Yup. I’ve been seeing the same. It’s not just us seeing the world through “O&B” glasses.
NCAA Tournament Bracket
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CBS discusses their biggest winners and losers in the bracket:
TLDW:
Winners:
- Kentucky (didn't deserve a 3 seed, but got one and a favorable draw)
- Arizona (got 2 seed in the West filled with flawed teams)
Losers:
- Iowa State: (potential 1 seed got a 2 seed with a nightmare 3 seed matchup)
- UConn (#1 overall seed with a nightmare 2-3-4-5-8 matchups)
TLDW:
Winners:
- Kentucky (didn't deserve a 3 seed, but got one and a favorable draw)
- Arizona (got 2 seed in the West filled with flawed teams)
Losers:
- Iowa State: (potential 1 seed got a 2 seed with a nightmare 3 seed matchup)
- UConn (#1 overall seed with a nightmare 2-3-4-5-8 matchups)
sacraig
- The desert
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
I think that is some East Coast bias in media. Is it a tough draw for UCONN; sure, but NW is trending down with injuries (they are NET 53 and in a traditional year would be between a 10 and 12 seed or out of tourney), FAU is all hype from last year and is overseeded (they are NET 39 and are really about a 10 seed). That is a pretty favorable first weekend. They do have some gripes with second weekend potential matchups of Auburn being their 4 and Iowa State their 2, but Auburn was severely weak in Quad 1 games this year up until this week.
It is a tough draw for sure but not anywhere near the most unfair draw ever. And as an Illini fan, this draw is optimal to make the second weekend. That is all that matters to me.
sacraig
- The desert
I am willing to bet that is the first time this has every been written about Tim Doyle on this board.
If you told me this morning that Illinois could get a shot at UConn, a revenge game for 05 against UNC, and a shootout with Kentucky to win a national championship, I'd be ecstatic.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Congrats to Illinois on another 4 seed.
We’ve got 5 seed BYU waiting for us in round 2. And 1 seed Iowa St waiting for us in the S16.
We’ve got 5 seed BYU waiting for us in round 2. And 1 seed Iowa St waiting for us in the S16.
I was checking out a UCONN forum and the consensus was that they are more concerned with FAU(less so), Houston, and Iowa State compared to Illinois. Ohhh boyyy. You never know, but lock in, and the boys can take down Iowa State if they're sharp. One game at a time. One poster said that they watched the big ten championship game and was not impressed with Illinois. Clown take obviously, but I thought it was too funny to share.
One odd fact to keep in mind when filling out your bracket: Since the tournament expanded in 1985, no team that has failed to reach their conference tournament semifinals has won the national championship.
That group, this year, includes Alabama, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, Creighton, Duke, BYU, Dayton, Nevada, and Kansas.
That group, this year, includes Alabama, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, Creighton, Duke, BYU, Dayton, Nevada, and Kansas.
sacraig
- The desert
Well, we were the last 3 seed per the committee.
To follow up, the Iowa State forum echo chamber is hilarious. They would rather play Illinois because they lost to BYU first go around, and barely won the second time. They did impressively beat up on a Houston team that statistically can't shoot very well. They (Iowa State) have atrocious rebounding numbers per ESPN, and that particular group of supporters conveniently criticize Illinois' body of work thinking that Illinois' losses to Purdue and Maryland were on equal terms (no Terrance). Goofy. Just think if Shannon wasn't dealing with rust against Northwestern, a weird high school gym at Penn State with a dangerously slippery floor (if you remember) that they gave away, and a Maryland home game without Shannon, we'd be talking about a whole different vibe then what we even have now. I think the team as they are now is above and beyond their body of work. Btw, the Illini have the second best player in the land
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As the great Ric Flair says:
So let's stop complaining about draws and go beat the man. One game at a time.
So let's stop complaining about draws and go beat the man. One game at a time.
According to betting odds, BYU is around #17, so that's certainly a bummer compared to the other 6 seeds (26, 27, & 29). But Iowa St is #8 and only slightly ahead of Marquette among the 2 seeds. For reference, we're #12.
Being in UConn's region obviously isn't fun, but Auburn is the most favored 4 seed (#7 overall), so who knows.
Team Odds
1 Connecticut 19.2%
2 Houston 14.9%
3 Purdue 13.3%
4 Arizona 6.9%
5 North Carolina 6.5%
6 Tennessee 6.0%
7 Auburn 5.3%
8 Iowa State 4.9%
9 Marquette 4.1%
10 Creighton 4.0%
11 Kentucky 3.9%
12 Illinois 3.4%
13 Duke 3.3%
14 Baylor 2.8%
15 Alabama 2.7%
16 Kansas 2.7%
17 BYU 1.8%
18 Florida 1.7%
19 Gonzaga 1.7%
20 Wisconsin 1.6%
21 Saint Mary's 1.5%
22 San Diego State 1.2%
23 Michigan State 1.2%
24 New Mexico 1.0%
25 Texas 0.9%
26 Texas Tech 0.9%
27 South Carolina 0.9%
28 Mississippi State 0.8%
29 Clemson 0.8%
30 Washington State 0.8%
31 TCU 0.7%
32 Florida Atlantic 0.7%
33 Nevada 0.7%
34 Nebraska 0.7%
35 Colorado 0.7%
36 North Carolina State 0.7%
37 Texas A&M 0.6%
38 Dayton 0.6%
39 Utah State 0.6%
40 Northwestern 0.6%
41 Drake 0.6%
42 Colorado State 0.6%
43 Boise State 0.5%
44 Oregon 0.5%
45 Virginia 0.5%
46 James Madison 0.4%
47 Grand Canyon 0.4%
48 McNeese State 0.3%
49 Duquesne 0.3%
50 Yale 0.2%
51 Vermont 0.2%
52 Samford 0.2%
53 UAB 0.2%
54 Charleston 0.2%
55 South Dakota State 0.2%
56 Oakland 0.1%
57 Colgate 0.1%
58 Akron 0.1%
59 Western Kentucky 0.1%
60 Morehead State 0.1%
61 Longwood 0.1%
62 Long Beach State 0.1%
63 Stetson 0.1%
64 Grambling State 0.1%
65 Howard 0.1%
66 Montana State 0.1%
67 Wagner 0.1%
68 Saint Peter's 0.1%
I personally can’t relate to the portion of our fanbase who want the easy road. Anything worth claiming comes with a challenge. We can’t control the draw. This team appears to love the challenge and our coach has expressed how much he hates to lose. Seems like a good combination after weathering some big second half tests in the BTT.
Some of you put far too much faith in Kenpom. He doesn’t have a good tourney record at predicting upsets. His model is just noise when it comes to the tourney.
Last year 1st round :
1 correct upset (9 Auburn over 8 Iowa)
3 wrong upsets predicted
6 wrong favorites predicted who were upset
You‘d be better off just playing the favorite in every game. Go ahead and check the other seasons and see for yourself. I’d be happy to be proven wrong.
Last year 1st round :
1 correct upset (9 Auburn over 8 Iowa)
3 wrong upsets predicted
6 wrong favorites predicted who were upset
You‘d be better off just playing the favorite in every game. Go ahead and check the other seasons and see for yourself. I’d be happy to be proven wrong.
Rumor has it BYU was dropped to a 6 seed to accommodate their religious no sunday play rule. They were in the big12 this year and had wins against Iowa State, Baylor. Kansas, TCU, and Texas. They're senior laden, shoot the 3 well, good defensively, and dont turn the ball over. Thinking we dont have a tough game until the elite 8 is ridiculous.
BYU beat Iowa State, Baylor, Kansas, and TCU. Would have been a 5 seed save for the no Sunday play rule they have put them in a Thursday - Saturday slot.
ILLINI76
- Springfiled, IL.
Yes they won at Kansas but it was with out McCullar for Kansas. The other wins were at home in high altitude. They lost to Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Cincinnati, and Oklahoma, They only won three games on the road in conference West, West Virginia, and Central Florida.
Agree. After the 3 teams we just beat, I fear no team.
I like the look of this, but please tell me who Tim Doyle is.
mattcoldagelli
- Script Illinois Enthusiast
You guys are so wimpy soft.
We’re a wagon on offense. See you in the Elite Eight. Make sure to bring new garments since you spent the last 12 hours rending your current ones.
We’re a wagon on offense. See you in the Elite Eight. Make sure to bring new garments since you spent the last 12 hours rending your current ones.
Ok I’ve had some time to sleep on this and listen to many sources. My initial reaction was we got a tough bracket and it’ll be tough. The experts agree. But I honestly think we’re up to any and all challengers. We need to play team ball and lean on TSJ, as always. Knowing that there will be upsets (not us 
), who really knows our Saturday opponent? Focus on Thursday’s game and advance. Rinse Repeat!!
See you all in many more game threads.
), who really knows our Saturday opponent? Focus on Thursday’s game and advance. Rinse Repeat!! See you all in many more game threads.
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