3 storylines to follow during Illinois vs. Kansas basketball scrimmage

08 Mar 2002: Head coach Bill Self of Illinois talks to team members guard Cory Bradford #13, center Robert Archibald #21, guard Frank Williams #30 and forward Brian Cook #34 at the end of a game against Minnesota at the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Illinois defeated Minnesota 92-76. DIGITAL IMAGE Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images /

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Michigan center Hunter Dickinson dribbles against Illinois center Kofi Cockburn during the first half Tuesday, March 2, 2021, at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor. /

2. Hunter Dickinson’s beef with Fighting Illini fans

If you’re unfamiliar with Big Ten basketball, Hunter Dickinson hates Illinois… and Illinois fans share that disdain for him.

In 2021, Dickinson said: “Illinois fans are pretty annoying, I’m not going to lie.” He also mentioned that nobody likes their school. You can find quotes like this from Dickinson on several occasions.

While Dickinson is no longer the Big Ten’s villain, the Illini fanbase has not forgotten his words from the past. He was widely considered the most hated player in the country last year, and now that he is at one of college basketball’s top powerhouses, that hatred is unlikely to wilt anytime soon.

Considering this will probably be his last appearance in Champaign, I’m sure the fans are going to let the Preseason Consensus All-American hear it in this one.

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