Rock bottom!
Really? Illini football and men’s basketball teams at rock bottom? That seems to be a popular opinion, but incorporated in that judgment is the inference that an upswing must surely be around the corner.
Evidence is stronger that additional patience is needed, that this unsatisfactory status may linger longer than anyone would prefer.
First, football. The Illini were outscored 223-88 in going 0-6 against teams in the Big Ten’s second-best division. That’s bad, and season statistics were equally bad.
Over the full 12 games, the UI’s offensive ranks in the 14-team conference were 13th in rushing, 13th in total yards and 13th in pass efficiency.