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The sports writers at the Chicago Tribune have voted SIU as the mythical champions of the state of Illinois--
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/feb27
Bradley finished in 3rd place behind SIU and Illinois. DePaul was 4th, followed by Loyola. The Tribune would like to see the Illinois schools play each other, like they do in Iowa. But most of them do play each other, the University of Illinois is the one exception.
These Tribune writers who decided this "State Championship" lost a major portion of their credibility when they made this statement--
SIU and Illinois have talked about playing each other since ex-Salukis coach Bruce Weber went to Champaign and a former assistant, Chris Lowery, succeeded him in Carbondale. Like Iowa and Iowa State, Illinois doesn't have anything to gain by playing SIU or any other team in the state. If it wins, it was supposed to. If it loses, the sky is falling.
Lowery, of course, did not succeed Weber at SIU, Matt Painter did. The Tribune sportswriters apparently slept through the 1 season that Painter coached at SIU.
Here is the Tribune rankings--
1. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS (25-5)
The No. 11th-ranked Salukis claim the mythical state championship. Tony Young of Schaumburg, Bryan Mullins of Downers Grove and Jamaal Tatum are the best trio of guards in the state. Inside players Randal Falker and Matt Shaw can score and defend. Defense wins for the Missouri Valley champs.
RPI: 4
2. ILLINOIS (21-9)
The Illini are still in the hunt for an NCAA bid. It has been a tough season for coach Bruce Weber with suspensions and injuries taking away from what might have been accomplished. Warren Carter and Shaun Pruitt have been solid inside.
RPI: 31
3. BRADLEY (20-11)
The Braves were not expected to do much with four starters departing from last season's Sweet 16 team. Coach Jim Les has gotten a boost from the resurgence of guard Jeremy Crouch. Defeated DePaul, Loyola and UIC and have NCAA possibilities. Last Tuesday's loss to Northern Iowa hurt.
RPI: 44
4. DEPAUL (17-12)
The Blue Demons have been impressive at their best with victories over Kansas, Marquette and Notre Dame, inconsistent at their worst. Sometimes the offense disappears for a half at a time.
RPI: 60
5. LOYOLA (20-10)
The Ramblers have posted their first back-to-back winning seasons in 22 years and if they qualify for the NCAAs or the NIT, it will be the school's first postseason appearance in the same span. Loyola was the preseason Horizon League pick, but it took a while for everything to jell. Blake Schilb is one of the state's best.
RPI: 105
6. ILLINOIS STATE (15-15)
The Redbirds are much improved, but so is the deep Missouri Valley. Levi Dyer is becoming a force inside to go with his three-point shooting as a 6-foot-11-inch center.
RPI: 129
7. NORTHWESTERN (13-15)
The Wildcats have some good young players like freshman forwards Kevin Coble and Jeff Ryan.
RPI: 167
8. ILLINOIS-CHICAGO (13-17)
Jimmy Collins' illness was only the tip of the iceberg disrupting the Flames. Assistant coach Lynn Mitchem was charged with sexual harassment. Players quit, were ruled academically ineligible or were injured. At their healthiest and finest, the Flames beat Loyola twice, Akron and Butler.
RPI: 149
9. EASTERN ILLINOIS (10-20)
The Panthers failed to make the Ohio Valley tournament. The good news is they have no seniors, so the younger players have had a chance to grow.
RPI: 307
10. CHICAGO STATE (9-20)
The season is over for the Cougars, who played just six home games. With a new arena coming, CSU should improve.
RPI: 208
11. NORTHERN ILLINOIS (6-21)
After a 3-0 start, the Huskies won only one of the next 18 games. MAC West champions last season.
RPI: 291
12. WESTERN ILLINOIS (7-22)
The Leathernecks are tied for last in the Mid-Con. Just five victories against Division I competition, but three this month.
RPI: 330
Compiled by Terry Bannon, Lew Freedman, Reid Hanley, Neil Milbert and Mike Pankow. RPI from realtimerpi.com
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/feb27
Bradley finished in 3rd place behind SIU and Illinois. DePaul was 4th, followed by Loyola. The Tribune would like to see the Illinois schools play each other, like they do in Iowa. But most of them do play each other, the University of Illinois is the one exception.
These Tribune writers who decided this "State Championship" lost a major portion of their credibility when they made this statement--
SIU and Illinois have talked about playing each other since ex-Salukis coach Bruce Weber went to Champaign and a former assistant, Chris Lowery, succeeded him in Carbondale. Like Iowa and Iowa State, Illinois doesn't have anything to gain by playing SIU or any other team in the state. If it wins, it was supposed to. If it loses, the sky is falling.
Lowery, of course, did not succeed Weber at SIU, Matt Painter did. The Tribune sportswriters apparently slept through the 1 season that Painter coached at SIU.
Here is the Tribune rankings--
1. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS (25-5)
The No. 11th-ranked Salukis claim the mythical state championship. Tony Young of Schaumburg, Bryan Mullins of Downers Grove and Jamaal Tatum are the best trio of guards in the state. Inside players Randal Falker and Matt Shaw can score and defend. Defense wins for the Missouri Valley champs.
RPI: 4
2. ILLINOIS (21-9)
The Illini are still in the hunt for an NCAA bid. It has been a tough season for coach Bruce Weber with suspensions and injuries taking away from what might have been accomplished. Warren Carter and Shaun Pruitt have been solid inside.
RPI: 31
3. BRADLEY (20-11)
The Braves were not expected to do much with four starters departing from last season's Sweet 16 team. Coach Jim Les has gotten a boost from the resurgence of guard Jeremy Crouch. Defeated DePaul, Loyola and UIC and have NCAA possibilities. Last Tuesday's loss to Northern Iowa hurt.
RPI: 44
4. DEPAUL (17-12)
The Blue Demons have been impressive at their best with victories over Kansas, Marquette and Notre Dame, inconsistent at their worst. Sometimes the offense disappears for a half at a time.
RPI: 60
5. LOYOLA (20-10)
The Ramblers have posted their first back-to-back winning seasons in 22 years and if they qualify for the NCAAs or the NIT, it will be the school's first postseason appearance in the same span. Loyola was the preseason Horizon League pick, but it took a while for everything to jell. Blake Schilb is one of the state's best.
RPI: 105
6. ILLINOIS STATE (15-15)
The Redbirds are much improved, but so is the deep Missouri Valley. Levi Dyer is becoming a force inside to go with his three-point shooting as a 6-foot-11-inch center.
RPI: 129
7. NORTHWESTERN (13-15)
The Wildcats have some good young players like freshman forwards Kevin Coble and Jeff Ryan.
RPI: 167
8. ILLINOIS-CHICAGO (13-17)
Jimmy Collins' illness was only the tip of the iceberg disrupting the Flames. Assistant coach Lynn Mitchem was charged with sexual harassment. Players quit, were ruled academically ineligible or were injured. At their healthiest and finest, the Flames beat Loyola twice, Akron and Butler.
RPI: 149
9. EASTERN ILLINOIS (10-20)
The Panthers failed to make the Ohio Valley tournament. The good news is they have no seniors, so the younger players have had a chance to grow.
RPI: 307
10. CHICAGO STATE (9-20)
The season is over for the Cougars, who played just six home games. With a new arena coming, CSU should improve.
RPI: 208
11. NORTHERN ILLINOIS (6-21)
After a 3-0 start, the Huskies won only one of the next 18 games. MAC West champions last season.
RPI: 291
12. WESTERN ILLINOIS (7-22)
The Leathernecks are tied for last in the Mid-Con. Just five victories against Division I competition, but three this month.
RPI: 330
Compiled by Terry Bannon, Lew Freedman, Reid Hanley, Neil Milbert and Mike Pankow. RPI from realtimerpi.com
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