The bloom is off the rose for these Illini (14-6, 6-4 Big Ten), who went from being underrated by the college basketball illuminati early this season to now arguably underperforming as the expectations around them have risen. The climb up the mountain, as always, gets harder with every subsequent step toward the top.

Despite (or maybe because of) their unpredictability, the Illini went back to some old standbys to best the Wildcats on Sunday

It was the Illini's ninth straight win at State Farm Center against the Wildcats, who haven't swept a season series since 1966.

Northwestern and Rutgers both occupy the bottom third of the Big Ten as the Wildcats prepare to host the Scarlet Knights on Wednesday in Evanston, Ill.

Analyzing Sunday’s Northwestern at Illinois odds and lines, with college basketball expert picks, predictions and best bets.

Illinois knocked off Northwestern in a college basketball game Sunday. Full recap, game highlights from Champaign, Illinois.

The Northwestern Wildcats (12-7, 3-5 Big Ten) hope to break a three-game road losing streak when they visit the Illinois Fighting Illini (13-6, 5-4 Big Ten) on Sunday, January 26, 2025 at 3:00 PM

It’s time to continue our College Basketball odds series with a Northwestern-Illinois prediction and pick. Find out how to watch Northwestern-Illinois. The Northwestern Wildcats are on the wrong side of the bubble.

No. 17 Illinois takes on the Northwestern Wildcats after Kasparas Jakucionis scored 21 points in Illinois' 91-70 loss to the Maryland Terrapins.

Starting for 7-foot-1 Tomislav Ivisic, who missed his second straight game due to mononucleosis, freshman center Morez Johnson Jr. recorded 15 points, nine rebounds and three blocks as the Fighting Illini (14-6, 6-4) built a 22-point halftime lead on their way to snapping their first two-game losing streak of the season.

No. 17 Illinois plays a rematch against Northwestern on Sunday in Champaign without sophomore center Tomislav Ivišić.

In his 12th season at the helm for Northwestern, Chris Collins has yet to crack the code at the State Farm Center. The last time the Wildcats (12-8, 3-6 Big Ten) visited Illinois, they were handed a 96-66 blowout — their largest defeat of the 2023-24 season.