Bubble burst for Northwestern?

[lightsout]

Minnesota defeated the Wildcats in overtime 75 to 68. I think Northwestern's lack of quality wins will keep them out of the NCAA tournament for at least another year.

Box Score

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=320680077

Andre Hollins lead the Gophers with 25 pts. Minnesota's Senior center Ralph Sampson III did not play in this game with a knee injury.

JerShon Cobb and John Shurna both had good games for the Wildcats scoring 24 points (JC) and 21 points (JS).

[Da Coach]

Tough luck for Bill Carmody and the Northwestern kids. Despite the announcers repeating over and over again that the loss will remove any chances for Northwestern to get an at-large bid, I think they might still have a small chance. Their RPI is decent (47), because of the built-in SOS boost of playing in the Big Ten, and they do not have any really bad losses.

[MacabreMob]

Tough luck for Bill Carmody and the Northwestern kids. Despite the announcers repeating over and over again that the loss will remove any chances for Northwestern to get an at-large bid, I think they might still have a small chance. Their RPI is decent (47), because of the built-in SOS boost of playing in the Big Ten, and they do not have any really bad losses.

Can you hear Bilas claiming they are out cause....

THEY LOST AT OHIO STATE BY 30 POINTS!!!!!

(recall Bilas blasting Bradley when the lost at Michigan St by 30 and Bradley was on the bubble)

[Bravesfan]

I think they would have been on the outside of the bubble even if they won tonight. A hideous 1-10 top 50 record will do that! Stranger things have happened though, and if Northwestern gets into the tournament, then you can throw out that whole "teams earn bids, not conferences" nonsense!

It's also amazing that three Illinois teams came within one point in regulation time of making the NCAA Tournament this week! How close we came to a great year, but instead Illinois may be O for the tournament this year! How far this state has fallen in college basketball.

[bradleybraves1]

... Illinois may be O for the tournament this year! How far this state has fallen in college basketball.

Agreed. Why do you think that is? Bad coaching at the Illinois colleges? Lack of talent at the high school level? Just a bad luck year? I'll hang up now and listen.

[real fan]

Agreed. Why do you think that is? Bad coaching at the Illinois colleges? Lack of talent at the high school level? Just a bad luck year? I'll hang up now and listen.

A lot of good players from Illinois go out of state to play basketball, U of I has a good nucleus of players returning and should be good for the next 3 years and ISU returns almost everyone so those 2 should have a great chance next season of making the tour.