UI softball on NCAA bubble

Ask Kroner for his thoughts on the UI's NCAA chances here

URBANA – Illinois' softball team has compiled one of the best seasons in school history.

Only three times in the last decade have coach Terri Sullivan-coached squads had a better winning percentage than in 2009. Two of those teams (2003 and 2004) were chosen to participate in the NCAA tournament.

In five days, the current Illini will learn their postseason fate. An underclassmen-laden team could well become the third in school history to qualify for the 64-team field.

"I feel very good about where we are at," Sullivan said.

With good reason. The Big Ten is one of the nation's most respected conferences.

In last week's RPI listings, the Pacific-10 and Southeastern conferences had six representatives among the nation's top 30 teams. The Big Ten had five entries, including the Illini.

No other conference has more than three of its teams in the RPI top 30.

"We played another very aggressive schedule," Sullivan said.

Besides its highly regarded Big Ten opponents (Iowa, Michigan, Northwestern and Ohio State), the Illini faced the current RPI No. 1 Florida team twice, No. 7 Arizona once and No. 15 DePaul, which is the Big East champion, once.

Teams selected for the NCAA field will be sent to one of 16 yet-to-be-determined sites. Each site will feature four teams. First-round games will begin on May 15.

Unlike years past, the Big Ten doesn't select its automatic qualifier by virtue of a conference tournament. The Big Ten is one of six conferences that uses the results of league play to make its pick, based on the best winning percentage in conference games.

"I believe the elimination of the conference tournament is a non-factor in decision making for this (NCAA field)," Sullivan said. "I do believe our conference schedule was better for the student athlete this year and better for the conference overall."

Illinois drew the final-week bye and can't help itself – or hurt itself – this weekend as it prepares for final exams.

Sullivan hopes her athletes will be tested next week also, on the softball diamond.

Will they or won't they
Fred Kroner's glance at reasons Illinois' softball team could be selected or bypassed Sunday when the NCAA Division I tournament field is announced at 9 p.m. on ESPNU:

IN ILLINOIS' FAVOR
-The RPI, which evaluates strength of schedule for 284 collegiate programs in Division I, listed Illinois at No. 29 last week;
-In its final 10 games, the Illini were 7-3, including a two-game sweep over No. 7 Northwestern and three straight wins on the road;
-Five Big Ten teams were selected in 2008 and Illinois, which is idle this week, will finish no lower than fifth in the league this year.

HURTING ILLINOIS' OUTLOOK
-Though 64 teams will be picked, 30 berths are reserved for conference representatives, leaving the Illini fighting for one of the other 34 berths;
-The Illini played 16 of their 44 spring games against top 25 competition, but just two of 29 victories were against teams in the USA Today top 20;
-With one of its three players hitting above .262 sidelined by injury (Hope Howell), the team is at less than full strength for the postseason.

A look at the five seasons with the best winning percentages in UI history:

YEAR    RECORD    PCT.
x-2003    39-17    .696
2001    49-23    .681
x-2004    45-21-1    .679
2009    29-15    .659
2002    34-24    .586
x-denotes years Illinois played in the NCAA Tournament

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