Before the Illini embark on the road to Omaha with today’s 3 p.m. regional opener in Oxford, Miss., beat writer SCOTT RICHEY breaks down all four teams that will play this weekend at Swayze Field:
Illinois (36-19)
Road to Oxford: Six straight Big Ten series victories to end the regular season helped the Illini overcame a bit of a midseason swoon. An 0-2 stay in the Big Ten tournament was unexpected, but didn't wipe out what Illinois accomplished this spring with an 11-6 record against top 50 teams.