Illinois Basketball: What Illinois Must Do To Earn An NCAA Tournament Berth
By Ricky Widmer
Illinois basketball received a huge boost to their 2015 NCAA Tournament resume. But what must be done for Illinois to earn a tourney bid?
Since John Groce became head coach at Illinois, the Illini have both made and missed the NCAA Tournament. The team went one-and-done in their lone NCAA Tournament of Groce’s first season, and Illini fans are wondering if their team can make it back to the big dance in 2015?
There’s no question that the 2005 tourney first comes to mind when you mention “Illinois” and “NCAA Tournament” in the same sentence.
It’s been ten years since that magical run, and the Illini have been to just five tournaments since.
Fans are eager to get back to the greatness that the program seemed to be heading towards after the 2005 NCAA tournament run.
What will it take for the Fighting Illini to play in the big dance in 2015?
How Many Teams From The B1G Will Get In?
Over the past five years, the Big Ten Conference has had an average of six teams make it to the NCAA Tournament.
More from Illinois Basketball
- Illinois Basketball: It’s closing time on a top guard in the class of 2024
- Illinois Basketball: 2024 Illini commit invited to USA minicamp
- Illinois Basketball has a 5-star in the most updated class of 2024 rankings
- Illinois Basketball: Illini returning at least 82% of production across the board
- Illinois Basketball: 4-star 2025 guard takes Illini unofficial visit
Last year, the top-six teams in the conference made the tournament. If the top-six teams entered the tourney tomorrow, those teams would include: Wisconsin, Maryland, Ohio State, Michigan State, Iowa, and Purdue.
The big question that should arise as conference play continues is: how will the Maryland Terrapins affect the Big Ten tournament bids?
With how good the Terrapins have been this season, they may end up taking away a tournament spot in their first season in the Big Ten Conference.
As of this morning, Jerry Palm of CBS Sports has six B1G teams making the NCAA Tournament with the seventh B1G team being apart of the “First Four Out.”
What Illinois’ Record Must Be To Get In?
Because they play in the Big Ten Conference, Illinois’ overall record isn’t going to matter come Selection Sunday. Their conference record will be what gets them into the NCAA Tournament.
In Coach Groce’s past two season at Illinois, the Illini have made the tournament going 8-10 in the B1G. They have also missed the tournament going 7-11 in the B1G.
This year, the Fighting Illini MUST finish with a winning conference record to make the tournament this season.Why, you ask? Maryland.
Maryland’s looked good thus far this season and possibly could take away a tournament bid from a team like Illinois.
In order to make sure that doesn’t happen, the Illini need to finish positive in Big Ten play.
No more stumbling into the NCAA tournament like the team did in Groce’s first season. Illinois didn’t have the same level of success in nonconference play this season like they did in Groce’s first season.
Which Individual Games Must Illinois Win?
Illinois already won one of their biggest conference games by defeating the Maryland Terrapins on Wednesday.
However, it will not save the Illini’s season if they finish with a conference record under .500.
Right now, Illinois only has one ranked opponent on its schedule, and that opponent is current-#4 Wisconsin in Madison on February 15th.
It’d be easy to say, “Win that game and the Illini are in!” Although, Illinois can lose that game and still make the tournament.
The key games for Illinois will be the games they are “supposed to win.”
Last season, the team lost some B1G games that they should have won, and it cost them come Selection Sunday.
Illinois should be fine if they do two things:
- Win the games they’re suppose to win.
- Steal a game (or two) against the “heavy hitters” in the Big Ten.
Will Illinois Get In?
If Illinois can recapture the level of play from the beginning of the season, they can beat anyone on the rest of their Big Ten schedule.
The Illini are currently “On the Bubble.”
As of this morning, Jerry Palm has them as one of the “First Four In” that will play in the First Round at Dayton.
There’s a chance that the Fighting Illini could be a 10 or 11 win team heading into the Big Ten Conference Tournament.
Ten wins in the conference and one or two big wins should be able to boost the Illini into the NCAA Tournament.
If Illini Nation sees the team that beat Marylnd on a consistent basis, then there’s no doubt that the Illini will be dancing this March.
Next: Three Things Learned In Victory Over Maryland
More from Writing Illini
- Illinois Football: 5 Illini players who need more snaps against FAU
- Illinois football vs. Florida Atlantic first half and game betting lines
- Bret Bielema has made Illinois football a nationally competitive program
- Illinois Football: Predicting how the Illini will finish the 2023 season
- Illinois Football: Illini quarterback controversy is on the horizon