I always love this time of year (dont we all?).  March Madness truly is one of the great sporting events in the country The smaller conferences are getting started with their post-season tournaments this week and and it all leads up to Selection Sunday and then the first and second rounds.... and the next thing you know... the Final 4 is upon us in early April. 

When you really boil it down to where the rubber meets the road....seeding in the conference tournaments and in the "Big Dance"  can help determine how good your chances are to advance.  Obviously being the #1 seed is the best....the Illini are 12-3 in the NCAA tournament as a #1 seed.... Being in the top 4 seeds gives you a good shot at the Sweet 16 and you take your chances from there.

The fact that there is not much difference between a #4 seed and a #7 seed means that landing somewhere in that range is good.  And I think that is where the Illini are going to wind up. While there are usually some upsets in that part of the tournament...I will take my chances with that seeding range.

You want to stay out of the #8 or #9 seed for two reasons...One is the fact that the first game for your team is a toss-up... and second ..... you run into the #1 seed right away.  Anything lower than a #9 seed and you are fighting an uphill battle.

Seeding even matters in the Big Ten Tournament...not so much because of WHO you play (especially this year)...but WHEN you play them.

As a #3 seed...the Illini would play at 9 pm Eastern Time at Canseco Fieldhouse which makes a for late night of getting ready for the semifinals the next day (if you win).  The #2 seed plays at 6:30 eastern which gives you a little more time to recover and get ready for the next day.

Which makes the Penn State game Thursday night even more important for the Illini. A win in Happy Valley assures the Illini of no worse than a #3 seed at the Big Ten Tournament.  With Purdue playing at Michigan State on Sunday...the Illini would be in line for the #2 seed and the earlier quarterfinal start.

But if they lose to Penn State...the Illini would be in danger of falling into the #4 vs #5 game on Friday in Indy...which could be a rematch with Penn State ...or another battle with Wisconsin.  Then Michigan State could be waiting in the wings as the #1 seed.. 

So as you can see....seeding is very important.  As the Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis liked to say "Just Win Baby".