Writing Illini
Fansided

Illinois Basketball: Illini path to the No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament

By Rees Woodcock

Feb 25, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) kisses the floor during senior night prior to a game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at the State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) kisses the floor during senior night prior to a game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at the State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

There are still more games to be played, but as of right now, Illinois basketball should control their own destiny when it comes to the NCAA tournament seeding.

Illinois is currently projected by ESPN as the No. 2 seed in Region 2. A region of the bracket I want zero part of due to the fact the No. 1 team is Baylor, I would hope the Illini could continue winning and get to the coveted No. 1 seed.

The AP Top 25 will be released on Monday, and I full expect Illinois to be right there around the top four. With a 2-1 record this past week, the Illini are actually looking pretty good considering almost every team around them fell at one point or another in the last seven days.

No. 2 ranked Baylor fell to Kansas. No. 4 Ohio State has now dropped three games in a row. No. 6 Alabama lost to Arkansas. No. 7 Oklahoma has fallen in their last two games. No. 8 Villanova fell to Butler on Sunday. No. 9 Iowa did beat No. 4 Ohio State, but they also lost by 16 points to No. 3 Michigan.

With that being said, there is a good shot Illinois emerges on Monday as the No. 4 team in the nation. That puts them squarely in the conversation for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

But let’s expand this even further on why Illinois is in the driver’s seat for a No. 1 seed.

In the NET Rankings, the Illini are tied with Michigan for the most Quad 1 wins this season. They are sitting with eight. Overall, Illinois has played 13 Quad 1 games, which is one of the highest totals in the country. 18 out of the 24 games the Illini have played have either been Quad 1 or 2 this season. That is also impressive.

How can Illinois seal the deal and get the No. 1 seed this postseason?

Well, the final two games of the season are on the road against No. 3 Michigan and No. 4 Ohio State. I would say if we could split those two games, this would continue the path to the No. 1 seed.

Illinois would enter the Big Ten Tournament as, most likely, the No. 2 seed. Thanks to finishing in the top four in the Big Ten regular season, we will get the double-bye and have our first game on Friday. If Illinois can win their first game and then win in the semifinals, a conference title appearance should lock up the No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Next. 4 observations from the Illini victory over Wisconsin. dark

So, split the final two games of the season and make the Big Ten Championship Game, then I think we are the No. 1 seed. That doesn’t seem too difficult. It is very realistic considering Ayo Dosunmu should be returning soon. Let’s make it happen.

Home/Illinois Basketball