Illinois Men's Basketball Unranked Following 2-0 Start

Slow Start to the Season

Despite starting the season a perfect 2-0, the Illinois Fighting Illini remain unranked in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll. Illinois opened their season with a 74-59 victory over Eastern Illinois before defeating North Carolina A&T 87-48 on Monday night.

The Illini's impressive start is due in large part to their stifling defense. They are holding their opponents to just 38% shooting from the field and 28% from three-point range. Illinois is also forcing 10 turnovers per game.

Tough Schedule Ahead

Illinois will face a much tougher test in the coming weeks, as they travel to face No. 18 Maryland on Saturday. The Illini will also host No. 11 UCLA on December 10th. These games will be a good test for Illinois' young team, which is led by sophomore guard Ayo Dosunmu.

Expectations for 2022:2023 Season

Illinois has a lot of potential this season, but they will need to continue to improve on both ends of the court. If they can do that, they have a chance to make a run in the NCAA Tournament.

Conclusion

Despite their impressive start, the Illinois Fighting Illini remain unranked in the latest AP Top 25 poll. The Illini will face a much tougher test in the coming weeks, but they have the potential to make a run in the NCAA Tournament.