Illinois Basketball Lands in ESPN's Final Preseason Bracketology Predictions

ESPN's resident bracketologist Joe Lunardi slots the Illini's place in March Madness

Mar 17, 2024; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood celebrates with forward Ty Rodgers (20) after defeating Wisconsin Badgers at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images / Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

As we approach Monday's tip-off to the 2024-25 NCAA men's basketball season, the final preseason projections are all piling in. Today, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi completed his last preseason edition of Bracketology, and 10 Big Ten teams made the cut, including Ilinois.

Lunardi currently has the Illini projected as a No. 6 seed in the East Region, and slated to take on No. 11 Boise State in their first matchup.

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The local legend and his son.
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The globetrotter who keeps coming home.#Illini | #HTTO |… pic.twitter.com/mYJ0vYLJ8E

— Illinois Men's Basketball (@IlliniMBB) October 24, 2024

After Illinois’ struggles Sunday in a 91-74 exhibition loss to No. 24 Ole Miss, that seed may drop in the next edition of Lunardi's Bracketology – but don’t expect the Illini to stay down too long.

Despite the final score, the Illini showcased their exceptional offensive talent from top to bottom. Flashes were shown by freshmen Kasparas Jakucionis, Will Riley and Tomislav Ivisic, and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn showed the potential for a big sophomore leap. Unfortunately, the players' lack of experience playing alongside one another was apparent on both sides of the basketball.

That said, early-season missteps appear inevitable. As coach Brad Underwood and the players begin to mesh throughout the season, the Illini have the sort of upside to become one of the most dangerous teams in the country – and possibly top-four-seed potential in the NCAA Tournament. 

Illinois gets one more week to work out the kinks before its first chance to begin building that tournament resume next Monday against Eastern Illinois at Champaign's State Farm Center (7 p.m. CT, on Big Ten+). 

Other Big Ten teams in Lunardi’s Bracketology (by region):

West Region

10. Maryland
6. Indiana 

South Region

11. Rutgers
9. Ohio State
7. Michigan State

Midwest Region

9. Oregon
6. UCLA
4. Purdue

East Region

8. Michigan

More From Illinois on Sports Illustrated:

Will 'Booty Ball' Make a Triumphant Comeback for Illinois Basketball?

Andy Katz Picks Illinois Basketball as a Dark Horse Final Four Contender

Illinois Basketball Misses Out on AP 2024-25 Preseason Top 25 Poll