Last week I broke down Illinois’ non-conference schedule. With only three Power 5 opponents it is vital that the Illini handle their business outside of league play. The Big Ten is a grind and no win is guaranteed. There is one clear-cut favorite, but there are several teams that are emerging, rebuilding or unsure of what they have. This week I’ll provide a glimpse of the Fighting Illini’s Big Ten opponents in chronological order.
- Maryland (2018-19 Record: 23-11; 13-7 B1G): Illinois begins conference play in College Park on Dec. 7. Maryland has a fairly young team (five freshmen, five sophomores) and lost center Bruno Fernando to the NBA.