Rice is the host so I think they are fine.
Week of 1/19 Bracketology
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OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
I was under the impression that as long as the university isn’t the host and the team has played two or fewer games in that facility, that they could still play there.
Rice is hosting and the site is the Toyota Center, then I think Houston can play there. But I could be 100% wrong about this.
You both are probably correct. It was the only reason I could think of that Houston would not get their preferred site as a 2 seed. Well, there was one other reason. It is Lunardi.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Wait, is this a rule?? Wouldn't that disqualify us from the Chicago Regional if we literally win one BTT game? Lol, should we try to wrap up a top seed before the BTT and forfeit our first game??
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
Wait, is this a rule?? Wouldn't that disqualify us from the Chicago Regional if we literally win one BTT game? Lol, should we try to wrap up a top seed before the BTT and forfeit our first game??
First semi-definitive article from a Google search.
A team will not be permitted to play in any facility in which it has played more than three games during its season, not including exhibitions and conference postseason tournaments.Wait, is this a rule?? Wouldn't that disqualify us from the Chicago Regional if we literally win one BTT game? Lol, should we try to wrap up a top seed before the BTT and forfeit our first game??
We’re good here lol
With the injury to Kylan- will the committee consider our season in parts? What I mean is- assuming he returns this season, will they ignore/devalue the stretch where he was out?
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
Good deal. Forgot that conference tournaments were exempt.
This is more for programs like St.John’s or Seton Hall who play a number of regular season games at a larger, off campus arena.
This is more for programs like St.John’s or Seton Hall who play a number of regular season games at a larger, off campus arena.
It is considered, yes. How much? No clue.
This video is dated (March 2023), but touches on it a bit:
How much your brand matters, depends on how much the committee will “consider” it lol. Hopefully Illinois has earned a bump
Also, I’ll never forget the McCullar thing at Kansas. Even if Kylan can’t go tourney time, Brad should say he’s ready to roll.
Some will say I'm paranoid or a conspiracy theorist, but I have zero faith that the committee would actually do something beneficial for us
It's okay, I always assume they're out to actively hurt us.Some will say I'm paranoid or a conspiracy theorist, but I have zero faith that the committee would actually do something beneficial for us
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
You could argue we got a pretty good draw in 2024 (at least relative to our goal of finally getting to the Sweet Sixteen), and we actually had a great draw last year, getting to play probably the worst #3 seed in front of a home Illini crowd in Milwaukee … of course, we all know how it turned out!
In 2021 and 2022, it would seem we got pretty unlucky draws, though…
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
And the decade before that we were nearly always on the wrong side of the bubble, so this is a welcome discussion.You could argue we got a pretty good draw in 2024 (at least relative to our goal of finally getting to the Sweet Sixteen), and we actually had a great draw last year, getting to play probably the worst #3 seed in front of a home Illini crowd in Milwaukee … of course, we all know how it turned out!
In 2021 and 2022, it would seem we got pretty unlucky draws, though…
CBS Sports this am has our Illini a 2 seed, with MSU a 3 in the same starting bracket:
www.cbssports.com
Bracketology 2026 - NCAA Tournament Predictions
CBS Sports is helping you get ready for March Madness with the latest news, picks, and predictions for the 2026 NCAA Basketball Tournament Bracket.
www.cbssports.com
I'd be surprised to see Michigan State seeded below us when all's said and done.CBS Sports this am has our Illini a 2 seed, with MSU a 3 in the same starting bracket:
Bracketology 2026 - NCAA Tournament Predictions
CBS Sports is helping you get ready for March Madness with the latest news, picks, and predictions for the 2026 NCAA Basketball Tournament Bracket.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
It will be super interesting to see how the Committee handles Boswell being out. On paper, it is a very significant loss, as he's our second leading scorer and a good defender ... the intangibles we lost are arguably even more significant. We know the Committee at least somewhat considers injuries as a factor, but I would be curious if that only goes "in one direction." In other words, it seems somewhat confirmed that they might excuse away a loss or two that a team plays without its best player ... but would a Quad 1A win be viewed as "even better" (whatever that means) if it's secured while a key player is out? A lot of variables that will be discussed behind closed doors, of course.
However, we can still speculate! And I will speculate that while the obvious bad news of Boswell being out is it decreases our chances in some huge opportunities over the next month ... it might also provide us with at least one extra "mulligan" loss that the Committee wouldn't penalize us for due to his injury. Let's imagine this hypothetical scenario where Kylan is out for a little over a month, returns for the Michigan home game (Feb. 27). Exactly how many "extra" losses would the Committee allow us to get and still be on our current seed trajectory?? In a scenario where we lose at USC and look lost without KB but we'd previously beat Nebraska in Lincoln in a game where Keaton just takes over ... is that a wash? Is the USC loss "excused" due to the injury and the massive Nebraska win considered almost extra credit since it would have been a massive win anyway at full strength????
Lol, I'm one to try to find the optimistic outlook in anything ... and while I would obviously prefer Kylan out there, have we now entered a sequence of games where, say, a surprising loss to Indiana or at USC doesn't hurt us (in isolation, of course) as much as it would have? Just kind of a weird way to think about it.
However, we can still speculate! And I will speculate that while the obvious bad news of Boswell being out is it decreases our chances in some huge opportunities over the next month ... it might also provide us with at least one extra "mulligan" loss that the Committee wouldn't penalize us for due to his injury. Let's imagine this hypothetical scenario where Kylan is out for a little over a month, returns for the Michigan home game (Feb. 27). Exactly how many "extra" losses would the Committee allow us to get and still be on our current seed trajectory?? In a scenario where we lose at USC and look lost without KB but we'd previously beat Nebraska in Lincoln in a game where Keaton just takes over ... is that a wash? Is the USC loss "excused" due to the injury and the massive Nebraska win considered almost extra credit since it would have been a massive win anyway at full strength????
Lol, I'm one to try to find the optimistic outlook in anything ... and while I would obviously prefer Kylan out there, have we now entered a sequence of games where, say, a surprising loss to Indiana or at USC doesn't hurt us (in isolation, of course) as much as it would have? Just kind of a weird way to think about it.
BracketMatrix has us as a 3 now
Just keep the defense top 30 til Kylan is back please
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
We’re currently 4-3 in Q1 games and as of now, we have 6 remaining:
bballnet.com
That leaves us very little margin for error if we want a 2 seed.
My guess is, we’d have to go undefeated in Q2/Q3 games and 4-2 in the remaining Q1 games, which is likely a split of the big 4 (@Purdue, @Nebraska, @MSU, Michigan) along with winning the pair of California games.
That would put us at 8-5 in Q1 games and 6-0 in Q2 games. I’m not sure anything else gets a 2 seed. A 2 seed with that record might not even be guaranteed since there are already 10 teams with 5 or more Q1 wins.
A 3 seed is probably most likely, unless we don’t play all that well without Boswell against the top of the conference, in which case we could fall to the dreaded 4/5 line.
Illinois - NET Rankings and Quad Wins
2026 Illinois Quad wins for NCAA College Basketball. NET rankings and Quadrants are used to help select teams for the NCAA Tournament during March Madness.
That leaves us very little margin for error if we want a 2 seed.
My guess is, we’d have to go undefeated in Q2/Q3 games and 4-2 in the remaining Q1 games, which is likely a split of the big 4 (@Purdue, @Nebraska, @MSU, Michigan) along with winning the pair of California games.
That would put us at 8-5 in Q1 games and 6-0 in Q2 games. I’m not sure anything else gets a 2 seed. A 2 seed with that record might not even be guaranteed since there are already 10 teams with 5 or more Q1 wins.
A 3 seed is probably most likely, unless we don’t play all that well without Boswell against the top of the conference, in which case we could fall to the dreaded 4/5 line.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
No big post (for now ... lol), but I wouldn't totally discount the scenario of Minnesota sneaking into the top 75 and becoming a Quad 2 win for us. They've honestly looked impressive to me for a team with a first year coach and limited talent, and I feel like they'll knock some more teams off. They're #83 right now so they have a bit of a climb, but that would be nice for us. Without analyzing the list or anything, it just feels like a year where we will have a crowded waiting area for the #2 and #3 seeds, and anything to help distinguish us from the field is a plus!
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
Must be a busy day at the office...
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