The Fighting Illini earned an automatic bid into the tournament with their 72-59 win over Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament finals, however, the only thing Illinois was trying to improve on in the conference tournament was its NCAA Tournament seed.
Fighting Illini guard Dee Brown said he thought winning the Big Ten Tournament could garner his team a No. 2 seed, but he would be content with a No. 3 or No. 4.
In the end, Illinois is slotted as a No. 4 seed in the West Region and will square off against No. 13 Western Kentucky in the first round.
Illinois finished one-game out of a tie for the Big Ten season championship and has been donned as the conference's strongest team with a 23-6 record.
Senior forward Brian Cook summed up his feelings toward the NCAA Tournament: "I want to win it all and I think we can."
Indiana
Indiana has seen it all this season. The Hoosiers peaked with a No. 5 national ranking in December, then plummeted in January and February, losing five straight.
Indiana scored key nonconference wins earlier in the year, knocking off Gonzaga and No. 15 Maryland, but wavering success against conference opponents dropped Indiana from national contention.
The play of freshman standout Bracey Wright (16.4 ppg) gave the Hoosiers a much-needed boost this season, but injuries and losing last season's Big Ten Player of the Year Jared Jeffries to the NBA was too large a dent to Indiana's hopes of returning to the Final Four.
As Indiana enters the tournament as a No. 7 seed, it will anticipate a tough first-round game against No. 10 Alabama.
Purdue
MSU ousted Purdue in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, 54-42, but the overlooked No. 8-seeded Boilermakers could turn heads in the NCAA Tournament.
Although Purdue faltered down the stretch of the regular season, suffering losses to Ohio State and Northwestern, early wins against NCAA-bound Louisville, Colorado State and San Diego gave Purdue experience against contenders.
Star guard Willie Deane (18.3 points per game) runs the Boilermaker's transition offense well, but the health of guard Kenneth Lowe - named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year - is key to the team's success. Purdue plays No. 9-seeded Louisiana State.
Wisconsin
After a disappointing early exit from the Big Ten Tournament, No. 5-seed Wisconsin (No. 18 nationally) and guard Kirk Penney are looking forward to their matchup with No. 12 Weber State.
"We're pretty disappointed in the way we played," Penney said of the top-seeded Badgers' (22-7) 58-50 loss to Ohio State. "We'll have to improve this week from where we are."
Penney needn't be too disheartened. The Badgers captured the regular-season Big Ten crown outright, Penney and guard Devin Harris were named to the first and second All-Big Ten teams, respectively, and the Badgers scored quality wins over tournament-bound Illinois and UW-Milwaukee.
