The Illinois basketball team currently sits at 7-3 on the season, and realistically they need to win the rest of their non-conference games.
So far, the Illini have played 9 out of their 10 games against teams that count for the RPI. You can roughly tell who gets into the NCAA Tournament based on the RPI.
The only win for Illinois against the RPI top 50 is VCU, who currently sits at the No. 50 spot.
Illinois needs to keep them in the top 50 because that looks better on their resume.
The only other win the Illini have right now that is in the top 150 is against North Carolina State, who is sitting at No. 55. If they could move up a few spots that would be nice for the Illini as well.
Besides for those two teams, Illinois’ next best win is against IUPUI who is No. 169 right now in the RPI.
Let’s break down what the Illini are looking at in their final three non-conference contests.
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The next game is against No. 148 Central Michigan. This is a team that hasn’t beaten anyone but they have two prolific scorers in Marcus Keene and Braylon Rayson.
A win for the Illini against the Chippewas would give them another top 150 victory, though.
The two games after that are against No. 197 BYU and No. 219 Missouri. Both of these games should be victories.
BYU is 6-3 on the season with a 13 point loss to Utah Valley and Missouri is 5-3 on the season with a loss to North Carolina Central by 10 points.
Finishing 10-3 for the Illini is key to keeping their postseason chances alive because another loss, and one to a sub 150 program, would put them behind the eight ball.
The three losses the Illini currently have aren’t terrible, though. Florida State is ranked No. 36 in the RPI and Winthrop and West Virginia is No. 96 and No. 65, respectively.
Illinois needs to finish somewhere near the No. 50 in the RPI to have a shot at the NCAA Tournament this season.
If the Illini can get to 10-3 and then start strong in Big Ten Conference play then I think they have a shot.
But, Groce and company need to take it one game at a time because a loss in the next three games would kill their chances of the postseason.
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