Single game tickets went on sale yesterday, so if you have not secured your access to these games in some way, your time might be running out. Several home games are already close to sell out. This Fighting Illini basketball looks to be fairly back loaded with the biggest tests pre-conference being Clemson, Vandy and Gonzaga. So it looks like plenty of opportunity to stack up some early wins and get close to that magical number 20 as thee season wears on. This season is going to have some great home games, and two great semi neutral court games, this team is still on its way up, so please, go out and buy some tickets. I will not tolerate and an empty Assembly hall this year. So without further ado

      7. Gonzaga, January 2nd in Chicago. I don't know about you, but I love the annual game in the UC. Aside from the fact that it is always nationally televised and its good exposure for Chicago area recruits, it also features top tier competition, and this year is no exception. Currently, Gonzaga is unranked  in the preseason poll, but anyone who loves College Basketball knows it doesn't take long for these guys to get fat on their conference schedule and leap into the rankings. I also have it on good authority that this Gonzaga will be very deep, so no matter how you look at it this is going to be a fun game between two nationally prominent teams. If you miss this in person, you will regret it, at the very least you have got to watch it on TV. On January 2nd, its not like you will be missing any Illini football over it.
     6. Missouri: December 23rd in St. Louis. The literal polar opposite of the football rivalry, a win this year would make a solid decade of Illini dominance over the Missouri Tigers. Two years ago, when the Illini were awful, they beat Mizzou by 1 point. Last year when Missouri was very good, (sweet 16  Elite 8 good) the Illini beat them by 16. This year the Illini are ranked higher and have some great new talent. Its tempting at this point to just predict the final margin, but A) I'm too superstitious for that and B) I think Rock M Nation would be very displeased with it. Regardless, it has been a very nice early Christmas present the past few years and has become a can't miss feel good game for every fan.

     5. Penn State, January 12th in Champaign. There is not much I necessarily need to say about this game, other than than the fact that Talor Battle made me cry last year. It was the most painful ending to a game since the previous year's loss at home to Indiana. (I don't want to talk about it.) The previous game was a defensive struggle where neither team could score. With the influx of speed and shooting at G this year for the Illini, I predict a much different tempo for this years game.

     4. Purdue, January 19th in Champaign. Last year this was the game that put the Illini back on the map of college basketball. An early unexpected win over a conference favorite really did a lot to legitimize the Illini that had previously been fat off of non-con wins. The regular season sweep which came over a then #13 Purdue assured the Illini a trip to the dance. This year Purdue will be second only MSU in terms of hype and ranking. What gives the Illini hope, the fact that Bruce Weber has always seemed to eventually get the better of his former protege Matt Painter. This is a big one.

 

     3. Ohio State, February 14th in Champaign. Yes, I know its Valentine's day, but I still say no excuses. I am risking the health of my relationship to take my fiance to a basketball on Valentines day, why aren't you willing to do the same? Just do what I did and explain that this is the last opportunity to see former team mates Evan Turner and Demetri McCamey go at it head to head in person. Tell her that the #16 preseason ranking alone should be reason enough to go to this game. Its a pretty simple formula, the game is at noon, plenty of time to buy her chocolates, take her to a movie and a nice dinner at Alexanders and all that other Valentines stuff. Come on guys, priorities.

      2. Indiana, January 30 in Champaign. Illinois and Indiana. Enough said.

       1. Michigan State, February 6, in Champaign. #2 in the preseason poll, coming off of a national title game appearance and a ballsy Big Ten Championship, Michigan State is the game to see this season. Its 8pm and will almost surely be a nationally televised, so if the game happens to be a sell out before you try and get your hands on some tickets, it will be no problem to catch at home or at your favorite bar. Do not forget how close the Illini were to beating this powerhouse last year both home and away. Any dreams of taking the Big Ten Championship  go through this team, so yeah, its kind of a big deal.

All that and I didn't even mention Wisconsin, Vanderbilt or Minnesota. Or even a possible revenge game from Northwestern. Good god this is going to be a fun season to watch.