Seth Davis, Jimmy Dykes Make Bold Proclamation About Illinois Basketball

Two separate NCAA college hoops analysts came away with the same eye-opening impression of the Illini on Friday

Mar 7, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kasparas Jakucionis (32) looks to pass during the first half against the Purdue Boilermakers at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images | Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

We've seen it – and said it – all season: Illinois, now 20-11 overall and 12-8 in the Big Ten after Friday's 88-80 regular-season-closing home win over No. 18 Purdue, has virtually unlimited potential.

Youth and injuries and illness and occasional bouts of boneheadedness have kept the Illini from always demonstrating it, but that's the thing about potential, right? It isn't always fulfilled.

Even on Friday, the Illini at times seemed determined to fritter away their best chances to secure a 20-win season, build a legit win streak (three in a row!) and enter the Big Ten Tournament with the kind of momentum that could carry them to a Sunday final, a favorable NCAA Tournament seed and a lightning-in-a-bottle run toward San Antonio and the Final Four.

At least two prominent college hoops pundits – Seth Davis and Jimmy Dykes – saw enough from the Illini against the Boilers (and perhaps in 20-point wins over Iowa at home and then-No. 15 Michigan in Ann Arbor) to climb aboard the Illinois bandwagon:

Illinois ends the season on a three-game win streak including a 20-point win at Michigan and at home against Purdue tonight. Am I allowed to say they have the highest ceiling in the Big Ten again?

— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) March 8, 2025

If you are looking for a Final4 team that’s unranked right now … @IlliniMBB
Biggest upside in the Big10

— Jimmy Dykes (@CoachJimmyDykes) March 8, 2025

Ceiling. Upside. Potential. Call it whatever you want, but on Friday the young Illini were tested by last year's Big Ten regular-season champs and 2024-25 preseason conference favorites – coached by one of the best in the biz in Matt Painter – and couldn't have responded with more poise and maturity.

Will Riley, Kasparas Jakucionis and Tomislav Ivisic proved they were ready. Tre White showed he was healthy and hitting his stride. What's next? Could it be – go ahead and hold your breath, Illini fans – the return of Morez Johnson Jr.?

Poise, maturity, momentum, health, depth, timing. Combine all of that with Illinois' next-level talent, and you also have one helluva dangerous dark horse entering the games that matter in March.

More From Illinois on Sports Illustrated:

Illinois Basketball's Will Riley Gives Us Another Reason to Love Bill Raftery

Illinois Basketball Grows Up, Shows Out in Win Over Purdue

Illinois Basketball Draws Big Social Media Reaction After Win Over Purdue