NCAA Tournament March Madness
#10 Illinois
Bubble Watch | Bracketology
Chat with the Bracketologist | How does this work?
Projected seed: 5 (automatic qualifier)
Illinois has built a solid resume with a mix of quality wins and strong performances, particularly evident in victories against ranked opponents like Arkansas and a competitive showing against Alabama. Their offense ranks impressively high, showing they can score effectively, but the defensive rankings highlight a potential vulnerability, as they’ve struggled against more potent offenses. Upcoming games against tough opponents, especially Tennessee and UCLA, could present critical opportunities to strengthen their standing, while slipping against teams like Wisconsin or Northwestern, who are in the mix for tournament spots, could jeopardize their chances for a higher seed. Overall, with a balanced schedule ahead, Illinois is in a good position but must capitalize on these key matchups to solidify their NCAA tournament credentials.
| Date | Opponent | Ranking | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11/4 | E Illinois | 322 | W112-67 |
| 11/8 | SIUE | 203 | W90-58 |
| 11/13 | Oakland | 89 | W66-54 |
| 11/20 | (N)Alabama | 13 | L100-87 |
| 11/23 | MD E Shore | 353 | W87-40 |
| 11/25 | Ark Little Rock | 187 | W92-34 |
| 11/28 | (N)Arkansas | 49 | W90-77 |
| 12/6 | @Northwestern | 79 | 61% |
| 12/10 | Wisconsin | 34 | 61% |
| 12/14 | Tennessee | 1 | 44% |
| 12/22 | (N)Missouri | 54 | 60% |
| 12/29 | Chicago St | 360 | 87% |
| 1/2 | @Oregon | 23 | 50% |
| 1/5 | @Washington | 169 | 68% |
| 1/8 | Penn St | 19 | 57% |
| 1/11 | USC | 126 | 71% |
| 1/14 | @Indiana | 75 | 60% |
| 1/19 | @Michigan St | 43 | 54% |
| 1/23 | Maryland | 32 | 60% |
| 1/26 | Northwestern | 79 | 68% |
| 1/30 | @Nebraska | 36 | 53% |
| 2/2 | Ohio St | 12 | 55% |
| 2/5 | @Rutgers | 88 | 62% |
| 2/8 | @Minnesota | 120 | 64% |
| 2/11 | UCLA | 18 | 57% |
| 2/15 | Michigan St | 43 | 62% |
| 2/18 | @Wisconsin | 34 | 53% |
| 2/22 | (N)Duke | 3 | 44% |
| 2/25 | Iowa | 40 | 62% |
| 3/2 | @Michigan | 59 | 57% |
| 3/7 | Purdue | 26 | 59% |