Illini Basketball 2025-2026

Rusty said:

Why put the qualifier on Ben's numbers? So I guess take out Keaton's 9-11 against Purdue and then post the numbers right?
Ben at 40% in quad 1-2 surprised me...last two games are doing some heavy lifting though (would be like 33% before this heater)

No matter what this kid does, it's never going to be enough for some.

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Mobi said:

Ben started hitting contested threes is a good sign to me.

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skyIdub said:

Wagler B1G Player of the Year:

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Joel Goodson said:

https://twitter.com/x/status/2018149531959910897

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lonelytylenol said:

status check-in for tier 1 (top 5) matchups

[9-0] Nebraska Cornhuskers

W	@Illinois Fighting Illini
W	Michigan State Spartans
1/27	@Michigan Wolverines
2/01	Illinois Fighting Illini
2/10	Purdue Boilermakers

[8-1] Illinois Fighting Illini

L	Nebraska Cornhuskers
W	@Purdue Boilermakers
2/01	@Nebraska Cornhuskers
2/07	@Michigan State Spartans
2/27	Michigan Wolverines

[8-1] Michigan Wolverines

1/27	Nebraska Cornhuskers
1/30	@Michigan State Spartans
2/17	@Purdue Boilermakers
2/27	@Illinois Fighting Illini
3/08	Michigan State Spartans

[8-1] Michigan State Spartans

L	@Nebraska Cornhuskers
1/30	Michigan Wolverines
2/07	Illinois Fighting Illini
2/26	@Purdue Boilermakers
3/08	@Michigan Wolverines

[7-2] Purdue Boilermakers

L	Illinois Fighting Illini
2/10	@Nebraska Cornhuskers
2/17	Michigan Wolverines
2/26	Michigan State Spartans

Observations

1. The schedule seems very backloaded this year - so many remaining matchups among the top 5 teams.
2. Purdue is the only top 5 team with only 4 top 5 games. And 3 of the 4 are at home.
3. All other top 5 teams have 5 top 5 games. Nebraska has the advantage of 3 home, 2 road, while the other 3 teams have 2 home, 3 road.
4. Nebraska finishes their top 5 games on 2/10 - much earlier than everyone else.
5. Avoiding losses against teams outside of the top 5 may be decisive, in terms of a conference title. Purdue and Michigan are behind the curve, in that regard.

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1. Adding Wisconsin to tier 1 balances out the quantity of tier 1 match-ups for each tier 1 team - each of 6 tier 1 teams has 6 tier 1 match-ups.
2. The imbalance in home vs away remains:
   • 2 home, 4 away: Michigan State, Wisconsin
   • 2 away, 4 home: Nebraska, Purdue
   • 3 home, 3 away: Illinois, Michigan
3. Nebraska has a single tier 1 game left, on 2/10.
4. All other tier 1 teams have at least 3, and as many as 4 tier 1 match-ups remaining.
5. Avoiding losses against teams outside of tier 1 may be decisive, in terms of a conference title. Purdue and Wisconsin are the only tier 1 teams with non tier 1 losses - Purdue with 2, and Wisconsin with 1.