Michigan State defeated Illinois 87-74 on Monday night, pushing the Illini’s Big Ten record in 2018 to 0-8.

Spartans head coach Tom Izzo spoke highly of the Illini after the win.

“Big win for us…that’s the best 0-8 team in the world.”- Tom Izzo on the @MSU_Basketball win over Illinois pic.twitter.com/PQGXlYCGqB — FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) January 23, 2018

Izzo called the Illini the “best 0-8 team in the world.”

That’s a pretty bold claim Izzo is making, and it should probably be double-checked.

Before delving into this topic, we’re assuming Izzo classifies “the world” as just “the (college basketball) world,” so we’ll just be looking at NCAA Division I teams.

To start, here’s the list of all of the still-winless teams in conference play this season in Division I.

South Florida 0-7 American

Pittsburgh 0-7 ACC

St. John’s 0-8 Big East

Northern Arizona 0-7 Big Sky

UC Riverside 0-5 Big West

Delaware State 0-7 MEAC

San Jose State 0-7 Mountain West

Chattanooga 0-7 Southern

Incarnate Word 0-7 Southland

Houston Baptist 0-7 Southland

Northwestern State 0-7 Southland

Mississippi Valley State 0-7 SWAC

Pepperdine 0-8 West Coast

Chicago State 0-5 WAC

For starters, we’re going to assume Illinois is better than the three Southland teams, Mississippi Valley State, Pepperdine, Delaware State, UC Riverside and Northern Arizona. Since Illinois flew past it’s low-major schools.

Here is our updated list.

South Florida 0-7 American

Pittsburgh 0-7 ACC

St. John’s 0-8 Big East

San Jose State 0-7 Mountain West

Pepperdine 0-8 West Coast

Chicago State 0-5 WAC

Illinois narrowly lost to New Mexico State in a neutral site game at the United Center in December. Chicago State is in the same conference as New Mexico State, and the Illini would likely sprint past the Cougars, so let’s count them out.

With that same logic, Illinois nearly beat Wake Forest at the Big Ten-ACC Challenge, and Wake Forest beat Syracuse who beat Pitt. So Illinois would be better than Pitt.

By more immediate logic, Illinois beat DePaul at the Gavitt Tip-Off Games, and DePaul has already beat St. John’s this season, so knock the Red Storm off.

An updated list:

South Florida 0-7 American

San Jose State 0-7 Mountain West

Pepperdine 0-8 West Coast

Pepperdine has three total wins this season, and it’s almost February. Illinois would beat them. San Jose State also has three wins, and that’s not good.

And that leaves South Florida, and by no means is South Florida the second-best team in the country that still does not have a conference win. The Bulls beat Florida Atlantic by 1, Stetson by 3 and Charlotte by 2 points this season. None of those teams scream ‘powerhouse.’

So an update list:

There’s nothing there.

There you have it. Illinois is the best 0-8 team in the world.

Thanks Tom Izzo for your nice comment.