Illini Bubble Watch: Selection Sunday

This photo makes me a feel a little better but I'm still hurting after yesterday's college hoops debacle.

I don't think we could have scripted a worse day for bubble teams and, specifically, the Illini.

Horrendous start to the day when Houston upset UTEP in the Conference USA final. Boom. One tourney spot gone.

Then the Illini took the floor against Ohio St. and led by 11 points midway through the second half. A few minutes later, however, the Illini were down by 9 points. I wouldn't believe that was possible if I hadn't watched every painstaking second of the 2o-point turnaround. Adding to the misery, the Illini had the ball and a chance to win the game at the end of regulation and at the end of the first overtime. Both times they couldn't get a shot off. Killer.

The rest of the day just continued the dagger tossing. Minnesota crushed Purdue, San Diego St. beat UNLV, Mississippi St. beat Vandy, Washington beat Cal and, as a final insult, New Mexico St. upset a 27-win Utah St. squad.

I'm gonna have scars from all these stab wounds.

So where do things stand?

According to Lunardi the Illini are the second team out, behind Mississippi St. The last two teams in are Virginia Tech and Minnesota. Obviously both Minny and Miss. St. could secure the final two berths if they win the Big Ten and SEC conference tournaments, respectively, this afternoon. The only chance the Illini have is if one or, better, both those teams lose today.

The Illini are better than both Minny and Mississippi St., and for that matter, Virginia Tech. But the selection committee won't have a chance to even balance the Illini's resume against these teams if the Golden Gophers and Bulldogs take care of business today.

Those two games are absurdly important.

If you care about the Illini, root HEAVY for Ohio St. and Kentucky.

Games on.