NCAA Tournament March Madness

#7 Illinois

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Projected seed: 6 (automatic qualifier)

Illinois has had a mixed season, highlighted by notable wins and a few tough losses. The victory against Arkansas showcases their ability to compete against solid programs, while the dominant performances against teams like Chicago State and Maryland Eastern Shore indicate their offensive firepower. However, losses to ranked opponents like Alabama and Tennessee suggest they struggle in high-pressure situations. With key upcoming games against Maryland and Northwestern, along with a rematch against Purdue, Illinois has ample opportunities to bolster their tournament resume. If they can secure a few more victories against ranked teams, particularly at home, they could solidify their position in the upper half of the bracket. Their defensive rankings raise concerns, as they’ll need to tighten up against stronger offenses to advance in the tournament.

Date Opponent Ranking Outcome
11/4E Illinois342W112-67
11/8SIUE234W90-58
11/13Oakland175W66-54
11/20(N)Alabama8L100-87
11/23MD E Shore353W87-40
11/25Ark Little Rock221W92-34
11/28(N)Arkansas53W90-77
12/6@Northwestern54L70-66
12/10Wisconsin20W86-80
12/14Tennessee6L66-64
12/22(N)Missouri27W80-77
12/29Chicago St359W117-64
1/2@Oregon25W109-77
1/5@Washington95W81-77
1/8Penn St42W91-52
1/11USC71L82-72
1/14@Indiana61W94-69
1/19@Michigan St13L80-78
1/23Maryland2259%
1/26Northwestern5464%
1/30@Nebraska4756%
2/2Ohio St3262%
2/5@Rutgers8261%
2/8@Minnesota11064%
2/11UCLA3061%
2/15Michigan St1357%
2/18@Wisconsin2050%
2/22(N)Duke245%
2/25Iowa5264%
3/2@Michigan1048%
3/7Purdue1257%