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The death of Bret Bielema’s mother, Marilyn, hangs a cloud over the Illini’s attempt to score an upset that would greatly aid their cause in the Big Ten West.

The Fighting Illini need to win their final two games and hope that Purdue loses a game to grab the West Division crown.

CHICAGO — The Big Ten season once again should come down to The Game, a sure sign normalcy has been restored in Middle America.

Illinois vs Michigan game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Week 12 game on Saturday, November 19

“The world is not a fair place,” Cockburn said. “Sometimes, you have to take what life gives you.”

It’s going to happen. Why? Simply because it must.

The win gives the Boilermakers a crucial head-to-head tiebreaker over the Illini, who were firmly in control until losing their last two games.

There’s a lot that could still happen, but the Illini aren’t likely to be the last ones standing. And they will rue Saturday’s defeat as surely as they will the 23-15 letdown against Michigan State that preceded it.

Broader implications aside, simply getting the better of the Boilermakers for a change would hit the spot. They’ve taken home the Cannon in five of the last six renditions of this rivalry series and have a five-game winning streak at Memorial Stadium, where they haven’t lost since 2010.

Lunney, who is earning $675,000 this year, will be paid $800,000 in 2023 and $825,000 each of the following two years.

Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 24 points and Coleman Hawkins had 23 points and 12 rebounds for the No. 23 Illini.