Illinois Basketball's NCAA Tournament Hopes

0:00On March 19th, Illinois men's basketball team enters the NCAA tournament as a number three seed with a 24 and 8 record, but they've hit a rough patch dropping five of their last nine games. That slump has cooled off some early height that saw them as a final four lock. Tonight they face number 14 pin in the first round in Greenville, South Carolina, tipping off at 8.25 p.m. central time on TNT. Here this season, the Alini showed their chops by beating powerhouses like Texas Tech, Tennessee, and Purdue on the road in Macaerina. Coach Brad Underwood squad both size, shooting, and skill across the board, and they've proven they can adapt on offense until defense is slip up. Fans and pundits alike are scratching their heads after late losses to Michigan State, UCLA, Michigan, and Wisconsin twice. The bandwagon has emptied out some, raising real questions about whether they can go all the way to Indianapolis. The latest from Metro's Guru Kenpom offers some hope, projecting Illinois with a 4.6% chance

1:02to win the whole thing. Sixth best in the field. For context, Duke leads at 21%, with Arizona and Michigan State right behind in the midteens. Kenpom sees them advancing to the sweet 16 at 75.5%, and the Elite 8 at 40.8%. Even with long odds, a national title run feels within reach on their best days, giving Elini fans plenty to cheer for as March madness unfolds.