Illinois’ 94-63 Saturday smackdown of Minnesota — the third-worst home loss for the Gophers ever — was almost uncomfortably thorough. It left some Gophers players questioning the team’s pride. It left some in the local media discussing coach Richard Pitino’s job security. It certainly made a mockery of the notion that the Illini were in danger in Minneapolis, where Iowa, Ohio State and Michigan had already gone down.
Simply put, it was the most impressive performance by a Big Ten team all season.
But then Michigan-Ohio State happened. The one-loss Wolverines’ 92-87 win Sunday on the Buckeyes’ home floor was so impressive — not to mention so wildly entertaining — it made one wonder if Juwan Howard’s skilled, dynamic, deeper-than-deep team should just skip the formalities and proceed to the Final Four right now.