Bubble Watch

• Azubuike24

  

  And that's why I wonder why people still think the Big Ten is one of the best leagues?
  
  Honestly, the Final Four of the BTT will be good, but there is really no reason to tune in prior to that.
• Prescott

  Illinois shouldnt be in even with a win.

  Wait a minute. Illinois has won at Clemson, at Wisconsin, and at home against Vandy and at home against Michigan State.. If we are talking about 'Almost". They almost beat Gonzaga and Purdue.
  
  Illinois isn't great , but they aren't horrible.
• Laley23

  

  Prescott wrote:

  Illinois shouldnt be in even with a win.

  Wait a minute. Illinois has won at Clemson, at Wisconsin, and at home against Vandy and at home against Michigan State.. If we are talking about 'Almost". They almost beat Gonzaga and Purdue.
  
  Illinois isn't great , but they aren't horrible.

  As Jay Bilas says, they dont pass my eye test. I give in to the fact that if they beat Wisky, they will get in. But Im just not that impressed with their team this season. I thought they would be really good this season, and Weber has done a poor job of utilizing what he has in skillful bigs who can shoot.
  
  4 great wins shouldnt trump some of the other numbers on Illinois' resume. Will they? Time will tell and I would venture to guess that they will, because of how shitty the bubble teams are. But they arent even gonna end the year with 20 wins!!! That would be fine if they were falling short because they played really tough teams all year, but thats not the case. With their schedule, they should have gotten to 20 wins.
• Azubuike24

  

  Illinois is still alive with those 4 wins. However, outside of that, they haven't even played decent. They lost to every other team who was even average.
  
  They lost to Bradley, Utah, Georgia, Northwestern and Minnesota. All average or below average teams. Sure, the rest of their losses were all to good NCAA teams (Gonzaga, Missouri, Ohio State (2), Michigan State, Purdue (2) and Wisconsin, but still.
  
  Can literally, 4 wins get you an NCAA bid?
• wildcats20

  

  I think if Illinois can make it to the final of the BTT(maybe just the semi), they will get a bid.
  
  They get a rematch with Wisky to advance to the semis to face the winner of OSU and Iowa/Indiana.
• Prescott

  Wisky was good but is not a true threat because of the nature of their team)

  .
  
  What does this mean?? This year, more than any other
  (because their is no dominant team), I think Wisky can make a deep run. They have solid guard play, good size with skill, and a decent bench. Ryan won't lose a game for them. What is the nature of their team that you don't like?
• Laley23

  

  Prescott wrote:

  Wisky was good but is not a true threat because of the nature of their team)

  .
  
  What does this mean?? This year, more than any other
  (because their is no dominant team), I think Wisky can make a deep run. They have solid guard play, good size with skill, and a decent bench. Ryan won't lose a game for them. What is the nature of their team that you don't like?

  No its every year with Ryan. They have unathletic bigs and their style always gets trumped. They almost never are able to control the tempo of the game in their tourney games and it leads to early exits. This year is no different, but again, its jmo.
• Laley23

  

  wildcats20 wrote: I think if Illinois can make it to the final of the BTT(maybe just the semi), they will get a bid.
  
  They get a rematch with Wisky to advance to the semis to face the winner of OSU and Iowa/Indiana.

  Indiana plays Northwestern and the winner plays Purdue.
  
  Illinois will play Wisky to advance to the Semis and will play, most likely OSU
• ironman02

  Wake Forest probably just locked up a bid by beating Clemson at home, 70-65.
  
  Wake is now 19-9, 9-7 ACC. If they lose to Miami in the first round of the ACCT, they might still be on the bubble, but one more win and they should be comfortable.
• wildcats20

  

  Laley23 wrote:

  wildcats20 wrote: I think if Illinois can make it to the final of the BTT(maybe just the semi), they will get a bid.
  
  They get a rematch with Wisky to advance to the semis to face the winner of OSU and Iowa/Indiana.

  Indiana plays Northwestern and the winner plays Purdue.
  
  Illinois will play Wisky to advance to the Semis and will play, most likely OSU

  I was looking at the standings on ESPN and at the time Indiana and Iowa were in the 8/9 spots.
• Prescott

  No its every year with Ryan

  I get what you are saying, but I think this year will be different. There is no dominant team and IMO the field is pretty weak comparatively speaking.
• Laley23

  

  Prescott wrote:

  No its every year with Ryan

  I get what you are saying, but I think this year will be different. There is no dominant team and IMO the field is pretty weak comparatively speaking.

  Yeah, if there was a year it would be this season I suppose. But at the same time, they might get match-ed up with a smaller, quicker, mid-major because the power teams wont be in the dance as prominently. This could be dangerous if they try to play to up and down.
  
  By the same token, they could make a deep run. But until they do I wont be confident.
• ironman02

  UConn was hammered by St. John's tonight in the Big East Tournament, 73-51.
  
  At 17-15, they're now OUT for sure. NIT for the Huskies.
• Heretic

  

  To be honest, I can see Minnesota (eighth team out via Lunardi) having a better chance of getting in than Illinois (last team in).
  
  Illinois is completely self-destructing and would have to beat AT LEAST Wisconsin (who just handled them) and possibly Ohio State. Minnesota has been playing well the past couple of weeks (with the exception of the Michigan debacle) and if they can get past Penn State (stinks record-wise, but plays everyone close), they'd have Michigan State (very shaky since the beginning of February with their only good win being against Purdue in their first full game without Hummel) and, barring upset, Purdue w/o Hummel.
  
  Not an easy task, but not an impossible one. And with the way bubble teams in general have been so erratic when it counts, if they make it to the Big 10 final, they could be in position for an 11-13 seed.
• rock_knutne

  Notre Dame can cement a spot in the field of 64 if they can finish off Seton Hall........up 10 with about 5 minutes left.
• Azubuike24

  

  The Big East race is becoming very defined. Connecticut, Seton Hall and South Florida have clearly not done enough, while Marquette and Notre Dame have moved into a more secure spot after today. Louisville can do the same, and drive the final stake into Cincinnati.
  
  If that happens, the Big East can rest easy, they will have their 8 teams in, and all 8 will be remaining in the Big East Tourney. Can't ask for a better 3 days of basketball than that.
  
  After tonight there should be no drama left in the Big East.
• rock_knutne

  ^^^^^Agreed, the final eight in the Big East Tournament (if Louisville wins) will all be tournament bound.
• wildcats20

  

  ^^So much for that as Cincy has a great 2nd half and takes care of Louisville.
• rock_knutne

  I still think the Big East has a very good chance to get 8 teams in. If Cincy wins again tonight they have a legit shot at making it and could bump Louisville out.
• devil1197

  Louisville is in imo.
  
  They were in after beating Syracuse twice.
• Heretic

  

  Houston is up on Memphis 36-27 at the half. Considering that Memphis is a bubble team, losing this game would not do them any favors.
• Mulva

  

  Memphis has tied Houston up at 57. They probably need to make the CUSA finals to get an at large.
• Heretic

  

  Memphis just got booted off the bubble by a 67-66 margin.
• september63

  

  Azubuike24 wrote: The Big East race is becoming very defined. Connecticut, Seton Hall and South Florida have clearly not done enough, while Marquette and Notre Dame have moved into a more secure spot after today. Louisville can do the same, and drive the final stake into Cincinnati.
  
  If that happens, the Big East can rest easy, they will have their 8 teams in, and all 8 will be remaining in the Big East Tourney. Can't ask for a better 3 days of basketball than that.
  
  After tonight there should be no drama left in the Big East.

  
  
  So much for no drama. The new drama is this.............Will Syracuse hang on to a #1 seed?
• Laley23

  

  september63 wrote:
  
  
  
  So much for no drama. The new drama is this.............Will Syracuse hang on to a #1 seed?

  there really should be no drama about this. Look at their numbers, their record, their wins, and their loses. They should have this #1 seed thing locked up with UK and KU.