Is Illinois A Final Four Contender?

Coming into this season, not too many people figured Illinois would be where they are. Their last real good season, or a season that fans of the Fighting Illini have come to expect, was in 2005, when they 37-2 and pegged as possibly one of the best college basketball teams ever. They lost to North Carolina in the championship game and digressed over the next two seasons, putting head coach Bruce Weber on the ultimate hot seat.

They barely made the tournament in 2006 as a 12-seed, but lost to Virginia Tech in the final seconds of their opening round game in Columbus. And 2007 is a season that Illinois fans would soon like to forget. If not for a late-season push in the Big Ten Tournament (made it to the final game as a 10-seed, lost to Wisconsin), it was a lost season. They lost non-conference home games to Miami (OH) and Tennessee State, started 3-12 in the Big Ten and didn't make any post-season tournament. Ouch.

Still, though, the 2008-09 season gave Weber and his Fighting Illini squad a chance to show the Big Ten (and the rest of the country) that the last two seasons were flukes. Right now, they sit at 22-6, a record they haven't been close to since the glory days of 2005. Much like Penn State, people began to question Illinois. "Are they a fluke?" "Are they really this good?" "Who have they beaten?"

Well, the answer is yes, they are that good. They've improved every aspect of their game, whether its passing, shooting, defense, low-post... you name it. Chester Frazier looked lost a year ago running the point, but this year, he's got one of the best assist-turnover ratios in the country. Sophomore off-guard Demetri McCamey is blossoming into a possibly a future NBA player with his aggressiveness and scoring ability, while sophomore big men Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale have given Illinois two definitive inside presences. Their bench isn't anything to get excited about, but the Fighting Illini play solid, fundamental, basketball. They've got a great track record in the month of March since 2000 and they travel extremely well.

Bottom line: when filling out your NCAA Tournament bracket later next month, don't count out Illinois. I'm not saying they are going to win it all. Can they get beat? Sure. An under-sized Penn State squad proved that. But can they make some noise before it's all over? No question.

Picks:
Tuesday
Penn State at Ohio State (6 p.m., ESPN) -- This is a must-win for the Buckeyes. They can't afford to lose four games in a row.
Wednesday
Northwestern at Indiana (5:30 p.m., BTN) -- Indiana has a shot at a win here, especially at home. They know their chances of finding more wins are remote. Outside of their win at Michigan State, Northwestern has really struggled on the road.
Iowa at Michigan State (7:30 p.m., BTN) -- Iowa is banged up and played only seven players in their win over Michigan last weekend. Michigan State is nearing full health for some of their players.
Thursday
Minnesota at Illinois (6 p.m., BTN) -- Illinois will look to extract some revenge on the Golden Gophers after losing in Minneapolis earlier this season. Minnesota hasn't looked pretty on the road. This game would be a resume-builder for whoever wins.
Purdue at Michigan (8 p.m., ESPN) -- Michigan needs this win badly. Their window to the NCAA Tournament is closing rapidly and what better than to get fortunes back on their side than by beating a ranked team at home?

Record: 33-9