Illinois Drops to No. 15 in Coaches Poll After UConn Loss, Eyes Bounce-Back vs. Tennessee
Illinois basketball slid one spot to No. 15 in the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll released Monday, following a week that saw both a comfortable win and a tough loss. The Illini sit at 6-2 and are still firmly in the national conversation, but their recent performance against a top-tier opponent shows there’s still work to be done.
A Mixed Week for the Illini
The week started on a high note. On Nov.
24, Illinois wrapped up its home nonconference slate with an 87-73 win over UT Rio Grande Valley. The turning point came early, when the Illini ripped off a 22-6 run in the first half, holding UTRGV to just one field goal during that stretch.
That defensive intensity set the tone, and Andrej Stojakovic once again showed why he’s quickly becoming a go-to scorer in Champaign. He dropped 24 points-his fourth 20-point outing of the season-and looked in full control offensively.
But four days later, Illinois ran into a buzzsaw in the form of UConn, now ranked No. 5 in the country. The Illini struggled mightily in a 74-61 loss, falling behind by as many as 21 in the second half.
Credit to Brad Underwood’s squad-they didn’t fold. Illinois clawed back to within seven late in the game, but a four-point play by UConn with just over two minutes left sealed the deal.
Kylan Boswell led the way with 25 points, but the Illini’s shooting woes were hard to ignore. They hit just 31.7% of their shots from the field (19-for-60) and went ice-cold from deep, connecting on only 6-of-29 from three-point range (20.7%). Against a team like UConn, that’s a recipe for frustration.
Big Ten Still Well-Represented
Despite the drop in the rankings, Illinois remains one of six Big Ten teams in the top 25. Purdue and Michigan are tied at No. 1, while Michigan State holds steady at No.
- Indiana (No. 19) and Iowa (No. 25) round out the conference’s ranked teams.
That kind of depth in the Big Ten means Illinois won’t have many easy nights once conference play kicks into gear.
Efficiency Rankings Tell the Story
Illinois’ advanced metrics paint a picture of a team that’s still finding its identity but has the tools to contend. According to KenPom, the Illini rank No. 17 overall, with the No. 16 offense and No. 21 defense.
That’s a solid foundation, even if they dropped from No. 7 in KenPom’s rankings just a week ago. In the NCAA’s NET rankings, Illinois checks in at No.
The numbers suggest balance, but if Illinois wants to take the next step, they’ll need to find more consistency-particularly on the offensive end. When the shots are falling, this team can run with anyone. But cold stretches, like the one against UConn, have been costly.
What’s Next: Tennessee Awaits
The road doesn’t get easier. Next up is a neutral-site showdown against Tennessee on Saturday, Dec. 6, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. It’s another high-profile test against a ranked SEC opponent, and it’s the kind of game that can swing momentum heading into the heart of the season.
For Illinois, this is a chance to respond. The UConn loss exposed some flaws, but it also offered a glimpse of the team’s resilience. If the Illini can clean up their shooting and maintain the defensive pressure that sparked their early-season success, they’ll be in good shape.
Coaches Poll Snapshot (Dec. 1)
Here’s how the top of the poll shakes out this week:
- Purdue (21 first-place votes)
- Michigan (6)
- Arizona (3)
- Duke (1)
- UConn
- Louisville
- Houston
- Michigan State
- Iowa State
- BYU
...
13.
Tennessee
14.
Florida
15.
Illinois
...
- Indiana
- Iowa
It’s a crowded field, and Illinois remains right in the thick of it. The pieces are there. Now it’s about putting them together when it matters most.