Michigan basketball is the Big Ten champion. It is what it is.
Still, Illinois can’t let it pass that, after beating Michigan last week and continuing to roll, they don’t have that distinction.
See, Illini will have played three more conference games than the Wolverines, but with game cancellations due to COVID-19, the conference is going for the overall winning percentage. And with Michigan at 19-3 compared to Illinois at 20-6, the Wolverines guaranteed the right to be champions – as recognized by the conference.
However, that did not stop Illini from humming after Saturday’s game.
“I think that when all is said and done, we will be co-champions,” said Dosunmu. “I mean, look at our resume. We lost four games, I believe. We beat Michigan, who is the champion. They did not play three more games. Any day in the Big Ten, anyone can be defeated. I think we have proved that we are one of the best teams in the country. With this victory tonight, we believe we are the champions of the Big Ten. “
But, no matter what the Illinois contingent says, they are not champions of the Big Ten. And coach Juwan Howard will have nothing from anyone who wants to delegitimize what corn and blue have achieved this year.
Asked about Fighting Illini’s claim after the Wolverines lost to MSU on Sunday, Howard did not take any action.
“I don’t get into these things, man. You will not receive any bytes of sound from me or any bulletin board (expletive excluded), I don’t care about any of that, ”said Howard. “I only care that we are champions of the Big Ten and I am very proud of our guys for working hard since June and grinding. All strangers, being able to spin and sacrifice what their university life should be. But they still manage to have a season and then be stars in their own roles. It is incredible what our student-athletes were able to withstand and overcome and, at the same time, accomplish something special, which is the title of the Big Ten. So I’m not going to let anyone – I repeat, anyone – try to screw it up for them. They deserved it. “
Illinois has a chance to win a title – in the Big Ten Tournament or beyond. But when it comes to the Big Ten regular season, a 16-4 conference record is worse than a 14-3 record.
He’ll just have to make it up to his salt, because Michigan can hang a flag, while the Illini can’t. It’s that simple.