Game Preview: Michigan hosts Illinois in top-four showdown with title implications

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports The No. 2 Michigan Wolverines (18-1, 13-1 Big Ten) have been waiting for a shot at No. 4 Illinois (18-6, 14-4 Big Ten) and finally get it on Tuesday night at Crisler Center with Big Ten title implications on the line. A victory in any of the next three games would make Michigan the mathematical conference title win based on winning percentage. That might rub Illinois the wrong way, but that is the way the cookie is crumbling this year.

This has the potential to be the marquee matchup of the year on paper in what has analytically-speaking been one of the best Big Ten conferences in the history of the sport. And there is a little bit of bad blood here between…