PlanetHolt.com

Here are some brief thoughts on the college basketball postseason that is now underway.

• Illinois looked sloppy but was clearly the more talented team in their opening-round game against Stony Brook last week. To me, it looked like the Illini were playing casually, almost pick-up ball, while Stony Brook was playing a more serious game. We will need to play better to beat Kent State and continue to progress in the NIT.
• The Big Ten has been doing exceedingly well in the NCAA tournament. According to CBS Sports, there are eleven conferences represented in the Sweet 16. The Big Ten has three of their five teams playing on the second weekend. The Big East is two for eight, the Big 12 is two for five, and the SEC is two for four.
• This last weekend was one of the most fun for a general fan-of-the-game. Lots of great finishes, close games, and already more overtime games than the entire tournament last year. This is the best time of year by far! (NCAA—please don’t ruin it with expansion!)

Alright, I’m off to Champaign with Zipp for Illinois’ NIT game against Kent State. Let’s go Illini!