What happened

A bad fourth quarter from Illinois. Reminiscent of the January loss at Minnesota as Michigan finished the game on a 19-4 run. A run that flipped a seven-point Illini lead into a 78-69 loss to Michigan on Sunday afternoon before 6,889 fans at State Farm Center. And ruined Senior Day for what Illinois coach Shauna Green has called a special group, with the Illini honoring Makira Cook, Genesis Bryant, Adalia McKenzie, Brynn Shoup-Hill and Kendall Bostic after the game.

What it means

Illinois had a chance at a double-bye for the Big Ten tournament and to reach 22 regular-season wins for the first time in program history. But Michigan had other ideas. The Illini are now the No. 7 seed after the Wolverines finished off the comeback win. A missed opportunity for Illinois that makes its path much more difficult in Indianapolis. Mostly it was a disappointing ending to the home careers for the five seniors that transformed the Illini program into a winner again.

What’s next

A second-round matchup on Thursday at the Big Ten tournament. The opponent is the only uncertain part for Green and Co. Illinois, which is on the same side of the bracket as No. 2 seed UCLA, will play the winner of the No. 10-No. 15 seed matchup of Nebraska vs. Rutgers at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indy. No matter what, the Illini are looking at having to win four games in four days if they want to cut down the nets for the program’s first-ever Big Ten tournament title.

What was said

“I would call this school my second chance. Because I thought I was done with basketball. I was ready to quit and give up, and it just means a lot to me. My emotion comes from just knowing where I was before I got here. I lost all my confidence. I had no hope. I feel like this program and Coach Green gave me a second chance at basketball. Just grateful for it. Just thankful for it, and we still have a lot more basketball left this year.”