Illini Bubble Watch: Day 4

First, a recap of yesterday's games …

Well, the Illini got it dun despite an absurd three-point barrage by the Badgers in the final minute. Not fun, but it's a W in the books, and that's what matters. The question is will that dubya be enough to get the Illini into the dance. I'm not so sure. There was some disappointing bubble action last night.

Perhaps most distressing was S.D. St's win over the Lobos. Lunardi now has the Aztecs in as a "lock," which tells me that if both the Illini and Aztecs lose today, S.D. St. will get the call before Illinois. Not good. Of course it also means the Aztecs are still in the hunt for an automatic bid if they beat UNLV tonight. Again, not good.

Also disappointing yesterday: RIU over SLU, Ga. Tech over Maryland, Miss. St. over Florida, N.C. St. over Florida St., and Washington over Stanford. Also, Miami beat Va. Tech which, depending on how far the Hurricanes take their run, could be a disaster, or not a bad thing.

Man. This is going down to the wire.

On to today's games …

Big Ten Semis
- Illini over Ohio St.: I think the Illini are a "lock" if they beat the Buckeyes, even if only 1 at-large bid is left on Sunday. If they don't get it dun - and that's likely because Ohio St. is a tough matchup for Illinois - then the Illini may still need help. So stressful.

- Purdue over Minnesota: Goodness gracious this game is huge. Lunardi has the Golden Gophers as his first team out. If they win today and the Illini lose, they may jump ahead of the Illini in the eyes of the selection committee.

Conference USA Final
- UTEP over Houston: the Cougars have been good to us so far, but their run needs to end now. And I mean right now because the game starts in 15 minutes.

America East Final
- Vermont over BU: likely won't matter too much, but I don't want to see a 24-win Vermont team just hanging out.

SEC Semis
- Vandy over Miss. St.: big game. Miss. St. is still on the bubble behind the Illini but could play themselves in with a victory here. Also, the farther Vandy goes, the better the Illini's victory over them looks to the committee.

- Kentucky over Tennessee: both teams are in. I'd like to see Kentucky win because they probably have a better shot at beating Miss. St. if they play in the final.

Atlantic 10 Semis
- Temple over RIU: one of the biggest games of the day. If RIU wins, and the Illini lose, the Rams may jump the Illini in tourney consideration.

- Xavier over Richmond: I guess we go with Xavier because I know them bettter, but we really just need the team most capable of beating RIU in a potential A 10 final matchup.

ACC Semis
- Duke over Miami: it pains me to root so strongly for the Dukies, but they're now the only palatable team that can win the ACC tournament.

- Ga. Tech over N.C. St: jaysus, this is gross. Lunardi now has the Yellow Jackets as a lock so I guess we go with them. I don't want to have to worry about the Wolfypack winning the ACC final tomorrow.

MEAC Final
- Morgan St. over S. Carolina St.: get r dun, 26-win Morgan St.!

MAC Final
- Akron over Ohio U.: get r dun, 24-win Akron!

Southland Final
- Sam Houston St. over Stephen F. Austin St.: get r dun, #1 seed Sammy Houston St.

Pac 10 Final
- Cal over Washington: we've said all along that Cal has to win the Pac 10 tourney. That hasn't changed. Lunardi has Washington "in" but behind the Illini. That obviously changes with a Husky W.

Mountain West Final
- UNLV over S.D. St.: effing Aztecs are likely in over the Illini as things currently stand, but if they lose here, and the Illini beat the Buckeyes, that order would likely reverse, even if the Illini then lose the Big 10 final. Get r dun, Lon!

WAC Final
- Utah St. over New Mexico St.: get r dun, 27-win Utah St.!

Games on.