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Illinois could benefit from final NCAA tournament bracket prediction chaos

It is always a nerve racking day, but Illinois basketball should be a good seed in the NCAA tournament
ByRees Woodcock|
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Mar 8, 2026; College Park, Maryland, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts during the second half against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Mar 8, 2026; College Park, Maryland, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts during the second half against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images | Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Illinois basketball is just hours away from finding out what seed and where we will start the NCAA tournament.

This is the moment that many fans have been waiting for. The Illini ended the 2025-26 season in a rough way, but all of the losses were to good teams. The spot that the Orange and Blue will land is what is up for debate now.

Coming into Saturday, the Illini were a projected No. 3 seed, and I figured that would be where we landed on Selection Sunday. But as the games concluded, and carnage ensued, I am not so sure this will be the final landing spot.

Joe Lunardi submitted what I believe will likely be his final NCAA tournament prediction. Illinois’ section of the bracket isn’t going to move, but he has us still as a No. 3 seed.

There were some results on Saturday that could help Illinois somehow slide up into a No. 2 seed, though. Lunardi’s No. 3 seed prediction is the best No. 3 seed, so Illinois is already knocking on the door of a top-two seed.

Projected No. 2 seed Houston lost to Arizona on Saturday. I think they will still be a No. 2 seed, but that is a team to watch. Projected No. 1 seed Florida was trucked by Vanderbilt. They will still likely be a top seed.

The biggest result that could move Illinois up into a No. 2 seed is the UConn loss. The Huskies were bulldozed by St. John’s, 72-52. UConn is currently projected as a No. 2 seed, but that was an ugly loss, and the Huskies are No. 10 in the NET Rankings, while Illinois is No. 8.

There was also a result on Friday that piques my interest. Michigan State is currently projected as a No. 2 seed, but they lost to UCLA in the Big Ten Tournament. When you mix that result in with the fact that the Spartans are No. 11 in the NET Rankings, look for the Illini to potentially jump them, too.

Even if Illinois is a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament, I still like their path

At the end of the day, I am not sure how much it will matter if Illinois is a No. 2 or No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament.

I like the projected seeding for the Illini in the ESPN bracket. We would take on No. 14 Wright State in the first round, and then likely, No. 6 Louisville in the second round. The hope would be that No. 11 Missouri or Miami (OH) would take out the Cardinals.

Would a No. 2 seed be a little easier for the Illini? Sure, but I would take either. This team has done enough to be one of the top teams in the country, and it is paying off with a good spot in the NCAA tournament.

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