Do we root for Illinois or Ohio State today?

Submitted by greymarch on March 6th, 2021 at 10:27 AM

Can make an argument for either one:

 

- If Illinois defeats OSU today, it locks Ill into a #1 seed in the NCAA, thus Michigan couldnt face Ill until at least the final four.

 

- If OSU defeats Ill today, Ill could fall to a #2 in the NCAA.  If Ill is a #2 in a bracket on the opposite side of UM's bracket, then UM could only face Ill in the national championship game.

 

Lord knows I hate OSU with the burning rage of a thousand super-novas, but I want what's best for Michigan's chances in the NCAA tourney.  So, who do we root for today: Illinois or Ohio State, and why?

schreibee

March 6th, 2021 at 12:55 PM ^

Except when it directly benefits Michigan, which is ultimately the point of the entire thing! 

And in this case Illinois losing directly benefits Michigan in a number of ways! 

Plus, I'd like to see how osu handles them! Gain some strategic insights, so to speak ?‍♂️

 

Grampy

March 6th, 2021 at 2:24 PM ^

You can have your cake and eat it, too.  I don’t want Illinois to sneak ahead of us and nab the #3 seed, putting us on the #4 line to face Gonzaga in the semifinals.  But it’s also likely we’ll face the Illini next week in the BTT, where we can properly put them in their place.  So, I vote for the Illini beating  the OSU Douche Nozzles today, and we’ll deal with Illinois next week.

mi93

March 6th, 2021 at 11:23 AM ^

illannoy has successfully made it difficult to root for them the past 2 weeks.

I think I'd rather o$u win so M and illannoy finish with the same number of Ws (assuming a M win tomorrow) and illannoy can enjoy a cup of shut the hell up about the season.

I'm not cheering or rooting for either, but since someone has to win, I'd rather it be Holtmann.

1WhoStayed

March 6th, 2021 at 10:44 AM ^

You make it sound more attractive that Ill be a 2 seed “because if they are on the other side of the bracket we couldn’t face them until the finals”. It’s the same thing for a 1 seed! 
I’d say a 1 seed would guarantee that they WOULD be on the other side of the bracket. No way the committee puts two 1 seeds from Big Ten on the same “side”. But I could see a 1 and 2 on same side. Although IMO still unlikely.

jdraman

March 6th, 2021 at 11:40 AM ^

But that's not exactly "up to the committee". The two B1G one-seeds will, in all likelihood, be the #3 and #4 one-seeds. Thus, the #4 team would face Gonzaga, the likely overall one-seed, and the #3 team would face Baylor, the likely #2 team, in the Final Four.  

plaidflannel

March 6th, 2021 at 10:44 AM ^

To shut up the "play all your conference games" crowd on the Illinois side, I will begrudgingly hope for an Ohio State win. 

If Illinois loses today and we win tomorrow, then we could have lost the three games we didn't reschedule and still have won a (shared) title.

jmblue

March 6th, 2021 at 10:45 AM ^

One other factor: an Illinois loss would (or should) stop them from complaining that they didn't get a fair deal in the conference race.  If they have five conference losses, they've got no beef. 

I expect them to win though.  OSU seems to in the midst of its annual slump under Holtmann. 

LabattBlue

March 6th, 2021 at 10:46 AM ^

Not worrying about the last week of the tournament.

Plenty of teams out there that match up everyone but Dickinson.

I bet more than a few teams don't double the post, running shooters off the line.

Illinois has the post matchup few teams utilize anymore.

Hunter is going to get his points.

You haven't watched non BIG teams this year? At least a dozen tough matchups in the field.

1VaBlue1

March 6th, 2021 at 10:48 AM ^

I don't give a shit...  If we have to play OSU or Illinois or Wisconsin again, then we have to.  If we have to play MSU for the 17th time, then we do.  Can only play the teams in front of us.

Just win the game.

GoBLUE_SemperFi

March 6th, 2021 at 10:52 AM ^

Based on the way that you've setup the argument, I'm rooting for Illinois.  I want the rematch with a Illinois as soon as possible.  There isn't a scenario that I'd root for a team, because I'm afraid of the opponent and want to postpone the matchup.  I think the Michigan team is hungry for the rematch, as well.

snarling wolverine

March 6th, 2021 at 11:07 AM ^

I'm not sure the OP is correct about that.  If Illinois is a #2 seed, they could potentially be in the same region as us.  There is no certainty they would be placed on the opposite side of the bracket.  

I think this discussion is getting ahead of ourselves anyway.  UI has 6 losses on the season and a lot of close wins.  They have a high ceiling (as we saw on Tuesday) but haven't always looked that good.  I think we're more likely to make the Final Four than they are.

njvictor

March 6th, 2021 at 10:57 AM ^

Illinois fans have become so fucking annoying that I have to cheer for OSU. It feels wrong, but I have to do it. OSU winning is the only way Illinois fans will shut the fuck up

MadMatt

March 6th, 2021 at 11:21 AM ^

Seriously! I have never seen a more unrequited "rivalry" in my life. They hate us as much as Ohio State does, and we barely notice. The irony is that they are a really good school, at least as good as Wisconsin, but they sure don't act like it. They could give Staee little brother lessons.