Pregame: Illinois vs Iowa/Ohio State

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#51      

21ChampaignSt

21ChampaignSt
21ChampaignSt
In my opinion, we're virtually locked in to a 4, so I'm thinking this tournament is mostly inconsequential for us in terms of seeding.

However, I'd still like to see us get some revenge against PU in the championship and get this team a banner. And I'd love to see a few more good defensive performances going into the real tournament.

The last three games have been our best three game defensive stretch since we beat Southern, Western, and Rutgers at the end of November/ beginning of December.

In the month of March (small sample size) we're the 21st ranked defense. And that's come against two tournament teams and one bubble team.

If we can maintain that defense for two or three more games, we're going to be very dangerous and make a lot of Uconn or Houston fans nervous when they see us in their bracket.

Let the Madness begin!
 
#52      

KC_Illini

KC_Illini
KC_Illini
I loved seeing Ty attack the basket when he got the ball in the paint in the second half yesterday. So many times he’s passed up a good look or turned the ball over because he didn’t want to shoot. It’s been confusing because he’s very talented at getting open looks down low. We need all our guys at their peak potential these next few weeks and that starts with guys like Ty & QG.
 
#53      

Icy veins

I
Icy veins
21ChampaignSt said:
In my opinion, we're virtually locked in to a 4, so I'm thinking this tournament is mostly inconsequential for us in terms of seeding.

However, I'd still like to see us get some revenge against PU in the championship and get this team a banner. And I'd love to see a few more good defensive performances going into the real tournament.

The last three games have been our best three game defensive stretch since we beat Southern, Western, and Rutgers at the end of November/ beginning of December.

In the month of March (small sample size) we're the 21st ranked defense. And that's come against two tournament teams and one bubble team.

If we can maintain that defense for two or three more games, we're going to be very dangerous and make a lot of Uconn or Houston fans nervous when they see us in their bracket.

Let the Madness begin!
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Here’s my thought on this: even if we’re locked at a 4, it’s still important. Correct me if I’m wrong, but my understanding is the top 4 seed plays the weakest 5 seed and the bottom 4 seed plays the strongest 5 seed. Even further, the top 4 seed gets matched up with the lowest 1 seed and vice Verda. That might not seem like a big deal on paper, but I’d much rather play a team in the 2nd round like BYU or SDST that’s fading down the stretch than a team like Auburn that has lost some games and might just slip to the 5 seed but is still scary. Same with the 3rd round (🙏) - I’d rather play Tennessee/Arizona than UConn or Houston.
 
#54      

Mobi

M
Mobi
Icy veins said:
Here’s my thought on this: even if we’re locked at a 4, it’s still important. Correct me if I’m wrong, but my understanding is the top 4 seed plays the weakest 5 seed and the bottom 4 seed plays the strongest 5 seed. Even further, the top 4 seed gets matched up with the lowest 1 seed and vice Verda. That might not seem like a big deal on paper, but I’d much rather play a team in the 2nd round like BYU or SDST that’s fading down the stretch than a team like Auburn that has lost some games and might just slip to the 5 seed but is still scary. Same with the 3rd round (🙏) - I’d rather play Tennessee/Arizona than UConn or Houston.
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I don't care BTT too much since it seems to exhaust the team for the big dance when playing too much in BTT. However, Auburn cannot be a 5 seed. Let's not worry about it.
 
#55      

21ChampaignSt

21ChampaignSt
21ChampaignSt
Icy veins said:
Here’s my thought on this: even if we’re locked at a 4, it’s still important. Correct me if I’m wrong, but my understanding is the top 4 seed plays the weakest 5 seed and the bottom 4 seed plays the strongest 5 seed. Even further, the top 4 seed gets matched up with the lowest 1 seed and vice Verda. That might not seem like a big deal on paper, but I’d much rather play a team in the 2nd round like BYU or SDST that’s fading down the stretch than a team like Auburn that has lost some games and might just slip to the 5 seed but is still scary. Same with the 3rd round (🙏) - I’d rather play Tennessee/Arizona than UConn or Houston.
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Fair. I just don't think there's a ton of upside to the two immediate matchups in front of us (and the third doesn't count). It's possible we look dominant on Friday and Saturday and a couple teams ahead of us lay some eggs. Seems like a longshot but we can hope!

As for the 1 we get matched up with, I don't think we'll get paired with Purdue or Tennessee since we've played both already. So that leaves Uconn or Houston. Or, best case, AZ bumps TN and as the best 4, we get to play AZ.

And I don't do curses or conspiracies but Auburn slipping to a 5 in our bracket would be so Illinois. Another top 10 kenpom team in the second round, against a rival coach no less.
 
#56      

727ill

7
727ill
21ChampaignSt said:
In my opinion, we're virtually locked in to a 4, so I'm thinking this tournament is mostly inconsequential for us in terms of seeding.

However, I'd still like to see us get some revenge against PU in the championship and get this team a banner. And I'd love to see a few more good defensive performances going into the real tournament.

The last three games have been our best three game defensive stretch since we beat Southern, Western, and Rutgers at the end of November/ beginning of December.

In the month of March (small sample size) we're the 21st ranked defense. And that's come against two tournament teams and one bubble team.

If we can maintain that defense for two or three more games, we're going to be very dangerous and make a lot of Uconn or Houston fans nervous when they see us in their bracket.

Let the Madness begin!
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Not necessarily inconsequential. We could rise within the 4 line itself. Being the top 4 seed is quite valuable in terms of where you are placed.
 
#60      

JFGsCoffeeMug

JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
Chicago
JFGsCoffeeMug
I want this team to hang a banner. Win the BTT and then let the chips fall where they may in the NCAA tournament. I'm not preemptively worried about how winning games in the BTT might impact our NCAA tourney run. That's a pretty good problem to have.
 
#63      

Fighter of the Nightman

Fighter of the Nightman
Chicago, IL
Fighter of the Nightman
Icy veins said:
Here’s my thought on this: even if we’re locked at a 4, it’s still important. Correct me if I’m wrong, but my understanding is the top 4 seed plays the weakest 5 seed and the bottom 4 seed plays the strongest 5 seed. Even further, the top 4 seed gets matched up with the lowest 1 seed and vice Verda. That might not seem like a big deal on paper, but I’d much rather play a team in the 2nd round like BYU or SDST that’s fading down the stretch than a team like Auburn that has lost some games and might just slip to the 5 seed but is still scary. Same with the 3rd round (🙏) - I’d rather play Tennessee/Arizona than UConn or Houston.
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Agreed! It’s also kind of underrated the BTT is an awesome dress rehearsal for the Big Dance. Quality opponents, neutral floor with hoops you haven’t shot on before and it’s win or go home! I personally will always defend the event.
 
#65      

aaeismacgychel

A
aaeismacgychel
gary? said:
That's nice and all, Andy, but OSU still scares the bejeesus outta me. I'll be shocked it Iowa wins that game.
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While OSU is finally playing like the top half B10 team many including myself expected them to be, and while I do expect them to beat Iowa, if we're scared of facing them, it doesn't bode well for the NCAA tourney. Pretty much every 1st round team we'd play would have strung multiple wins together and won their conference tournament prior to us facing them. If you're a Top 4 seed in the tourney, you just have to go out and beat a team like this in a one and done situation. And while losing a 1st round BTT to a team on a hot streak isn't the worst thing in the world, it would be difficult to say this team will be able to make a run to the second weekend considering this is so many players last go and last chance to hang a banner or get a ring. To have a legacy. Contenders and champions find ways to win games like these. Just gotta go out and do it.
 
#66      

PepeSilvia

P
PepeSilvia
21ChampaignSt said:
Fair. I just don't think there's a ton of upside to the two immediate matchups in front of us (and the third doesn't count). It's possible we look dominant on Friday and Saturday and a couple teams ahead of us lay some eggs. Seems like a longshot but we can hope!

As for the 1 we get matched up with, I don't think we'll get paired with Purdue or Tennessee since we've played both already. So that leaves Uconn or Houston. Or, best case, AZ bumps TN and as the best 4, we get to play AZ.

And I don't do curses or conspiracies but Auburn slipping to a 5 in our bracket would be so Illinois. Another top 10 kenpom team in the second round, against a rival coach no less.
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I personally think we have to be near the top of the 4 line and I keep seeing Kansas and Iowa st in the 3 line.

Personally I think Kansas is completely fraudulent but 2 wins for the Illini(and some good defensive performances) and a quick exit for one of the big 12 teams could allow the Illini to jump them.

Also, I know people like to say that Sunday games don't matter but if the Illini are playing Purdue on Sunday I could see the committee having different ideas in place to swap a team or two. The Illini are currently 10 on KP and 12 on torvik. Winning the Big10 tourney would like have them in the top 8 come tourney time.

The biggest think working against the Illini possibly getting a 3 seed is that Kansas and Duke are cbb darlings despite not being great.
 
#67      

HereSoIDontGetFined

H
HereSoIDontGetFined
I don't really like either of these matchups for us. Ohio State has played better since firing Holtmann. Iowa back-to-back I'm not a fan of if only because they basically get a few days to make adjustments against us and the game will be fresh in their minds. But we should win either way.
 
#68      

danielb927

danielb927
Orange Krush Class of 2013
Rochester, MN
danielb927
PepeSilvia said:
I personally think we have to be near the top of the 4 line and I keep seeing Kansas and Iowa st in the 3 line.

Personally I think Kansas is completely fraudulent but 2 wins for the Illini(and some good defensive performances) and a quick exit for one of the big 12 teams could allow the Illini to jump them.

Also, I know people like to say that Sunday games don't matter but if the Illini are playing Purdue on Sunday I could see the committee having different ideas in place to swap a team or two. The Illini are currently 10 on KP and 12 on torvik. Winning the Big10 tourney would like have them in the top 8 come tourney time.

The biggest think working against the Illini possibly getting a 3 seed is that Kansas and Duke are cbb darlings despite not being great.
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I've heard this as well - the committee may have two versions of the bracket finished depending on the outcome of a late Sunday game.

Not sure if that would happen for something as small as a seed line move, though, or only for a bid stealing scenario (e.g., Minnesota makes it to the B1G championship game).
 
#70      

21ChampaignSt

21ChampaignSt
21ChampaignSt
PepeSilvia said:
Also, I know people like to say that Sunday games don't matter but if the Illini are playing Purdue on Sunday I could see the committee having different ideas in place to swap a team or two. The Illini are currently 10 on KP and 12 on torvik. Winning the Big10 tourney would like have them in the top 8 come tourney time.
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This seems like such an easy and obvious solution. How could you not factor in a win against one of the top teams in the country? Sometimes it seems like the committee is just being stubborn by ignoring that game.

And honestly, if we were to win that game, I think we'd be a pretty clear 3 seed, so by ignoring that outcome, they would be screwing over everyone on our side of the bracket who would essentially have to play a 3 seed instead of a 4. The ripple effect of ignoring the BTT championship extends beyond just Illinois's seed.
 
#72      

727ill

7
727ill
21ChampaignSt said:
This seems like such an easy and obvious solution. How could you not factor in a win against one of the top teams in the country? Sometimes it seems like the committee is just being stubborn by ignoring that game.

And honestly, if we were to win that game, I think we'd be a pretty clear 3 seed, so by ignoring that outcome, they would be screwing over everyone on our side of the bracket who would essentially have to play a 3 seed instead of a 4. The ripple effect of ignoring the BTT championship extends beyond just Illinois's seed.
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The bracket show is literally right after the game...I don't think you are considering how much logistics is involved in creating the bracket. Having a completely separate bracket just to handle a scenario in which both teams are making the tourney anyway doesn't make sense.
 
#73      

21ChampaignSt

21ChampaignSt
21ChampaignSt
727ill said:
The bracket show is literally right after the game...I don't think you are considering how much logistics is involved in creating the bracket. Having a completely separate bracket just to handle a scenario in which both teams are making the tourney anyway doesn't make sense.
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But they could do it if Iowa, for example, were to make the championship?
 
#74      

727ill

7
727ill
21ChampaignSt said:
But they could do it if Iowa, for example, were to make the championship?
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Yes, any team that otherwise would not be in the field would be accounted for in a separate bracket. The case of Iowa or even OSU is actually much simpler. If they win the B10 tournament, they probably get sent to Dayton -- pretty simple (unless there are bid stealers all over the place in the coming days). Moving us from a 4 to a 3 would probably involve way more logistics that would not be worth it for the committee to handle.
 
#75      

danielb927

danielb927
Orange Krush Class of 2013
Rochester, MN
danielb927
727ill said:
Yes, any team that otherwise would not be in the field would be accounted for in a separate bracket. The case of Iowa or even OSU is actually much simpler. If they win the B10 tournament, they probably get sent to Dayton -- pretty simple (unless there are bid stealers all over the place in the coming days). Moving us from a 4 to a 3 would probably involve way more logistics that would not be worth it for the committee to handle.
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Not sure about that. The First Four is supposed to be the last 4 at-larges and last 4 AQs. Iowa/OSU would be neither of those, if they won the BTT.
 
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