Can the Fighting Illini Run the Table?

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Jan 27, 2005 8:34PM

Having beaten #15 Wisconsin in Madison the other night--snapping their 38-game home winning streak--people are beginning to wonder whether the Fighting Illini can go undefeated this season. With a 20-0 record and ranked #1 in both major polls, are they really that good?

By overcoming the Badgers and #24 Iowa in the past week, they've proven they can overcome tough competition and win even when they're not playing their best basketball. However, the Sun-Times warns that there are still possible pitfalls in their remaining schedule. They point out five possible games that could blemish their perfect record. Chicagoist isn't so sure, however. We just don't see how anybody in the Big 10 can compete with the Illini. We watched the game against Iowa. Illinois played poorly and Iowa stepped up, and all that got them was a defeat in OT. Wisconsin looked tough for a while but wilted.

We're fairly confident that the Illini will run the table in the Big 10, at least during the regular season. While we could see them letting up a little in the Big 10 tournament -- it's not like they won't get an NCAA bid regardless -- it will be played at the United Center in front of a strongly pro-Illinois crowd. So they could head into the NCAA tournament perfect on the year. What happens then is anyone's guess. But the Final Four is in St. Louis, just across the river...