So is the Selection Committee saying that the Illini are just as good a team without Frazier as they are with him?  That seems unlikely.  What does seem likely, however, is that the Illini were able to plant just enough doubt in the committee’s minds that Frazier might not be done for the year, that the committee felt obligated to give them the seed they would have had if Frazier was healthy.

God-willing Frazier is able to suit up and be healthy enough to make a difference, but that cast on his hand/wrist looks huge and pretty serious.  Either way, well-played Illini.

5:30 pm (2) Illinois vs. (7) Michigan-

The first issue that comes to mind with this game is the availability of Chester Frazier for Illinois.  Frazier isn’t the most talented player on the team, but his importance has been noted here many times.  No offense (or pun) to Travis Walton, but Frazier is the best defender in the Big Ten.  Michigan and Illinois met twice this season, and played by the rules of the Big Ten and each won at home.  Other than the venue, the difference in the two games was easily Mike Tisdale.  Tisdale was non-existent in the first game due in part to a slow start and in part to Bruce Weber’s decision to put a smaller, quicker player on DeShawn Sims.  In the rematch, the big white had 24 points on 10 of 12 shooting, while Sims was held to seven points.

The teams’ experiences couldn’t be less similar leading up to the game this afternoon.  Michigan finished the season on a hot streak that has ensured them a spot in the NCAA Tournament, including a blowout win over Iowa yesterday.  The Illini have lost their last two games and haven’t played in eight days.  Michigan needs to keep pounding the ball down to Sims to be successful.  Sims scored 16 points in the first ten minutes yesterday and the combination of better seals down low and better entry passes has been key to Michigan’s success down the stretch.  For Illinois, they’ll need to find gaps in that 1-3-1 zone like they did in their last match-up and McCamey and Meacham will need to knock down shots.  If Frazier is indeed out, Brock and Meacham will both need to take on some ball handling responsibilities and Alex Legion will need big minutes.  With no Frazier, it could be a little more of a high scoring affair with him not controlling the offense and shutting it down on defense.  By higher scoring, I mean 60s.

8:00 pm (3) Purdue vs. (6) Penn State-

Here’s another case of the home teams winning the games in the regular season.  The underdog has the momentum in this case too.  The Nittany Lions are on the verge of solidifying their NCAA bid and have won three of their last four, while the Boilermakers have lost three of four.  Purdue has generally underachieved this season and they should be hungry to prove themselves in the postseason.  Penn State will look to keep the good balance with Talor Battle and Stanley Pringle on the perimeter and the nice inside-outside game of Jamelle Cornley.  Purdue is more talented than Penn State, but have proven they can struggle against anyone.  Robbie Hummel will be the key for the Boilermakers.  He needs to step up and be the leader they expected at the start of the season.  I know he is playing through injury, but now is the time they need him.

**Update: Sounds like Chester Frazier is out for the Big Ten Tourney and questionable for 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.

Bruce Weber was fed up with the questions about ugly wins after the game.  “I’m sick of hearing all the jokes,” he yelled. “We guard, we prepare, we play our butts off in hostile environments.”  Assembly Hall was anything but hostile last night helping Illinois to yet another home win.

Mike Davis had another double-double, Meacham had 13, and McCamey had 10, but it was the defense that won the day.  After Minnesota came back for a one point lead around midway through the second half they were held to one point the rest of the way and none over the last six-plus minutes.  That’s an unreal defensive stretch.

That brand of defense is what makes Illinois so dangerous in the postseason.  Even when the offense is terrible, the defense can keep the team in the game and even shut it down to the point where it seems to convince the offense to mount a comeback.  Not to mention the Chester Frazier factor.  He was up to his old tricks again, holding Minnesota’s leading scorer Lawrence Westbrook to just four points.

Now it’s on to a giant match-up with league leader Michigan State on Sunday.  After a six point loss in East Lansing earlier this season, the Illini can make up for it and draw within a half game of the Sparties with a win.  If Illinois can keep it even on the glass, I think Frazier can keep Kalin Lucas down enough to get the win.

The win last night, paired with Michigan’s upset of Purdue, moves Illinois back into second place above the Boilermakers by a half game.

After being up by five at halftime, it seemed like the Illini were holding onto a one-possession lead for most of the second half.  With about 8 minutes to go, Illinois started to pull away and once again it was NQTC favorite Chester Frazier making a big play.  After an Evan Turner free throw Frazier hit a three from the corner with an arch that must have just missed the ceiling as the shot clock hit zero.

Mike Davis led the Illini again with 22 points on 11-14 from the field, and Trent Meacham chipped in with 17, including some big free throws down the stretch.  The game ended with Meacham missing a free throw on purpose, leaving Ohio State with a 70 foot heave to try for the win, and since this wasn’t Lebron in a Powerade commercial, the Illini got the win.

Illinois is now alone in third place in the Big Ten, a game and a half behind Michigan State for the lead and a game behind Purdue for second place.  They will have a good chance to gain some ground this week with two home games, one against Minnesota on Thursday and the second playing host to the Spartans on Sunday.

Again, hopefully this means that the Penn State debacle was an anomoly, but unfortunately this team might always have the chance to lay an egg like that.  The good thing is that the defense can keep Illinois in almost any game, and with this huge road win they showed they can deal with adversity and adhere to the cliche advice of taking it one game at a time.