Illinois Basketball: ESPN bracketology has Illini squarely in NCAA tournament

Jan 10, 2023; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Sencire Harris (1) scores against Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Emmanuel Bandoumel (25) in the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 10, 2023; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Sencire Harris (1) scores against Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Emmanuel Bandoumel (25) in the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

We aren’t making it easy on ourselves, but the men’s Illinois basketball team continues to remain squarely in the NCAA tournament.

This past Thursday was a rough one for the Illini. After rattling off four straight victories, Illinois laid an egg against Indiana on our home court. This was an embarrassing loss that we weren’t in from the jump.


Despite the home thumping, Illinois still sits at 13-6 overall and 4-4 in the Big Ten. The crazy part about the conference this season is that the Illini currently sit at No. 10 in the Big Ten, but we are only one game back of the No. 2 spot, which is Rutgers. Literally, one good week and we could be in a position for the double-bye.

But, honestly, I think Illinois fans should start acting like we have been there because we have. We have won the Big Ten regular season and the Big Ten Tournament in the last two years. I want to win in the NCAA tournament. I want to, at least, get to the Sweet 16, which hasn’t been achieved since the 2005 national title run.

Illinois basketball is going to face a tougher road if we keep dropping in the NCAA tournament bracketology.

At 13-6 overall, Illinois is looking like a pretty solid NCAA tournament team right now. In the most updated bracketology from ESPN that was published on Friday, they have Illinois dropping a little bit down to a No. 6 seed. The opponent for the Orange and Blue would be Memphis, which is filled with some youthful top talent.

An intriguing part about this projected bracket is that if Illinois can get past Memphis, the next matchup might be against No. 3 seed Virginia. The Illini fell to the Cavaliers in a good game earlier this year, 70-61.

As a No. 6 seed, I would say Illinois just needs to steady the ship to keep this seeding. But, just looking at the schedule, I am not sure how much room there is for advancement upward.

It looks like there are only two ranked opponents left on the schedule, but of the 12 games remaining, I would say Illinois is probably an underdog at Wisconsin, at Iowa, vs No. 23 Rutgers, at Indiana, and at No. 3 Purdue. That means the Illini are likely favorites in seven games.

I think we can win the games we are favorites. That brings Illinois to 20-6 overall and 11-4 in the Big Ten. In the five games we might not be favorites in, let’s say the Illini wins two of those contests. Finishing the season at 22-9 overall and 13-7 in the Big Ten is a solid season. I think this record would keep us in the top six seeds as well.

Illinois is having a shaky season without a doubt, but we are still on pace to make the NCAA tournament. If this team could find a spark come March, we can still be dangerous.

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