NCAA Basketball: UConn, Iowa State, Auburn rise in latest top 25 power rankings
By Joey Loose
11. Illinois (25-8)
The Fighting Illini can impose their will at times and look like one of the deadliest offenses in the nation. At other times the defense simply lets them down. This team fought hard to secure 2nd place in the Big Ten and are comfortably back in the Tournament field, a testament to the work this program has put in in recent years.
Last Sunday they ended their regular season on a great foot, getting a 73-61 road win at Iowa. Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 25 while Quincy Guerrier had a double-double against a bubble team in the Hawkeyes. Next came the Big Ten Tournament, with the Illini surviving 77-74 over Ohio State in the quarterfinals, with 28 points from Shannon this time. Despite trailing by double figures at the half, Illinois won on Saturday in the semifinals, beating Nebraska 98-87, with Shannon’s 40-point performance a new single-game record in the Big Ten Tournament.
Illinois lost twice to Purdue, including within the last two weeks, but won’t get a shot at them again, instead facing Wisconsin in the finals of the conference tournament. Afterwards, they’ll be focused on the Big Dance, hoping that this is the year that the program has their sustained Tournament run. At times this team looks unstoppable, but it’s all about avoiding those dry stretches with lackluster defensive effort.