I only ask this because I heard someone say on the Mich State/WI telecast that someone still has Illinois as one of the last 4 in? How can a team that is 5-8 in conference be in the NCAA tournament. If Illinois is considered then you are forced to take Akron regardless if they win the MAC. Is it just how the field is shaping up? I know there was talk about the Big 10 being strong and it is strong this year, but in the 2nd half of the season there is a clear separation in quality of teams and I think the Big 10 should be 6 deep, no way 8 teams should get in with what has transpired.

(02-16-2012 07:55 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  I only ask this because I heard someone say on the Mich State/WI telecast that someone still has Illinois as one of the last 4 in? How can a team that is 5-8 in conference be in the NCAA tournament. If Illinois is considered then you are forced to take Akron regardless if they win the MAC. Is it just how the field is shaping up? I know there was talk about the Big 10 being strong and it is strong this year, but in the 2nd half of the season there is a clear separation in quality of teams and I think the Big 10 should be 6 deep, no way 8 teams should get in with what has transpired.

Illinois probably won't make it, and they're talking about if the season ended today. It doesn't. The Big Ten very well may get 8 though given the overall strength of the conference and the fact it's killing everybody in the RPI. It has a huge gap over the #2 conference. If you're asking me, I think your six sounds right to me based on the actual teams, but the committee is notorious for sticking to the numbers and "resumes".

It will be tough for the MAC to get two because Akron only has 1 Top 50 win right now (#49 Mississippi State). Now, if they can keep winning, they'll have a shot, but right now they wouldn't make it as anything other than an automatic bid. Just not enough quality wins to get them in at this stage. They may get there, but they've still got some work left to do if they want to make it regardless of winning the MAC tourney.