While Texas and Shaka Smart have some questions they need the answer ( :noidea: one who declined an invite?), the biggest winner of the week might just be
Illinois.
The Fighting Illini picked up victories at Purdue and at Michigan, putting them in first place in the Big Ten all by themselves. That ability to win on the road is something no one else in the conference has shown.
Road teams have only won 12 games in Big Ten play this season, and Illinois now has three of them.
We know the Illini play great defense – and defense travels – but it has been the improvement of their offense, particularly in the halfcourt, that has allowed them to go on this run of six straight wins. They still don’t shoot it particularly well from three, yet the Illini are executing much better in the halfcourt, which was their biggest weakness.
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