Behind the Mic

Getting over the NCAA Hump

Posted by: Brian Barnhart

Tuesday, February 17, 2009 7:59 PM

If you are anything like me...it is easy to take NCAA Tournament berths for granted.  I mean...after all...Illnois in the last 30 years as been a consistent presence in the tournament.  Sure there was a year now and then when they did not make it but for the most part the Illini were a factor in the Big Ten race every year and thus were one of the annual members of the tournament field.

What made last year's 16-19 season something that Illini fans wanted to forget as soon as the team's spring basketball banquet was over was the feeling of being "left out".  Watching the programs that were in the "Big Dance" move on without the Illini involved was a feeling I didnt like very much.  I watched the coverage of the tournament on CBS...but it just wasnt the same.

During the past decade it was easy to be overly concerned about how high the Illini  seeding was and what region they were going to be put in by the basketball committee.  While those are important...you can lose perspective.   It can consume your every thought and you lose the joy and excitement of just "being there".

There are now well over 300+ basketball programs playing Division 1 basketball.  To be in the elite group of 65 teams that make the tourney should be exciting enough.  But hey...once you are in....you get greedy and want to stay awhile. The way this year's Illini team is playing...they might be able to stick around for awhile once the tourney starts.  But that remains to be seen.

After the wins at Northwestern and Indiana...Bruce Weber's team is still in contention for the Big Ten title and a very high seed in the NCAA's....and I will be excited to see what kind of a seed they might get this year.  But after sitting on the sidelines of last year's tournament...I will be happy just to "be there. "  No matter what the seeding is or where they play.

But of course...winning a couple of games during March Madness would be nice wouldnt it?

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