Big Games that Impact Us

[Hunt for 7]

Illinois loses to Nebraska on road in OT. Now if the Leprechaun can pull off an upset of Oregon, we may just be able to stay in the top 25 if we put up a good fight on Saturday at Marquette without our best player.

What games are there the rest of the league that if they go the right way will allow us to stay in the top 25 even with a loss to Marquette. Little breaks may make a world of difference come selection Sunday. My guess there will be a record number of 10 loss teams that will get at large bids.

Thoughts?

 

[HooperScooper]

 

[Tyler2Rings]

I can think of one on Saturday

 

[CT2SC]

We need to start winning games. If we lose again Saturday we don’t belong in the Top 25. If we dropout this week we can quickly win our way back by beating St John’s and Creighton.

 

[CTBasketball]

We need to worry about ourselves.

 

[Kitaman]

After the last 3 Championships, does it matter what our seeding/placement is?

We've run through the toughest gauntlet of teams in some of the most daunting regions. Our history proves seeding is not an distressing important factor.

Anyway you look at it the 3 peat will be challenging regardless of region and I suspect harder than the first 2, or 5 for that matter. I just feel its the other teams who should be worried about where we are placed.

Lets enjoy this ride because no other fans have or are traveling this 3 peat ramp.

 

[Jaydumo20]

After the last 3 Championships, does it matter what our seeding/placement is?

We've run through the toughest gauntlet of teams in some of the most daunting regions. Our history proves seeding is not an distressing important factor.

Anyway you look at it the 3 peat will be challenging regardless of region and I suspect harder than the first 2, or 5 for that matter. I just feel its the other teams who should be worried about where we are placed.

Lets enjoy this ride because no other fans have or are traveling this 3 peat ramp.

Good point. Our goal is clearly another ring when we step on the floor in march.
I'd rather avoid a first round exit for all it's implications but after that Id be dissatisfied with elite 8 or sweet 16 as I'm sure the boys would be too. This is not the moral victory stage of this programs journey.

 

[Jaydumo20]

After the last 3 Championships, does it matter what our seeding/placement is?

We've run through the toughest gauntlet of teams in some of the most daunting regions. Our history proves seeding is not an distressing important factor.

Anyway you look at it the 3 peat will be challenging regardless of region and I suspect harder than the first 2, or 5 for that matter. I just feel its the other teams who should be worried about where we are placed.

Lets enjoy this ride because no other fans have or are traveling this 3 peat ramp.

Good point. Our goal is clearly another ring when we step on the floor in march.
I'd rather avoid a first round exit for all it's implications but after that Id be dissatisfied with elite 8 or sweet 16 as I'm sure the boys would be too. This is not the moral victory stage of this programs journey

 

[AntG168]

We control our own destiny. Marquette isn’t some giant. Beat Marquette. The end.

 

[SubbaBub]

Would still like to be seeded in the East Regional. That's not out of reach yet.

 

[RuffRuff]

Would be nice to stay in the top 25 to keep that streak going but after the DePaul game I don’t think we stick unless we win tomorrow.

Seeding wise, goal should be a minimum 7 and to avoid the 1 seeds to get into the second weekend. I really don’t want to be in that 8-9 game. There is a drop in quality after the top 5-6 teams and everyone starts becoming very beatable. Would rather try and get hot without seeing Auburn, Bama, Duke, Houston, Iowa St and Florida in the second round.

 

[uconngb]

Illinois loses to Nebraska on road in OT. Now if the Leprechaun can pull off an upset of Oregon, we may just be able to stay in the top 25 if we put up a good fight on Saturday at Marquette without our best player.

What games are there the rest of the league that if they go the right way will allow us to stay in the top 25 even with a loss to Marquette. Little breaks may make a world of difference come selection Sunday. My guess there will be a record number of 10 loss teams that will get at large bids.

Thoughts?

The continued obsession over ranking is amazing. Is that really what you are worried about?? Not the performance of the team but the ranking??

Makes absolutely ZERO sense

 

[RuffRuff]

The continued obsession over ranking is amazing. Is that really what you are worried about?? Not the performance of the team but the ranking??

Makes absolutely ZERO sense

Welcome to the boneyard, we got fun and games,
We got everything you want, honey, we know the names,
We are the posters that can find whatever you may need,
If you got the money, honey, we got your disease.

 

[auror]

There's 0% chance we lose and stay ranked, even if we "put up a good fight."

 

[jibsey]

There's 0% chance we lose and stay ranked, even if we "put up a good fight."

And then you string together a bunch of wins and get ranked again. So?

 

[auror]

And then you string together a bunch of wins and get ranked again. So?

I was disabusing OP of this notion.

Now if the Leprechaun can pull off an upset of Oregon, we may just be able to stay in the top 25 if we put up a good fight on Saturday at Marquette without our best player.

 

[CT2SC]

Good point. Our goal is clearly another ring when we step on the floor in march.
I'd rather avoid a first round exit for all it's implications but after that Id be dissatisfied with elite 8 or sweet 16 as I'm sure the boys would be too. This is not the moral victory stage of this programs journey.

I get that we are in a rarified position to accomplish a three peat…and that it’s mathematically still possible. “You’re saying there’s a chance!” But it’s beyond obvious at this point that this team is not a legit contender to win the title this year. With Liam back at full strength we can some damage in the tournament, but this team does not have the defense or rebounding to win 6 straight tournament games.

It would be a disaster to lose in the first round or miss the tournament altogether. But beyond that as long as we play to our potential and leave it all on the court then I can live with the outcome. That’s not a moral victory that just being realistic about the limitations of this team.