Mar 13, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andre Curbelo (5) reacts to defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
It is never too early to think about the Illinois basketball season as the Orange and Blue are poised for another run at the NCAA tournament.
Entering last season, the Illini hadn’t played an NCAA tournament game since March 24, 2013. That was the heartbreaking loss to No. 2 seed Miami (FL). For the six seasons following that defeat, the biggest accomplishment for the program was just being named on the bubble.