Who is the best college basketball team in Illinois this season?

[️ Fanatic]

Illinois 19-10
Northwestern 20-9
Bradley 23-8
Southern Illinois. 22-9
SIUE 18-13

DePaul 9-20
Western Illinois 16-13 (lost to DePaul 11/11)
NIU 12-17
Illinois State 11-20
Loyola 9-19
UIC 12-19
Chicago State 11-18
Eastern Illinois. 9-22

Bradley definitely top 3... would like the chance to play Northwestern. I believe our defense would give Illini challenges. Go Braves

[Jim]

The state of Illinois has some very good basketball teams and loyal fans. I would like to see a "Best Of Illinois" nonconference tournament every fall! I believe a tournament like this would have great attendance (much better than the island destinations), provide good TV exposure and allow Mid Major schools an opportunity to potentially play games against bigger schools. Any thoughts?

[Tommy]

With our defense and 3 point shooting, we can compete with anyone, especially the teams in Illinois. If Illinois and Northwestern had the balls to come to Carver, I'd say our chances would be pretty darn good.

[Classof77]

Bradley!

I don't like Illinois. Not even a little bit. They're afraid to play us. From their perspective, nothing to gain and too much to lose.

[Da Coach]

Illinois 19-10
Northwestern 20-9
Bradley 23-8
Southern Illinois. 22-9
SIUE 18-13

DePaul 9-20
Western Illinois 16-13 (lost to DePaul 11/11)
NIU 12-17
Illinois State 11-20
Loyola 9-19
Eastern Illinois. 9-22

Bradley definitely top 3... would like the chance to play Northwestern. I believe our defense would give Illini challenges. Go Braves

Rank by NET-
33- Illinois
41- Northwestern
56- Bradley
118- SIU
166- DePaul
222- SIUE
241- Western IL
248- Northern IL
270- Loyola
271- Illinois State
285- Chicago State
286- UIC
345- Eastern IL

Rank by RPI-
41- Bradley
48- Northwestern
66- Illinois
81- SIU
203- SIUE
215- DePaul
223- Western IL
248- Northern IL
271- Loyola
276- UIC
288- Illinois State
303- Chicago State
350-Eastern IL

Rank by Kenpom-
34- Illinois
47- Northwestern
78- Bradley
132- SIU
145- DePaul
243- Northern IL
249 SIUE
257- Loyola
261 Western IL
270- Illinois State
277- Chicago State
291- UIC
345- Eastern IL

[molar50]

Illinois will never agree to this. It would be good for the fans, but I doubt that even DePaul would want to play Bradley. Same with Loyola. They do not want their recruits to even consider Bradley

[LittleBrave]

Bradley for sure - deepest team, most experienced, most cohesive...best D

[Stryker]

I love this Bradley team but both Northwestern and IL have players that could absolutely light up BU and secure a win. Either way, feels good for BU to be right there with the BIG10 teams in IL this year, and I would love a matchup with one of them in the NCAA tournament.

[Go_Braves]

Bradley!

I don't like Illinois. Not even a little bit. They're afraid to play us. From their perspective, nothing to gain and too much to lose.

SO TRUE

Just look at the 2021 NCAA tournament - Illinois was the #1 Seed in the Midwest and they lost to #8 Loyola (Chicago) in the second round 71 - 58. The MIGHTY ILLINI (with Kofi Cockburn) have fallen during that game.

Bradley's team today would give today's Ilini one heck of a game.

[Stryker]

SO TRUE

Just look at the 2021 NCAA tournament - Illinois was the #1 Seed in the Midwest and they lost to #8 Loyola (Chicago) in the second round 71 - 58. The MIGHTY ILLINI (with Kofi Cockburn) have fallen during that game.

Bradley's team today would give today's Ilini one heck of a game.

That was a pretty hard loss to IL fans haha! However, that Loyola team had players from a F4 team and most were saying Loyola was under seeded that year. Classic example of the selection committee's favor of BCS teams biting the BCS team in the rear haha.

[Classof77]

SO TRUE

Just look at the 2021 NCAA tournament - Illinois was the #1 Seed in the Midwest and they lost to #8 Loyola (Chicago) in the second round 71 - 58. The MIGHTY ILLINI (with Kofi Cockburn) have fallen during that game.

Bradley's team today would give today's Ilini one heck of a game.

Before that game I told a U of I alum, fan, and friend that Krutwig was going to show Kofi moves he had never seen. I doubt any of us on this forum were surprised by the Loyola win.

[Bradley3342]

With our defense and 3 point shooting, we can compete with anyone, especially the teams in Illinois. If Illinois and Northwestern had the balls to come to Carver, I'd say our chances would be pretty darn good.

Fat chance Tommy. I totally agree with you 100% but trying to get a power 5 team to come to our place anymore would be really hard. Coach Versace use to say the top 20 was like a club that didn’t want to play anyone outside of it for fear they would lose and nothing to gain from it.