It feels weird to be disappointed by a 20-2 record, but considering Nebraska started the season 20-0, it's not entirely uncalled for. Against Michigan earlier this week, the Huskers seemed to outplay the Wolverines despite being short-handed and simply ran out of gas at the end.
That wasn't the case against Illinois. Other than a run to end the first half, the Illini outplayed NU all game long. In the process, the Huskers lost their second straight game and went 0-2 against Top 10 teams in a week that could have moved Fred Hoiberg's squad into a near-sure No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
The loss itself was bad news. It makes it harder to win the Big Ten regular-season title. But now, Nebraska has to wait almost an entire week to try and get back to its winning ways.
Nebraska started 20-0, but a brutal week revealed how quickly momentum can shift.
Most frustrating of all is that there is now a pattern emerging. For the second straight contest, the Huskers faced a double-digit deficit in free throw attempts. They were -19 against Michigan and -21 against Illinois. It's hard to win any games doing that. In fact, getting to the line so rarely while their opponent gets there plenty is the most significant sign yet that NU has lost its mojo a bit.
There is still a positive from this week. The Huskers continue to show they can hold their own against the best teams in the country. Illinois looks like a legitimate National Title contender, even without one of its best players.
Nebraska staying within double digits (eventually losing 78-69) of that team shows they weren't outclassed. Just outplayed.
This isn't a "back to the drawing board" moment. However, with their next game being against Rutgers, and then a tilt against Purdue, they've got to take a deep breath and find the fire that led them on their long, undefeated run.
Nebraska needs its mojo back. It needs its swagger. There's still plenty of time for the Huskers to show they're one of the best teams in the country. Saturday in New Jersey will go a long way in showing if Fred Hoiberg can get his team back to playing at the level it did before this week.