Illinois pummels Northwestern, keeps NCAA hopes alive

CHAMPAIGN — So much for Northwestern’s two-game road winning streak against Illinois. So much for the four-game string of W’s the Wildcats brought with them here, their longest in Big Ten play in 48 years. And so much for the Illini’s three-game losing streak, their longest of the season.

All of it, over. Way over.

Illinois crushed the Wildcats 86-60 Saturday. There was little drama on the scoreboard — Northwestern never led — but at least there were a few dust-ups between players. Any rivalry needs some of those, especially when both teams are struggling to make something good out of their seasons. Read more