We're only two games into the college basketball season, but the Fighting Illini are already being forced into survival mode.
The 2015-16 regular season in college basketball isn't even a week old yet, but John Groce's team is already in a March Madness state of mind -- and not in a good way. The phrase "survive and advance" is usually one reserved for the 68-team tournament that takes place in the early Spring, but in Illinois' case, it is one that's being implemented on a daily basis as we head towards Thanksgiving.
The Illini suffered their first November loss in nearly five years last Friday night against the North Florida Ospreys.