MINNEAPOLIS — Casey Schuermann always takes a look at the Illini men's basketball schedule in case he can make a road trip to catch the team in person.
Last month, the lifelong fan traveled from his Forest City, Iowa, home to Lincoln, Neb., for the team's Big Ten opener.
Wednesday's rematch with Minnesota at historic Williams Arena wasn't a given for Schuermann to fit on his schedule, though.
That is, until the polar vortex hit the entire Midwest.
The fact that the temperature never hit a positive number in Minnesota on Wednesday actually worked in Schuermann's favor.