Illini's Big Ten Grind to NCAA Tournament

0:00On March 17th, Illinois finished the 20-game Big Ten regular season with 15 wins, including eight tough road victories. The Elini showed grit, but took some hits at home with three conference losses, one on a buzzer beater, one in overtime, and a less competitive one against Michigan. That grind carried into the Big Ten tournament last week. Illinois fell to Wisconsin again in the quarterfinals, this time in overtime after building a big lead that the badgers erased with a strong comeback. Coach Brad Underwood sees a silver lining heading into the NCAA tournament. He welcomed spacing fresh opponents instead of the familiar Big Ten grind early on. Underwood compares it to non-coference play, where teams encounter new styles and players they have not seen before. It brings a refreshing change after battling the same high-level competition all season. Now the Elini gear up for March Madness, ready to reset against unfamiliar foes and chase at the brun. Made in AI.