Forty-five years is less than brief. What I definitely lack, though, is a persecution complex. Neither the refs, nor the NCAA is out to get us. I'll even go as far as knowing the boogeyman is not right around the corner.
Bracketology / Weekend Games
- Status
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal with Do Not Contact Tag
This isn't the right way to look at it.
There is, at this point, an entire industry of people who have the part- or full-time job of being a "Selection Committee interpreter"....they offer clarifications on the process based on discussions they are having with people on the committee or in the room. Every single year, it gets brought up that "the committee likes a storyline" - if this were patently false, there is a squadron of Joe Lunardis out there who would readily shoot it down, doing their sources a solid. Instead the opposite happens - they nod along and tacitly admit that yeah, all else being equal, if there is something the committee can smugly point to and tell themselves "ooh, the people will enjoy that!" they do it. It doesn't have anything to do with Illinois specifically.
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
the bottom line is the NCAA committee is entrusted with the NCAA's biggest asset for 5 days .
Its all about maximizing TV viewership and fannies in the seats. If they realize a specific matchup will make everyone more money, they will choose that every time over one that wont. They dont make these brackets with the blindfold of justice preventing bias.
That's... not how it works.
No one outside of Illinois and Kansas care whatsoever that Bill Self coached at Illinois for a few years almost 20 years ago and the viewership of that game is not impacted by that little bit of history. And that's just one example.
Chad Fleck
- Eureka, IL
Being the victim is a common issue for western culture at large. Sports included.
Sticking with the Illinois vs Kansas example, which segment of fan would tune in for this storyline that otherwise wouldn't watch?
My guess is that Illinois fans will watch the game regardless of who we play. Kansas fans would watch the game regardless of who they play. The rest of the viewing public could not care less that Bill Self coached here two decades ago and they are going to tune in because it's March Madness.
I just honestly can't picture the audience that would be persuaded to watch a basketball game for a niche storyline.
So what incredible storyline involving Illinois might the committee use to draw a larger TV audience?
Kansas because Self coached here 20 years ago? Nobody cares
Kentucky or Gonzaga because our assistant coaches left? Nobody cares
Auburn because of Pearl‘s recruiting actions 30 years ago?
Houston because of Sampson’s recruiting actions 15-20 years ago?
Baylor because of transfers?
Every team has connections they can point to for certain matchups, but very few are predetermined by the committee for ratings purposes, and nothing significant for the Illini this year.
If Illini do play in the 8/9 game, the matchup would be against either Rutgers or Indiana with an outside chance of it being against Northwestern.
Chad Fleck
- Eureka, IL
LOL the BTT bracket simulator is currently down.
AyoDos11
- Southern Illinois
It can't even figure this season out
Chad Fleck
- Eureka, IL
Looks to me like we need a Northwestern or Nebraska win to get out of the 8/9 game and into 7 seed.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Looks like NU winning at Rutgers today is our only chance at the #7 seed? I’d personally prefer that for the 5:30 pm game time.
Current most likely Illini BTT seeding scenarios:
-7 seed: IU defeats Michigan
-8 seed: Michigan defeats IU and NW defeats Rutgers
-9 seed: Michigan defeats IU and Rutgers defeats NW
-7 seed: IU defeats Michigan
-8 seed: Michigan defeats IU and NW defeats Rutgers
-9 seed: Michigan defeats IU and Rutgers defeats NW
May not even need that. I think if IU beats Michigan, then Illini are the 7 seed either way.
Chad Fleck
- Eureka, IL
That's not what the simulator says.
danielb927
Orange Krush Class of 2013
- Rochester, MN
Scenarios:
If Michigan beats IU, we're in the 8/9 game. We'd play Rutgers if they lose to NW, or Indiana if Rutgers wins.
If IU, Rutgers, and Iowa all win, 8/9 game against Northwestern.
All other scenarios - 7/10 against Penn State, with the 2 seed being Northwestern (if they win) or Indiana (if NW loses).
If Michigan beats IU, we're in the 8/9 game. We'd play Rutgers if they lose to NW, or Indiana if Rutgers wins.
If IU, Rutgers, and Iowa all win, 8/9 game against Northwestern.
All other scenarios - 7/10 against Penn State, with the 2 seed being Northwestern (if they win) or Indiana (if NW loses).
I looked at the bracket seeding scenarios that Matt Hackman posted heading into the weekend. With way the first 3 B1G games this weekend have gone, Illini are the 7 seed if IU wins. NW/Rutgers would have no impact on their BTT seeding if that happened.
Chad Fleck
- Eureka, IL
Looks like what I was finding.
Go Northwestern. I'd happily take the later game against PSU and then play NW.
Chad Fleck
- Eureka, IL
I think this is a long way of saying that we need NW to win.
We need IU to win more from what I'm seeing.
- Status