Here's what beat writer Marcus Jackson was thinking when he studied the 2015-16 Illinois men’s basketball schedule, which was made complete on Thursday:
— For the second consecutive season, the Illini will be tested by some conference heavyweights to start the Big Ten season with five of the first six games against teams expected to start the season ranked in the Top 25.
— After starting with a pair of road games last season, Illinois opens Big Ten play with a home game against Michigan. The last three times the Illini have opened the conference portion of the season on their home court, they’ve done so with victories.