Awesome Illinois, Just Awesome
That four seed looked pretty good next to Illinois in the latest bracketology from ESPN. Well after last night it will take quite a bit to get a four seed or better in the big dance.
Last night I was hearing how Penn State was trying to play its way into the tournament, while Illinois had nothing to play for. Unbelievable. In all of the “bubble” hype that we are fed this time of year, it’s easy to forget about playing for a better seed in your conference tournament and in the field of 64.
With a terrible come from ahead loss at Penn State last night, the Illini likely cost themselves any chance at the #2 seed in the conference tournament, and will have to make a run to avoid playing a top three seed if they make the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
I don’t know if this was a loss due to lack of focus, effort, or just one of those bad nights. The intensity seemed to be there on a couple of monster dunks by Mike Davis and Chester Frazier leading the way many times throwing his body to the floor. Maybe the Illini weren’t focussed enough though, as evidenced with the poor free throw shooting and ball security down the stretch. The officials were bad, especially on a ball that went off Penn State late in the game, but there were some calls the other way too.
I think Illinois got a little comfortable with their spot toward the top of the conference and got slammed back to earth tonight. Just imagine how much of a wake up call it will be when Penn State is sitting in the #2 seed for the Big Ten Tournament. I’m not an expert on the tiebreakers, but I’m pretty sure if Penn State wins at Iowa this weekend and MSU beats Purdue, the seeds in order will be MSU, PSU, Illinois, Purdue.
I’m not in the mood to recap the game. Suffice it to say that it went from okay to awful several times, and when PSU’s Talor Battle went coast-to-coast and scored Tyus Edny style with .3 seconds to go, awful was the feeling of the night.
The regular season is over for Illinois and all that’s left is to wait and see what seed it gets in the Big Ten Tournament.
Loading ...
Comment from EEKS
Time March 6, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Bruce Weber’s main in game coaching flaw is late game offensive collapses.
Washington in the NCAA in ‘06
Virginia Tech in the NCAA in ‘07
PSU twice this year, MSU, Michigan, even the Indiana game the offens doesn’t just fall off, it often disappears.
Zero points in the last 3:52 yesterday.
4 points in the last 10 MINUTES the firts PSU game
1 basket the last 7:18 of the recent MSU game
There are many more. Look, we know they are naot an offensive juggernaut and ofetne have prolonged offensive lulls. But at the end of games kills them.
For every Northwestern comeback, there are 3 or four late game shutdowns that sometimes cost the game.
They need a take charge guy and don’t have one. No one consistently drives to the lane, that’s why they are in the 300 ranks of teams in free throws attempted (ironic, since they have a dcent free throw shooting team, except for Davis’ BRICK last night)
Just frustrating. I know they have exceeded expectations. But the reality is they should have a few more wins.