The Illini entered a Big Ten tournament quarterfinal matchup against No. 2 seed Maryland on a four-game winning streak that included total domination at Michigan, a gutsy comeback against Purdue and a 106-point binge against Iowa here Thursday. They’re also healthy and whole again — finally — and had started to seem mighty dangerous.

Illinois went into Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Friday with nothing short of blood-red revenge and a Big Ten Tournament championship on its mind. Facing No. 2 seed Maryland, which conked the Illini 91-70 in Champaign earlier this season,

Maryland ended a run of futility in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals and advanced to Saturday’s semifinal for the first time since 2016.