1) If they were as bad as you think, they wouldn't have had a lead to blow.
2) It's not what you write about them that's so unusual and wreaks of bias/sour grapes; it's HOW.
They were down 19 at the half to Maryland. Maryland took their foot off the gas, and that is what happened. It is still inexcusable for a team up 2, with the ball with 4.2 seconds left to 1) take their final time out, so they can no longer take a time out if they are unable to inbound the ball and 2) having had time to draw up a play during the time out, simply throw the ball away, when all they need to do is pass the ball in to a single player to win the game. That is what bad teams do. I have no sour grapes, whatever that means. I'm not saying that Nebby and Rutgers (the two teams that are similarly ranked to Illinois) are anything but bad, either. When you're predicted to finished 12th in the BIG, and your on-court results thus far fully support that expectation, your team is not good.
If you disagree feel free to provide evidence based on the facts that we know that they are a good team-- will be happy to consider.