It had to be Illinois.

If Michigan fans needed any further reminding of the stakes of Sunday’s Iowa game, it was immediately preceded by the men’s team losing to Illinois, the program that all but raised an unofficial banner after losing the 2021 Big Ten regular season title to the Wolverines based on win percentage.

While the Wolverines could capture their first conference championship with a victory in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, they could’ve easily had a share wrapped up already. Michigan was supposed to play at — you guessed it — Illinois on February 3rd before a winter storm hit the Midwest and caused a travel-related postponement.

Of all the teams and all the times, it had to be Illinois after they’d already had five Big Ten games postponed because of COVID protocols. Rescheduled games packed their February slate before Michigan could get back on. Illinois finished last in the conference at 1-13, losing their final 11 games.

Five teams spent much of the season contending for the conference title: Michigan, Iowa, Ohio State, Maryland, and Indiana. The Wolverines went 6-1 against the other contenders, only losing yesterday, when Caitlin Clark hit eight of her 11 three-point attempts. Michigan finished a half-game, one win, behind the Buckeyes and Hawkeyes.1