IlliniGuys Staff
February 22, 2022
If there is one thing Illini fans learned this weekend, it's that their team's unusual season full of interruptions and injuries will be taken into account when the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee creates its field of 68 teams to determine a champion.
Illinois came in at #12 when the committee unveiled its early top 16 Saturday afternoon, meaning that - if the field were set today - the Illini would command the last #3 seed in the bracket.
The selection would indicate that the committee is going to factor in the five games All-American center and Big Ten preseason Player of the Year Kofi Cockburn missed due to an early season NCAA suspension for selling school-issued gear a month prior to the NIL rules coming into play and a concussion suffered in mid-January. Sophomore guard Andre Curbelo, a preseason all-Big Ten pick and a candidate for the Bob Cousy Award as the nation's top point guard, missed more than two months while in concussion protocol. The team also had to cancel a late December game vs. Florida A&M due to COVID-19 cases within the program and coach Brad Underwood had to cancel practice during Thanksgiving weekend because of a flu outbreak within the team.
Though #2 Auburn suffered an upset loss just hours later to Florida, we don't believe that changes the Tigers' status on the 1-line. So we will leave the NCAA top 16 intact as we build this week's bracket.
#1 seeds - Gonzaga, Auburn, Arizona, Kansas
Last 4 in - North Carolina, Memphis, TCU, Michigan
First 4 out - Wake Forest, SMU, Indiana, Oregon
Next 4 out - Rutgers, Virginia, Florida, Oklahoma
Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Illinois Fighting Illini Football Preview #399
ListenHeat Checks & Hail Marys - Wisconsin, Iowa O, Michigan D, Successful Teams, Georgia v Bama, Notre Dame & Florida State/Florida
ListenPost Game Analysis- Illinois Fighting Illini defeat Central Michigan 30-9 #398
ListenInstant Take - Illinois Fighting Illini defeat Central Michigan 30-9 #397
ListenSept 13 Weekend - Hour 2 - S4 Ep 5
ListenSept 13 Weekend - Hour 1 - S4 Ep 5
ListenHeat Checks & Hail Marys - Wrong about Notre Dame, Iowa & Michigan, Illini Rise & 2 Bad NFL QBs
ListenFighting Illini vs Central Michigan Chippewas Football Preview #396
ListenFighting Illini Defeat #19 Kansas Jayhawks 23-17 #395
ListenInstant Take - Illini Defeat #19 Kansas 23-17 #394
ListenB1G Football Predictions Show & Illini Hoops Recruiting Update #393
ListenSept 6 Weekend - Hour 2 - S4 Ep 4
ListenSept 6 Weekend - Hour 1 - S4 Ep 4
ListenKed's Recruiting Roundup - Destiny Jackson & Her Mom Talk with Kedric
ListenKansas Jayhawks vs Illinois Fighting Illini Football Preview with Henry Greenstein #392
Listen