College Basketball March 8, 2026

#11 Illinois (22-6, 13-4 Big Ten) closes out the regular season with a trip to College Park to face a Maryland team that has struggled mightily in their first season under Buzz Williams. The Terrapins sit at 11-19 overall and a brutal 4-15 in Big Ten play, and the 15.5-point spread is the largest number on the college basketball board today. Illinois has been one of the most consistent teams in the Big Ten all season, and Brad Underwood's squad is firmly on the three-line in NCAA Tournament projections heading into Selection Sunday.

Maryland's transition to Buzz Williams has been a difficult one, and the Terrapins simply don't have the talent or depth to compete with the upper tier of the Big Ten right now. Williams inherited a program in transition, and building the kind of physical, defense-first culture he's known for will take time. The 4-15 conference record speaks for itself, and hosting a ranked Illinois team in the regular season finale is about as tough a draw as it gets for a team looking to end the year on a positive note. The Xfinity Center crowd may be thin given Maryland's record, which only further tilts the advantage toward the Illini.

Illinois should control this one from the opening tip. The Illini's offensive efficiency and defensive versatility give them a significant edge in nearly every facet of the game, and they'll be motivated to finish the regular season strong heading into conference tournament play. The 146.5 total is elevated, suggesting both teams will push the pace, but Illinois' ability to get stops and transition into their offense quickly should be the deciding factor. This is the kind of game where Illinois can build a comfortable lead early and manage the game through the second half, and the 15.5-point spread, while large, is justified given the talent disparity.

Nebraska's remarkable 2025-26 season has been one of the best stories in college basketball, and Fred Hoiberg's Cornhuskers close out the regular season against Iowa on FOX. Nebraska started the year 20-0, climbing as high as No. 5 in the AP Poll, and while they've come back to earth slightly with a few losses down the stretch, this is still a program that's playing the best basketball in school history. Hoiberg's seventh year in Lincoln has finally produced the kind of sustained excellence that Nebraska fans have been waiting for, and the Cornhuskers are a lock for a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Iowa (20-9, 10-8 Big Ten) has had a solid first season under Ben McCollum, who made the leap from Division II powerhouse Northwest Missouri State to the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes have been competitive in conference play with a 10-8 record, but they've lacked the consistency to challenge for the upper tier of the league standings. McCollum's defensive-minded approach has been a departure from the uptempo, offense-first style Iowa fans grew accustomed to under Fran McCaffery, and the adjustment period has produced some uneven results.

The 134.5 total is the lowest number on the board for any game involving a top-10 team today, and that's a direct reflection of Nebraska's defensive identity. The Cornhuskers grind games to a crawl, controlling tempo and forcing opponents into halfcourt sets where every possession feels like a chess match. Iowa will need to find offensive rhythm against a Nebraska defense that's been among the best in the Big Ten all season, and the Hawkeyes' ability to score in transition will be severely limited by Nebraska's disciplined approach. The 6.5-point spread reflects Nebraska's clear superiority, and the Cornhuskers should close out the regular season with a comfortable victory.