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Illinois Basketball: Bracketology update for the Illini

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - FEBRUARY 07: Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andres Feliz (10) claps as he gets into a defensive position during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 7, 2020, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - FEBRUARY 07: Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andres Feliz (10) claps as he gets into a defensive position during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 7, 2020, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Illinois basketball team is back on track after a huge win last Tuesday against No. 9 Penn State.

There are a few things to take away from that intro statement. One, I never thought I would utter those words. To get back on track, Illinois beat a top 10 Nittany Lions team. What the heck? Two, this was, in fact, a huge win for the program and one that turned the tides.

Illinois was coming off an ugly four-game losing streak. They needed a rebound game in a big way. With that win, the Illini are now 17-9 overall and 9-6 in the Big Ten. We are just outside the double-bye top four for the Big Ten Tournament. But where do we stand nationally when it comes to the NCAA tournament?

Let me first start off by saying, I think Illinois is probably a six or seven seed right now. As of today, Joe Lunardi of ESPN has Illinois as the No. 8 seed going up against No. 9 Rhode Island. I think this seeding is a bit low considering the Illini are probably going to be ranked in the top 25 here in the next few hours.

Jerry Palm of CBS Sports has Illinois as a No. 7 seed. That is about right, but I also think the arrow is pointing up for the Orange and Blue. Palm has us playing No. 10 USC in the first round. That is a tough matchup.

NBC Sports is consistent with CBS Sports. Dave Ommen of NBC Sports has Illinois slotted in the No. 7 seed spot. They would be going up against No. 10 Oklahoma. This would be a matchup of Illinois against former head coach Lon Kruger. I am here for that.

The final bracket I want to take a look at is Andy Katz. He is posting his predictions on NCAA.com. Katz has the Orange and Blue as the No. 6 seed right now. They would be going up against No. 11 Mississippi State. That would also be a tough matchup, but I think the Illini could be a six seed right now too.

Next. 3 ways the Illini can take down Nebraska. dark

That lays out some of the big-time bracketology guys and where they have Illinois as of right now. We should see the top 25 once again in a few hours. Hopefully, a big win tonight over Nebraska will advance us even higher in these bracket predictions.

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