Illinois loses at Michigan State

[houstontxbrave]

I highly doubt UIUC loses at home to Iowa or Indiana. They'll likely finish 9-9... and likely headed to the #4/#5 seeded game in the B10 Trny. With a loss in that game (most likely against Minny), I still think they are safely IN. With a win, they are a "Lock IN".

We can pick on them for bad losses, mediocre finish in the B10... but their portfolio and full body of work is still better than the teams that will be fighting for an at-large bid against them. Remember - UIUC will have 2 huge wins on their portfolio: W over UNC and W over Wisky (plus wins over Mich St and at Minny).

And one HUGE lose on the resume, UIC 7-22 currently on the season.

No way is Illinois one of the best 68 teams in the country. They are the poster child for muddling along, under achieving teams in the country. Problem for me is they are a senior laden experienced team that is the most underperforming team in the country.

I guess if they can stay at .500 in conference and win a game in the tourney they will get in but they do not deserve to play in the NCAA tournament. If they get a bid, the Big Ten gets them a bid.

Out of their last 16 games they are 7-9.

[MacabreMob]

And one HUGE lose on the resume, UIC 7-22 currently on the season.

No way is Illinois one of the best 68 teams in the country. They are the poster child for muddling along, under achieving teams in the country. Problem for me is they are a senior laden experienced team that is the most underperforming team in the country.

I guess if they can stay at .500 in conference and win a game in the tourney they will get in but they do not deserve to play in the NCAA tournament. If they get a bid, the Big Ten gets them a bid.

Out of their last 16 games they are 7-9.

I'd like to quote Jerry Palm in hopes you and others understand why UIUC is "IN", no matter how bad they may seem to you. He is commenting on his recent Bracket he put up yesterday (he currently does a Bracket every Friday and Monday). He also makes reference to his list of what he calls "Fence-Sitters", which is a list of teams battling for the At-Large bids that haven't already "locked" up a bid (like an Ohio St or Duke can be considered "Locked In"). Anyway, here is Palm's quote:

February 21

A lot was made of the losses suffered by the top four in the polls this week, but it was just as bad at the bottom of the bracket. By my count, 22 teams on the Fence Sitters page lost last week as well. Some lost twice. That's a lot of teams trying not to make the field. It also means an already weak field is getting weaker. Teams like Tennessee, which is falling apart - I can't get them out. Minnesota - same thing. Memphis - a "haven't beaten anybody" - can't get them out. Richmond, for crying out loud - can't get them out, because others just look worse.

I have no doubt that we will have some teams with historically weak profiles make the field. Of course, expansion made that possible anyway, but I'm talking maybe half a dozen teams. I always say, "these things have a way of working themselves out." Not this year.

[amckillip]

I'd like to quote Jerry Palm in hopes you and others understand why UIUC is "IN", no matter how bad they may seem to you. He is commenting on his recent Bracket he put up yesterday (he currently does a Bracket every Friday and Monday). He also makes reference to his list of what he calls "Fence-Sitters", which is a list of teams battling for the At-Large bids that haven't already "locked" up a bid (like an Ohio St or Duke can be considered "Locked In"). Anyway, here is Palm's quote:

February 21

A lot was made of the losses suffered by the top four in the polls this week, but it was just as bad at the bottom of the bracket. By my count, 22 teams on the Fence Sitters page lost last week as well. Some lost twice. That's a lot of teams trying not to make the field. It also means an already weak field is getting weaker. Teams like Tennessee, which is falling apart - I can't get them out. Minnesota - same thing. Memphis - a "haven't beaten anybody" - can't get them out. Richmond, for crying out loud - can't get them out, because others just look worse.

I have no doubt that we will have some teams with historically weak profiles make the field. Of course, expansion made that possible anyway, but I'm talking maybe half a dozen teams. I always say, "these things have a way of working themselves out." Not this year.

Agreed with JPalm on this completely. If the MVC were even decent this year we could of had several bids. Talk about messing that one up...