Illinois Fighting Illini Basketball: Big Loyola matchup is so funon March 21, 2021 at 11:00 am

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CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 29: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini is seen during the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at State Farm Center on January 29, 2021 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 29: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini is seen during the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at State Farm Center on January 29, 2021 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

The University of Illinois Fighting Illini basketball team is really on a roll. After rolling through the regular season and capturing a Big Ten title, they became a one seed in the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament. They won their first game of the tournament on Friday over Drexel. It was a dominating 78-49 performance that you would expect from a one seed against a 16 seed. Now, a very fun matchup looms against an interstate school.

The University of Illinois Fighting Illini basketball team has a huge test ahead of them.

The Loyola of Chicago Ramblers will be the team that is next for the Illini. It is a really nice thing for the state of Illinois to see these two meet up in the round of 32. You might remember the Ramblers’ remarkable run to the final four a few years ago and now they are trying to do it again. If Illinois wants to finish off what has been an extremely successful year, they will need to bring their best in this game.

During the 2020-21 season, Illinois went 7-3 against ranked schools. Loyola only went 0-1. Naturally, Illinois’s 37th ranked strength of schedule outmatches Loyola’s 130th ranked schedule. Illinois has scored an average of 81.1 points per game while keeping their opponents to 68.6 points per game. The Ramblers score an average of 71.5 points per game while they only allow 55.7 points per game.

The two teams don’t match up very well on paper with these statistics. It is fair to think that Illinois is a strong favorite but that doesn’t mean anything. We have been seeing some high seeds drop like flies over the course of the weekend so far. Each team is 9-1 in their last ten games so they both feel good about it all right now.

That is especially true for Illinois as they won 11 of 12 to end their season. Brad Underwood has his team going well right now. With a strong team game built around stars like Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn, you have to like their chances in this one. If each team is at the top of their game, Illinois should win. If Illinois doesn’t show up and Loyola does, the Ramblers have a legit shot.

Related Story: Illinois basketball is so ready for this opportunity

Sister Jean is back with her team so you know Loyola is going to be ready to play. They have a very well-rounded team that plays great defense which is going to be a good challenge for the Illini early in the tournament. If they really want to go on and win this thing, having played a team as good as Loyola this quickly is going to be good for them. As mentioned before, this is so fun for our state as well so hopefully, they put on a good show.

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