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Illinois is an elite defensive team. That can take them far.

After a three-week stretch of buy games and an extended holiday break, the Illini finally got tested again.

Unlike against Marquette, they passed this one with flying colors. The building formerly known as “The RAC” has become a bit of a house of horrors for opposing Big Ten teams in recent years — including Illinois (0-3 in its last three coming in) — but this year’s Illini squad had no trouble at all on Saturday.

So, how were the Illini able to handle Rutgers so easily?