The 2024-25 Illinois basketball team will begin their NCAA Tournament in Milwaukee on Friday night against the winner of Wednesday night's Texas vs. Xavier First Four play-in game. Illinois basketball coach Brad Underwood will no doubt have his team believing: "We're gonna make our dreams come true...Doin' it our way...Nothin's gonna turn us back now. Straight ahead and on … [Read more...] about Illinois Basketball: NCAA Tournament 1st Weekend News and Notes
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Illinois Basketball: Current NCAA Tournament Resume, Projections
Illinois basketball coach Brad Underwood has been great for the program, on a big picture level. He inherited a dumpster fire from John Groce, and within three-to-four years he had the Illini nationally relevant again. And overall, Illinois basketball is in a great place. Credit Athletic Director Josh Whitman on this hire. However, every season of the Underwood era, or so it … [Read more...] about Illinois Basketball: Current NCAA Tournament Resume, Projections
Purdue Boilermakers the Overall Favorites This March Madness
While the NCAA Tournament history of the Purdue Boilermakers is rather painful, especially so in recent years, hope springs eternal for them this March. Purdue (23-2, 12-2) is currently ranked #2 in the nation, and they entered Thursday night’s win over Minnesota nationally ranked in the top 20 for wins (1st), offensive efficiency (2nd), rebounding margin (2nd), three-point … [Read more...] about Purdue Boilermakers the Overall Favorites This March Madness
Gonzaga vs. Baylor a Rare, True Championship Matchup of #1 vs #2
For the first time since 2005, when North Carolina defeated Illinois, we have a national championship game that actually features the two best teams in college basketball of that respective season. Gonzaga was ranked #1 wire to wire this season, with Baylor #2 in the polls most of the time. The Bulldogs and Bears were pretty much on an elevated plain, above the rest of the … [Read more...] about Gonzaga vs. Baylor a Rare, True Championship Matchup of #1 vs #2
It’s Ok to be Ambivalent About Tom Izzo, Michigan St. Despite What Media Say
In recent years, we've seen a major surge in tweets from media members and pundits that end with: "both things can be true." Tweets such as these are required, given the binary mode of thinking that is so prevalent in America these days. Despite rapid advances in information technology and ways to disseminate that information, more people are regressing intellectually. … [Read more...] about It’s Ok to be Ambivalent About Tom Izzo, Michigan St. Despite What Media Say
Virginia Cavaliers Should Beat Auburn, According to Data Models
During a four day span in March of 2016, the United Center in Chicago, Illinois hosted two events that had served as a major crossroads in the recent history of Virginia Cavaliers basketball. On Sunday March 27, Virginia blew a 16 point lead to a #10 seeded Syracuse team that most people believed only got into the big dance due to their brand name. The epic collapse in this … [Read more...] about Virginia Cavaliers Should Beat Auburn, According to Data Models
Big Ten Has Three National Title Contenders, but None are Among the Favorites
Lots of college basketball pundits have deemed the Big Ten the strongest conference in the nation this season, and the numbers seen to verify this. From top to bottom, it's the strongest conference in the country, but it's strongest teams aren't among the elite of the elite nationally. The Big Ten has three teams, #6 Michigan State, #10 Michigan and #13 Purdue that have a … [Read more...] about Big Ten Has Three National Title Contenders, but None are Among the Favorites
Top 30 Twitter feeds for March Madness
For sports fans, the time from the Super Bowl to Opening Day is one of the bleakest periods of the year. Football is over, baseball hasn’t started yet, hockey is for Canadians. We could watch the cobbled-together pro basketball season, but the lockout really turned us off. Luckily there’s always the brilliance of the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament, like a beacon … [Read more...] about Top 30 Twitter feeds for March Madness
Everything you need to know about #4 Wisconsin vs. #5 Vanderbilt
After a Friday full of upsets, it's safe to say that March Madness is in full swing. However, not so much in the East Region where the bracket has been all chalk. One of Saturday's most intriguing match-ups features the #4 Wisconsin Badgers and #5 Vanderbilt Commodores. Contrasting styles should have … [Read more...] about Everything you need to know about #4 Wisconsin vs. #5 Vanderbilt
Tips, stats for filling out your March Madness Bracket
The greatest time of the year for college basketball is here: March Madness. … [Read more...] about Tips, stats for filling out your March Madness Bracket