FI

Theyare one of the best teams!! I grew up in Illinois in Chicago!!! GOOOOOOO FIGHTING ILLINI AND THE BULLS!!!

A team that will win it all if it is wise on their playmaking against Wake, Washington and OK State. They have almost everything on their team. If you are following me this team is one of the only 2 I give five stars to. As they and underrated Florida have depth and defense. They will be champs if they don't perform such putrid plays. >Like I've said, they should not make such silly plasy like they had done against Fair. Dickinson, but it is good that they won sloppily. >> Now they cleaned themselves up. They are now a serious cntender for the National Championship. >>> They are the ones that can beat anyone, even an underrated and dangerous Wisc-Milwaukee squad- they did it convincingly. >>>> A near the end of regulation and OT thriller! They had shown that with some lucky bounces and commitment not to lose, they can punch Louisville out of the nat'l championship game. Yes, this was their greatest test and they executed the win by 1. However, this is a team that I also have to dock a star from as I heard a weakness from the announcer on CBS that made UAZ be in this game- their soft inside defense (yes, in the paint). They have to correct this in order to win it all. >>>>> They have corrected it and now they have figured out how to score in the paint and win with a good defense. It may be a matter of time when UIL will finally win one in a century as they shoot an amazing rate of 3pters. They will face a UNC team that has an opposite strategy, and we will see if they will go up to par with them. I will tell you this- as this is the right time that they are in this position- I did predict they will go all the way. This is the only execption to such universities that have a native American as their mascot that I will cheer for. >>>>>> No singing of Oskee-Wow-Wow this year. Well, my bracket is officially busted. Now, if you had read my submission to North Carolina, I had made that vow to the winner. Well, they were so close and truly they did make mistakes. Sean May. That is the only two words in that sentence that I will put there. That 6'9 player is a Shaq wanna-be and he may give some contest to him if he decides to enter the draft. Also they were so balanced; they use twos and threes when needed. Illini fans, though this is bittersweet, take this in high regard- Big 10 champs in regular season and conference tournament and the most wins in school history (ties all time in wins in the NCAA) and a Final 2 appearance. I see that your future is great. Keep it up next year and you will win it. Impeccable performance!

Someone give the ref a game ball.

My favorite college basketball team now for about... forever. I agree with Pbeavr, they most certainly stepped it up in the 2nd round. They looked like the no.1 seed that they are. Illinois is always looked at for their big 3. Luther Head, Deron Williams and Dee Brown. But, in the second round James Augustine stepped it up and scored a career high 23! With the big three and Augustine leading the way... Illini are unstoppable. UNC here we come!!!

Good team, but they've overachieved. They have no big men to compete with UNC, Duke, and numerous others. They rely too much on the three-point shot, which isn't good if you get into slumps, and they give up too many offensive rebounds, giving many teams second and third shots.

I have no idea where the Illini are going to go. They could get stoned by Nevada, or BC. Or maybe they are going to meet Duke or UNC in the final. So many people are bearish on Illinois (including me). But it's not like the Big-10 doesn't know how to Dance; let's see, Mich. State has 2 NCAA titles, Indiana has a couple, Michigan won one, and several others (Iowa, WISCO, Illini, and Ohio State) made it to the Final 4. I just think people don't believe college teams west of Philadelphia any good.

I think they could very well win it all. The Ohio State loss might just be a bump in the road.

Illinois is a great team. However, to experience winning, you must first experience losing. Plus, the country's #1 seed almost never wins the whole thing. I have Ok. State beating them in the final four.

Pretty clear sailing to the final four, but I'm not sure they have the chops to be champions.

this is the one team i'm really worried about Duke facing in the finals. they are a force to be reckoned with.

Very good basketball team with many wins. Those wins are no longer significant, though, the second season has begun. They need someone to upset Oklahoma State, though, otherwise, no chance of making the Final Four.

They will make it to the reginols but I don't see them making it past either Arizona and Oklahoma State in Chicago.

Winning matters, and as the only team with one loss, Illinois has to be respected greatly. Ohio St. isn't a dominate team, so Illinois can be beaten, but it will take a great effort for another team to do so.