Regardless of if this doesn’t matter one bit for our NCAAT seed, I think it is still a very important game for the program. Look at the last four seasons laid out like this, with the regular season champ(s) listed and then the BTT champ listed … it’s a nice visualization of who the players have been:
2021: Michigan, ILLINOIS
2022: ILLINOIS, Wisconsin, Iowa
2023: Purdue, Purdue
2024: Purdue, ILLINOIS/Wisconsin
Hanging a third Big Ten banner (of some kind) in four seasons - especially when you consider the shenanigans that prevented yet another one in 2021! - would be a nice statement to reinforce that Illinois is where recruits should go if they want to compete for Big Ten championships.
Of course we want the NCAAT success this year. However, the opportunity is right in front of us to beat a very good Wisconsin program for the EIGHTH time in a row en route to celebrating a championship on national TV … that is essentially important, I don’t care what anyone says!!
I’m pumped, and I hope the team is, too!!