The bloom is off the rose for these Illini (14-6, 6-4 Big Ten), who went from being underrated by the college basketball illuminati early this season to now arguably underperforming as the expectations around them have risen. The climb up the mountain, as always, gets harder with every subsequent step toward the top.

Despite (or maybe because of) their unpredictability, the Illini went back to some old standbys to best the Wildcats on Sunday

It was the Illini's ninth straight win at State Farm Center against the Wildcats, who haven't swept a season series since 1966.

Illinois knocked off Northwestern in a college basketball game Sunday. Full recap, game highlights from Champaign, Illinois.

Tre White threw down a thunderous two-handed slam that extended the Illinois Fighting Illini's lead against the Northwestern Wildcats.

Northwestern hasn't won at Illinois since January 2013 -- two months before Chris Collins became the Wildcats' head coach.

No. 17 Illinois takes on the Northwestern Wildcats after Kasparas Jakucionis scored 21 points in Illinois' 91-70 loss to the Maryland Terrapins

Starting for 7-foot-1 Tomislav Ivisic, who missed his second straight game due to mononucleosis, freshman center Morez Johnson Jr. recorded 15 points, nine rebounds and three blocks as the Fighting Illini (14-6, 6-4) built a 22-point halftime lead on their way to snapping their first two-game losing streak of the season.

It’s Iowa women's basketball vs Northwestern in Big Ten basketball. Follow for live score updates, game highlights from Tuesday's game.

The Illini crashed the boards and hit the floor to scrap their way to an 83-74 win over the Wildcats in Champaign

Kylan Boswell scored 17 points and had six rebounds to lead No. 17 Illinois over Northwestern, 83-74, a Big Ten matchup on Sunday. Morez Johnson Jr. had 15 points, nine