Writing Illini
Fansided

Illinois Basketball: Illini bracketology update as of March 12

ByRees Woodcock|
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 21: A general view of the March Madness logo on center court is seen before the game between the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles and the Florida Gators in the second round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Indiana Farmers Coliseum on March 21, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 21: A general view of the March Madness logo on center court is seen before the game between the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles and the Florida Gators in the second round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Indiana Farmers Coliseum on March 21, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

With the Illinois basketball loss to Indiana on Friday, this might change some bracketology opinions.

The Illini have now dropped from No. 14 to No. 15 in the updated NET Rankings put out by the NCAA. If you go purely off the NET Rankings, Illinois would land in the NCAA tournament as a No. 4 seed.

There are still some important conference tournaments still going on, so who knows where Illinois will officially land until this Sunday when the brackets are laid out. But some of the bracketologists are updating their predictions as each round passes.

Here is what Illinois basketball lands in the latest bracketology for the NCAA tournament.

  • ESPN

ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi updated his bracket on Saturday morning. Even with the loss to Indiana, he has Illinois still landing on the No. 4 slot.

In Lunardi’s scenario, Illinois would be heading out to Buffalo for the first round and would be playing in the South bracket, which is in San Antonio. If we could get to the Sweet 16, the Illini would have a rematch with Arizona. I think we all remember how that game ended earlier this season.

  • CBS

Bracket hasn’t been updated since Illinois lost to Indiana.

  • RealTimeRPI

Illinois’ loss does affect their position with some bracketologists around the country. Real Time RPI has the Illini as a No. 5 seed in a bracket that was updated Saturday morning.

In this scenario, the Illini would be taking on No. 12 Chattanooga. Much like Lunardi’s bracket, this one would have Illinois facing Arizona in the Sweet 16.

  • USA Today/Bracket WAG

This website updated their bracket on Saturday morning and has Illinois remaining strong as a No. 4 seed.

Illinois would stay in the Midwest in this scenario. If we could get to the Sweet 16, the Baylor Bears would be the matchup as they are the No. 1 seed.

  • Sports Illustrated

Bracket hasn’t been updated since Illinois lost to Indiana

  • 247Sports

Updated this morning, 247Sports has Illinois donning the No. 4 seed in the South region. It seems that most bracketologists are feeling this way.

Illinois would face No. 1 Arizona in the Sweet 16 in this bracket. But we would have to get past Princeton in the first round.

Home/Illinois Basketball