Thus said Hamlet.  

And in the case of the Illini....barring a huge run the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis this week....the NCAA  Selection Committee will have the final say as to whether or not the Illini get an invitation to the Big Dance. 

In other words as Shakespeare wrote "To Be...or Not to Be....."

Bracketology is in epidemic mode right now ....with teams sliding in and out of the tournament field just about every hour. 

While some Illini fans have already decided that the Illini are definately out of the tournament....many of the national broadcasters I talk to tell me that they feel the Illini strength of schedule....the fact that they beat  five Top 25 teams this year ...and the fact the Illini finished 10-8  and in 5th place in a league with 4 teams that may have Top 5 seeds in the tournament ...may inoculate them from being left out.

And that is whether or not they win on quarterfinal Friday in Indy.

Another helpful factor is the smaller number of  teams nationwide that are on the bubble with Illinois this season...and how they fare in their own conference tournaments.  Illini fans will also be watching the smaller conference tourneys...and hoping there are no "Cinderallas" that sneak into the big dance with a .500 or below record.  And the fact the Pac-10 conference is way down this year is helping as well.

Of course a win over Wisconsin on Friday in the Big Ten quarterfinals would give the Selection Committee a reason to put Illinois in the tournament.  A loss would give them an excuse to leave them out.

Unfortunately...the Illni put themselves in this predicament.   Wouldn't you like to have the Utah and Gonzaga games back?  The Illini led 32-16 over the Utes at halftime in Las Vegas...and lost.  The Illini rallied from 21-points down in Chicago against Gonzaga...built up an 8 point lead late in the game.........had the 21,000+ fans at the United Center roaring with delight.... .....and lost in overtime.  And of course...the Minnesota loss at home was really costly.

Now the Illini  face the judgement of the NCAA Selection Committee.  You get the feeling the tournament committee wants to put the Illini in this year.  But  an Illini win in the rematch with the Badgers would make the people around the table more comfortable in doing so.

A loss to the Badgers on Friday would make the Illini chances of dancing this year a choice between extremely slim  (they would need a miracle).....and nonexistent.

Kind of like what Hamlet said.