Illinois Drops Big Ten Tournament, Faces Seeding Uncertainty

0:00On March 15, Illinois blew a chance at locking up a number-two seed in the NCAA tournament by dropping their only Big Ten tournament game, too. Wisconsin in overtime. The Badgers Nick Boyd and John Blackwell combined for 69 points to seal the upset. Now the fighting Illinois sit on pins and needles waiting for Selection Sunday to see if they snag that spot or drop to a three-seed. The top seeds are set with Duke, Arizona, Michigan, and Florida leading the four regions. Two cotton Houston have punched their tickets as number-two seeds already, thanks in part to Houston's big win over Kansas. That leaves just two number-two slots open, and Illinois faces stiff competition from Michigan State and Iowa State. Fans and analysts are buzzing about how a two-seed versus a three could smooth or roughen the path to the sweet 16 for these teams. Illinois started strong at number-seven in the committee's late February top-16 reveal, but their recent play has everyone rethinking things. The difference in seeding means easier early matchups or potential early stumbles against

1:03powerhouses. Since that February 21st reveal, Michigan State went four and two with key wins over top opponents, including a head-to-head victory against. Illinois. Iowa State finished four and four, but grabbed a crucial number-one quadrant win in the Big 12 tournament. Illinois managed just two and three, with no big victories to boast about lately. In the end, expect Michigan State and Iowa State to claim those final number-two seeds based on their stronger finishes while Illinois lands the top. Number three. Spot. A solid position, but short of their original goal.