As the calendar flips toward conference play, Illinois’ nonconference journey is just about in the books - and it’s been anything but a cakewalk. The Illini, sitting at 9-3 overall and 1-1 in Big Ten play, have one final tune-up left against Southern (4-8, No.
286 NET) on Monday. Barring any surprises, that should be a businesslike win before the real grind begins in January.
But let’s take a step back and look at the big picture. Through two months of action, Illinois has already faced seven high-major opponents, battled through five ranked-on-ranked matchups, and played four games on neutral courts. That’s not just a busy schedule - that’s a deliberate gauntlet, and it’s become something of a signature for Brad Underwood.
Underwood doesn’t shy away from challenges. Year after year, he builds a nonconference slate that tests his team early and often.
This season’s schedule ranks 35th nationally in nonconference strength of schedule (SOS), and it’s clear he wanted his group to earn its stripes before the Big Ten wars begin. The results?
A mixed bag, as is often the case when you’re swinging at the nation’s best - but the resume is solid, and more importantly, the metrics love what they see.
And in today’s college basketball landscape, those metrics matter more than ever. The selection committee leans heavily on analytics when comparing resumes, and Illinois is checking every box.
They’re currently No. 10 in the NET rankings, No. 9 on KenPom, No. 10 on Bart Torvik, and No. 11 in ESPN’s BPI. That’s a consensus top-11 team across the board, and it puts the Illini in a strong position as they head into the heart of Big Ten play.
In short, Illinois has done the work. They’ve faced real competition, taken some lumps, but also scored quality wins and earned respect in the eyes of the computers. If they can keep building on that foundation in conference play, they’ll be in excellent shape come March - not just to make the tournament, but to make noise once they’re there.