These Illini are used to being picked on

For more tourney talk from beat writer Paul Klee, listen here.

CHAMPAIGN – At the end of each scouting report, the Illinois basketball coaches tack on a quote or anecdote that throws gas on the fire.

Before a win at Purdue, it was pointed out the Illini were left out of the Top 25 poll. Before the Missouri game, it was a quote from James Augustine, who said in The News-Gazette he considered the Braggin' Rights game as intense as the NCAA title game.

During the CBS Selection Show, it took all of five seconds for the flame to flicker. Just as No. 5 Illinois popped up on the bracket, CBS analyst Seth Davis predicted an upset by No. 12 Western Kentucky at Portland's Rose Garden on Thursday (8:55 p.m., WCIA).

Turns out, Davis isn't alone.

"The funny thing is, I told the coaches to listen and we'll put them on the scouting report," UI coach Bruce Weber said Monday. "We're almost having a tough time finding someone picking us."

About the only prognosticator picking the Illini is some guy named Las Vegas. Illinois is a 4.5-point favorite, according to the oddsmakers. Don't tell that to the experts.

Four writers from CBSSportsline.com published their brackets. All four picked the Hilltoppers. The New York Times took the Sun Belt Conference titlist over the Big Ten tournament's No. 2 seed. CNNSI.com called Illinois the most "overrated" team in the South Regional.

"Without (Chester) Frazier, Illinois is more like a 7-8 seed, and will be vulnerable to getting upset by No. 12 Western Kentucky," CNNSI.com wrote.

One of the few national types to pick Illinois was ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews.

(As if she needed to endear herself to Illini fans.)

"It was an easy, good motivator right away," Weber said of the CBS slight. "Some others, (ESPN's) Jay Bilas, have jumped on board with that."

Fair enough. Everyone has their bracket and their opinion. Illinois is the lowest-scoring team in the South Regional and scored 33 points in a home loss. To pundits, it's numbers like those that make the Illini a 12-foot deer with a neon target on its side.

"We're used to it," sophomore Mike Davis said. "We've heard it all year. It's really nothing different. We just take it and use it as motivation."

"We know we're a good team," junior Dominique Keller said. "That stuff doesn't matter to us."

Western Kentucky can relate. The Hilltoppers earned their 21st NCAA tournament berth – and fifth this decade – after being picked to finish third in the Sun Belt Conference East Division.

"We're borderline cocky and we liked being in that position," first-year coach Ken McDonald said Monday.

So both teams entered the season with low expectations among outsiders. Just as Weber gave the Illini a goal of the Sweet 16, McDonald aimed high.

"I talked about nothing but dominating the conference, winning the conference title outright and getting to the NCAA tournament," McDonald said.

Historically, the No. 5 seed only has a 111-96 record in the NCAA tournament. And in its last trip to the NCAA tournament, Illinois was on the other end of the 5-12 matchup.

Weber used examples of 5-12 upsets in the past to show that No. 12 Illinois could be successful against No. 5 Virginia Tech. Plenty of experts believe it will happen again.

"I brought that up to our guys before we all left the room (Sunday night)," added Weber. "I said, 'They've already predicted it. It hasn't been on the board 10 minutes and one of the major CBS guys already predicted Western Kentucky in the upset over Illinois.'

"I hope that's extra incentive. If anyone else wants to keep predicting it, please do it, and I'll keep using it."

Tournament talk
TV
Here is WCIA’s schedule for Thursday’s NCAA tournament games:
TIME    GAME
11:20 a.m.    Butler vs. LSU
1:30 p.m.    Purdue vs. Northern Iowa
6:10 p.m.    Michigan vs. Clemson
8:45 p.m.    Illinois vs. Western Kentucky

Radio
Here is Thursday’s schedule for WDWS
(1400-AM) and WHMS (97.5-FM):
5 p.m.    Sportstalk with Steve Kelly, Loren Tate
7 p.m.    Gameday with Steve Kelly, Loren Tate
8:30 p.m.    Illini Sports Network coverage begins
11 p.m.    Postgame show

Rank and file
The Illini aren’t getting much respect from national experts in their first-round matchup with Western Kentucky. The Big Ten didn’t get much respect on Selection Sunday, several teams receiving lower-than-expected seeds. The rundown:
TEAM (RECORD)    SEED    FIRST-ROUND OPP.
Michigan State (26-6)    2    Robert Morris (24-10)
COMMENT: Loss to Ohio State in Big Ten tournament semifinals cost Spartans shot at No. 1 seed.
Illinois (24-9)    5    Western Kentucky (24-8)
COMMENT: Committee respected UI’s overall body of work.
Purdue (25-9)    5    Northern Iowa (23-10)
COMMENT: Seed shows Big Ten title game of little importance.
Ohio State (22-10)    8    Siena (26-7)
COMMENT: Potential matchup with Louisville is intriguing.
Michigan (20-13)    10    Clemson (23-8)
COMMENT: Early-season wins against Duke, UCLA proved crucial for Wolverines.
Minnesota (22-10)    10    Texas (22-11)
COMMENT: No, Kentucky. Yes, Gophers. Coach Tubby Smith must be smiling.
Wisconsin (19-12)    12    Florida State (25-9)
COMMENT: Questionable inclusion not popular at Creighton, St. Mary’s.

 

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