Thursday’s column from CBS Chicago …
(CBS) Can you be on the bubble for being on the bubble?
If so, that’s precisely where ninth-seeded Illinoisfinds itself today after an impressive 64-54 victory over eighth-seeded Indiana in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis.
On the strength of a season-high 25 points from junior guard Tracy Abrams, the Illini (19-13) have advanced to the quarterfinals, where top-seeded seed Michigan (23-7) awaits. And sitting there right alongside the Wolverines is Illinois’ chance at possibly sneaking into the NCAA Tournament, something that only someone wearing the thickest orange-colored glasses would have thought possible just a few weeks ago.
Coming into the conference tournament, I thought that if the Illini could win two games that they’d put themselves on the NCAA Tournament bubble and that if they could somehow win three they’d have a great shot at getting in. But first, to have any shot at all, they need to keep Michigan from shooting as great as it did during the Wolverines’ 84-53 embarrassment of Illinois at the State Farm Center on March 4.
With all that in mind, here are a few more thoughts after the Illini’s rousing victory over the Hoosiers.
Continue reading at CBSChicago.com …