13. Illinois (12-3)
We’re getting a firmer grasp on just what Illinois can be this season, and this is a team that can hang with virtually anyone when they’re at their best. The Illini have had a few rough moments this year and they’ve been down a few players at times too, but Brad Underwood is going to get the best out of this group of players and he’s hoping that happens when the games matter most here in conference play.
Illinois certainly showed up this week, blitzing to a huge halftime lead during an 81-55 win over Rutgers. That Thursday effort included a 20-0 run to end the first half and included a 17-point, 7-rebound effort from freshman Keaton Wagler, just another major cog in the machine for a talented Fighting Illini roster.
Now sitting at 3-1 in Big Ten play, the Fighting Illini are trending in the right direction, having won four straight and looking as cohesive as ever in league play. They made quick work of the Scarlet Knights in their lone contest of the week and keep getting balanced and impressive efforts from this roster. They’ll need even more cohesion next week with road tests at Iowa and Northwestern before a weekend tilt against Minnesota.