Don’t be fooled: Illinois can still make a run

Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesA college basketball season is a series of ups and downs that can confound, excite, confuse, frustrate, annoy, and exhilarate. We analyze the stats, rely on the eye test, look at historical trends, and dig into recruiting and roster construction. Hell, sometimes we even pray to the basketball gods for tales of redemption during moments of regret.

This year’s Fighting Illini basketball squad has had its share of twists and turns. And as the regular season winds to a close, things will remain unclear until they play out. Here are a few stories that explain the past, present, and future of the season.

The Illini lost a key component.

Starting…