This is it. The win or go home stage of the college basketball season is upon us. On the last day of February. This is mostly uncharted territory for Illinois. Without a win today against Iowa in the opening round of the Big Ten tournament, the Illini's season could end before March even begins.
But that's what happens when the Big Ten so desperately wanted to play its conference tournament at Madison Square Garden. The Big East has the good week (i.e. last week of the season) booked through 2026. That meant the Big Ten had to make concessions — like jamming its regular conference schedule into a week shorter than usual.