Basketball
Andy Katz dubs the Illini and Michigan as Big Ten teams with Final Four Potential
Despite losing two straight games, many are still high on the potential of the Illini.
Andy Katz has always been the Illini’s biggest fan amongst the national media. With March Madness right around the corner, Katz was on the Big Ten Network to talk about the March potential of various Big Ten teams. To no surprise, there were two teams that stoood out in Katz’s interview.
Katz likes Michigan and Illinois…
Andy Katz said, “Michigan and Illinois are the two teams in the Big Ten that I think can get to the Final Four. Now, what could really be advantageous for the Illini is if they are in that top-four seed, they can be in St. Louis,” Katz added, “Illinois has the goods to get to Indianapolis, depending on who’s in front of them in their path.”
Before their two-game losing streak, it certainly looked like Illinois would be a surefire 2-seed in the NCAA tournament. They were ranked fifth in the AP poll and were in the midst of a 12-game winning streak. Since that game, however, they lost to Michigan State and Wisconsin. Those are not bad losses by any means, but with injuries piling up and a tough schedule ahead, the Illini may fall to the 3 or 4 seed in some brackets.
Many fans are certainly hoping that Illinois ends up being a 2 seed so that it can play games in St. Louis, a city that has essentially turned into a hub of Illini fans.
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