Sunday, March 12, 2006
Illini awaiting NCAA tournament seed
It's been four years since Illinois last sat at home watching the Big Ten Conference Tournament final and waiting for their NCAA seed. But that's what they're doing today. What seed will the Illini receive and where will they play?
The consensus from the beat writers is that the early loss shouldn't have a big impact on Illinois' seed. In the Northwest Herald, David Brown says the loss was meaningless and the Illini still should be a No. 2 seed. Neil Milbert states the case in today's Chicago Tribune:
The Big Ten has the best RPI of any conference and the ninth-ranked Illini (25-6) finished in a second-place tie with Iowa at 11-5, a game behind champion Ohio State. They were 14-0 in non-conference play and defeated 10th-ranked North Carolina on the road, 23rd-ranked Georgetown at home and Missouri Valley Conference regular-season champion Wichita State on a neutral court.
The latest Bracketology from Joe Lunardi has Illinois playing in Dayton as the #2 in Connecticut's bracket. The Bracket Board also has Illinois a #2, but places them in Auburn Hills for their first game. Mark Tupper is thinking No. 3 seed. Billy Packer agrees. More than 60 percent of the voters in Illini Wonk's poll (top right of this blog) vote for the #2 seed. If they do drop to a No. 2 or 3 NCAA tournament seed to a No. 3 or 4, Mike Nadel says: So what?
After Illinois' bracket is unveiled, Illini Wonk will be interviewed on sportsbloggerslive.com. You can read their blog here. Post your thoughts in the comments section and Wonk will pass them on to the sports world.
Also, don't forget to sign up for March Madness on Demand from NCAASports.com. You can watch the games for free while you're sitting at your desk in the office. posted by Illiniwonk at 12:12 PM
It's been four years since Illinois last sat at home watching the Big Ten Conference Tournament final and waiting for their NCAA seed. But that's what they're doing today. What seed will the Illini receive and where will they play?The consensus from the beat writers is that the early loss shouldn't have a big impact on Illinois' seed. In the Northwest Herald, David Brown says the loss was meaningless and the Illini still should be a No. 2 seed. Neil Milbert states the case in today's Chicago Tribune:
The Big Ten has the best RPI of any conference and the ninth-ranked Illini (25-6) finished in a second-place tie with Iowa at 11-5, a game behind champion Ohio State. They were 14-0 in non-conference play and defeated 10th-ranked North Carolina on the road, 23rd-ranked Georgetown at home and Missouri Valley Conference regular-season champion Wichita State on a neutral court.
The latest Bracketology from Joe Lunardi has Illinois playing in Dayton as the #2 in Connecticut's bracket. The Bracket Board also has Illinois a #2, but places them in Auburn Hills for their first game. Mark Tupper is thinking No. 3 seed. Billy Packer agrees. More than 60 percent of the voters in Illini Wonk's poll (top right of this blog) vote for the #2 seed. If they do drop to a No. 2 or 3 NCAA tournament seed to a No. 3 or 4, Mike Nadel says: So what?
After Illinois' bracket is unveiled, Illini Wonk will be interviewed on sportsbloggerslive.com. You can read their blog here. Post your thoughts in the comments section and Wonk will pass them on to the sports world.
Also, don't forget to sign up for March Madness on Demand from NCAASports.com. You can watch the games for free while you're sitting at your desk in the office. posted by Illiniwonk at 12:12 PM
