GROCE-O-METER
Each week, we’ll gauge how close John Groce is to ending a two-year NCAA tournament drought: The Illini coach may say he’ll pack for a five-day trip to Indianapolis next week, but the reality is the season is likely done by this time next Saturday. The poor nonconference start, followed by the poor Big Ten start, leaves many questions surrounding Groce going into next season. The program likely will wind up with the first losing season this decade.
THE STANDINGS
TEAM BIG TEN ALL BIG TEN TOURNAMENT HISTORY PRIMER
Indiana 14-3 24-6 This season’s top seed has never won the tournament and enters with a poor 11-18 all-time mark in event.