Illinois basketball being battle-tested will help the micro and macro for the program

It hasn't been an easy road since the turn of the calendar to 2026, but the struggles from the Illinois basketball program should help in the long run.

Illinois guard Destiny Jackson scores as the Oregon Ducks host the Illinois Fighting Illini on Feb. 4, 2026, at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesMuch of the energy of the Illinois basketball fanbase is going toward the men’s program, but I plead with you, don’t give up on the women’s team.

While the Illini have hit a rough patch, that was to be expected. Dropping the last two contests, four out of the last five games, and seven out of the last 10 looks bad. But when…