The Illini are playing really good basketball right now, with Alan Griffin giving very productive minutes, Ayo is playing like an NBA guard making shots in big moments, and taking over the floor. The Illini beat Wisconsin for the first time in 15 games, and for the first time in a long time at the Kohl Center. They have to keep rolling to make it to the tournament. 

Normally in the pregames, I go over the upcoming foe, but I am going to take a different route with this Illini Update as Big Ten play is in full swing, Bracketology. The newest update came out today from Joe Lunardi and the Illini still have a huge mountain to climb. 

If you look at the KenPom Ratings, Rutgers has had one a very easy strength of schedule, you still can’t sleep on them. Earlier this year we saw Miami come to the “House of Paign” and beat the Illini, as you would think Rutgers are a by far better team than the Hurricanes, but you have to defend home court. With the streak snapped against Wisconsin, the Illini need to take care of business on their home floor as they did against Purdue and Michigan. 

Back to the Bracketology, Lunardi has the Illini as one of the “First Four Out” which means that they are playing well enough to get the recognition on Selection Sunday, but they won’t be able to make it in. The other three teams that are in that category are Georgetown, DePaul, and Oklahoma State. The next move for the Illini is a “bubble team” before they can get in. Incomes the Rutgers game at home. Rutgers is another one of those pesky “quad 1 wins” which will give the Illini more of a case to make it into the tournament.  Take care of business tomorrow morning, and keep that Big Ten record at home alive.