Illini NET back at #13 after the win at Michigan. Obviously the NCAA doesn't just go straight down the rankings for the seeds, but that means we are in the #3 to #4 seed conversation currently. Here are our remaining opportunities:
Quad 1
vs. #2 Purdue
at #15 Wisconsin
at #22 Michigan State
at #48 Iowa
at #49 Ohio State
at #74 Northwestern
Quad 2
vs. #48 Iowa
vs. #58 Nebraska
at #95 Maryland
at #120 Penn State
Quad 3
vs. #92 Rutgers
vs. #99 Indiana
vs. #93 Michigan
vs. #96 Minnesota
The one game that scares me the most is at home vs. Indiana. They're good for a solid performance once a year, and any of those bottom four would be a terrible loss, at least as bad as Maryland. Here are our results to-date! It would be really nice if NU can stay in the top 75, because that's barely ever a real road game!
Quad 1
L at #2 Purdue
L at #6 Tennessee
L vs. #18 Marquette
W vs. #29 FAU (New York, NY)
W vs. #22 Michigan State
Quad 2
W vs. #74 Northwestern
W at #92 Rutgers
W at #93 Michigan
Quad 3
L vs. #95 Maryland
W vs. #116 Missouri (St. Louis, MO)
W vs. #134 Oakland
W vs. #148 Colgate
Quad 4
W vs. #177 Southern
W vs. #216 Western Illinois
W vs. #283 Valparaiso
W vs. #305 Eastern Illinois
W vs. #319 FDU
On a pessimistic side, our MSU Quad 1 win is somewhat tenuous (MSU has to be top 30), and our Quad 2 win vs. NU at home is hanging on by a thread (NU has to be top 75). However, on an optimistic side, there is a decent outside chance that at least one of Rutgers, Michigan or Maryland creep back into the top 75. If Michigan or Rutgers do, we get another Quad 1 win on the road. If Maryland does, our really bad Quad 3 loss to them at least becomes Quad 2.
One underrated thing that I don't think people consider enough! A solid showing in the BTT can sometimes push you up a seed line, and it is relevant to look at what each Big Ten opponent would be if we played them in Minneapolis. Assuming we can get a top 4 seed in the BTT, we (theoretically) might get to skip right to meaningful games for a resume. For how bad the conference is said to be by some pundits and even our own fans, there will certainly be opportunities in Minneapolis to improve our seed!
Quad 1
#2 Purdue
#15 Wisconsin
#22 Michigan State
#48 Iowa
#49 Ohio State
Quad 2
#58 Nebraska
#74 Northwestern
#92 Rutgers
#93 Michigan
#95 Maryland
#96 Minnesota
#99 Indiana
Quad 3
#120 Penn State
