Entering the 2025-26 season, ther was one team to beat in the Big Ten: Purdue. The Boilermakers – lead by the experienced on-court trio of Braden Smith,Trey Kaufman-Renn and Fletcher Loyer,and with coach Matt Painter pulling the strings – were clearly the lone team atop the mountain,not just in the conference but also across the country (Purdue ranked was voted AP’s preseason No. 1).Nearly two months into the season,that’s no longer the case. There is a new sheriff in town: Michigan. With an unblemished 11-0 record, the Wolverines are currently ranked No. 2 in the AP poll, and they have positioned themselves in an entirely different stratosphere than any other team as far as the analytics are concerned (ranking No. 1 in KenPom, Bart Torvik and the NET).But we aren’t here to talk about Michigan and its star-studded lineup – which includes former Illini Morez Johnson Jr. We’re here to answer the question of the hour: Are there more than two horses in this Big

Can Illinois actually Win the National Championship?

Following the Missouri win, the knee-jerk reaction to the question would be a hard yes. That Illinois team can legitimately beat anyone. Even against a Michigan team that has looked absolutely untouchable for more than a month, the Illini could be the favorite in their late-February matchup, especially as it will take place in Champaign.

Then again, as we’ve seen through 12 games, Illinois can also be vulnerable to lesser teams. Not that Nebraska or Alabama is “lesser” in a broader sense.

Can Illinois Basketball finally Prioritize Defense for Championship Success?

A Big ten regular-season title bid, a conference tournament championship and a March Madness run – all of the above. The old adage has stood the test of time for a reason. Defense truly does win championships.

Also, we certainly know illinois can score. That’s a given. Brad Underwood-led teams have never had an issue putting the ball in the hoop. As for stopping other teams from doing the same,well,that hasn’t exactly been Underwood’s forte.

Cue recently acquired “defensive coordinator” Camryn Crocker. Behind Crocker,the Illini have seemingly revamped some of their defensive principles (focus less on forcing turnovers and more on keeping the ball in front,for example),while honing in on other key aspects of Underwood’s previous defenses (run teams off the three-point line).But thus far, the results have been mixed.