost a few questionable games, including poor efforts against Rutgers and Maryland a few months ago. However, they’ve now won four straight games, and 11 of their last 12.

Illinois looks like a national title threat and has likely secured a #1 seed with their fantastic play this week. They should do some damage in the Big Ten Tournament and are set up well to compete for their first Final Four since 2005. However, this team has struggled with consistency issues at times this season; are they this unstoppable force or will these issues rear again in March?

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