Let’s rewind to mid-December. Illinois had just dropped a tough one at home to then-No.
23 Nebraska. At that point, the Illini were sitting at 8-3 overall and 1-1 in Big Ten play, and to be honest, they didn’t look like a team bound for a top seed in March.
But that loss? It lit a fire.
Since that game, Illinois has flipped the script in a big way. The Illini have reeled off 11 straight wins - and we’re not just talking about padding the win column with easy home games. This stretch has been one of the most impressive in recent program history, not just because of the quantity of wins, but because of the quality.
Five of those 11 victories have come on the road, and three were against ranked opponents. It started with a statement win over No.
19 Iowa, but the real turning point came in the last week. Two wins over top-five teams in just three games?
That’s the kind of résumé boost that can vault a team from a solid tournament seed into the conversation for a No. 1.
The first of those marquee victories came in West Lafayette, where Keaton Wagler delivered a performance for the ages to help Illinois knock off then-No. 4 Purdue. That win turned heads and landed the Illini in the top 10 - but they weren’t done yet.
On Sunday, Illinois took it up another notch. They went into Lincoln and handed No.
5 Nebraska a loss on their home floor. That’s two top-five wins in three games.
That’s the kind of run that doesn’t just get attention - it demands respect.
Before the Nebraska win, Illinois was already showing up as a projected No. 2 seed in most NCAA tournament brackets. But Nebraska?
They were being penciled in as a No. 1.
So when Illinois walked out of Lincoln with the W, it wasn’t just another win - it was a statement. And it likely bumped the Illini into that coveted top seed territory in the eyes of the selection committee.
Looking ahead, the path is there. Illinois has nine games left on the regular season schedule, and only two of them are against ranked opponents: a road trip to No.
7 Michigan State and a home game against No. 3 Michigan.
That’s a manageable slate, and if Illinois keeps playing like this, they’ve got a real shot to finish strong and lock up a No. 1 seed.
And let’s talk metrics. The NET Rankings - which the NCAA selection committee leans on heavily - are working in Illinois’ favor.
After the Nebraska win, the Illini now sit at 7-3 in Quad 1 games. That puts them in elite company.
Only three teams in the country - Michigan, Duke, and Arizona - have more Quad 1 wins.
So where does that leave us? Eleven straight wins.
Two victories over top-five teams. A 7-3 record against the toughest competition in the country.
Illinois has built a résumé that stacks up with anyone’s. And while there’s still work to be done, the Illini are no longer just in the conversation - they’re driving it.
March is coming. And Illinois is peaking at the right time.