NCAA Tournament March Madness

#9 Illinois

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Projected seed: 4 (automatic qualifier)

Illinois has demonstrated a strong offensive capability, notably highlighted by convincing wins against teams like Oregon and Arkansas, which have solid rankings. However, their defense has been a lingering issue, evidenced by the high-scoring loss to Alabama and the near-miss against Tennessee, where they couldn’t lock down at crucial moments. Future matchups, particularly against ranked opponents like Michigan State and Purdue, present significant opportunities to bolster their resume, provided they can elevate their defensive play. A successful run in these games, along with a potential victory over a strong team in the Big Ten tournament, could reinforce their standing and solidify their chances for a favorable seed in the NCAA tournament.

Date Opponent Ranking Outcome
11/4E Illinois327W112-67
11/8SIUE241W90-58
11/13Oakland210W66-54
11/20(N)Alabama8L100-87
11/23MD E Shore350W87-40
11/25Ark Little Rock237W92-34
11/28(N)Arkansas42W90-77
12/6@Northwestern49L70-66
12/10Wisconsin19W86-80
12/14Tennessee6L66-64
12/22(N)Missouri46W80-77
12/29Chicago St358W117-64
1/2@Oregon26W109-77
1/5@Washington86W81-77
1/8Penn St4062%
1/11USC8167%
1/14@Indiana5656%
1/19@Michigan St1850%
1/23Maryland1657%
1/26Northwestern4963%
1/30@Nebraska3052%
2/2Ohio St3260%
2/5@Rutgers8461%
2/8@Minnesota14366%
2/11UCLA1757%
2/15Michigan St1857%
2/18@Wisconsin1950%
2/22(N)Duke242%
2/25Iowa5264%
3/2@Michigan1348%
3/7Purdue2459%