As someone who recently spent two weeks visiting my sister Karen in San Diego, I can tell Illini Nation that their NCAA draw isn't something to gripe about. It should be celebrated.
You're going to one of the most beautiful cities in the country and you're playing a team that's lucky just to be in the tournament. And we're supposed to feel sorry for you because it's so far away? Please.
You can visit the giant pandas at the San Diego Zoo, head over to La Jolla to see the harbor seals, take a stroll along Mission Bay or eat at Kung-Food on 6th Street. It's a great restaurant for my vegetarian-vegan brothers and sisters.
As far as traveling, after staying within bus distance all the way through the tourney last year, you have no complaints. Not even making the Big Ten semis warranted a No. 4 seed. Get on a plane.
I expect Illinois to win big, but teams like Air Force always seems to pull off one upset per tourney. They're well coached by local native Jeff Bzdelik, and they're disciplined. It could be interesting.
I don't expect Washington to be any great shakes in the second round, so I could see Illinois making it to the Sweet 16 before losing to UConn.
So enjoy your stay in San Diego, it should be the most fun and success you'll have in this tourney.
Roman Modrowski is an assistant sports editor for the 
I very much agree, the Illini faithful should be thankful for a #4 seed. I am a very big Illinois fan but I don't look much further than the second round.
Illinois is better than you think. Just look at their road wins. Illinois has a better odds at upsetting a number 1 early than any other team.
What's going on with filling the last scholarship? Freeman; Beverly etc.?
There is nothing wrong with San Diego. It's a beautiful town and that's the one plus going there was to the Illini going to Boise or Utah or who knows where.
Having said that, looking at their record and RPI and they should have been a 3 seed and if they were a 4 anywhere but the UConn bracket. While playing in San Diego is a plus for those who can afford to go as well as southern California Illinois alumni, it's too bad they had to travel so far which made it tough on players families and nearly impossible for Illinois resident fans to attend the game. We can't look past Washington and UConn looms but if Illinois can bring their "A" game to Washington D.C. and UConn has an average game the Illini have a good chance to get an upset win.
Well, the staunch Illini fan within me believes that the #4 seed was a snub. However, San Diego is a beautiful city, Illinois (although rightfully) did get some special treatment as far as travel last year, and they didn't "look" spectacular the final games of the reg season. Thus I'm not too concerned with their placement. But the griping shouldn't be misconstrued; that is, taken literally. I think that it is smart, because it keeps the players focused and maybe even gives them an edge. And it is classy, because it goes to show that Air Force is a strong team that deserves respect (even if we all know it isn't true). So that's that.
How about Peoria's newest pride, Jamar Smith? Can you smell that? Someone should open a window, because I don't think smoking nylon is good for you...
The main gripe we Illinois fans have is with being a 4 seed, not getting sent to San Diego (which is not only a fantastic place to visit, but is also home or close to it for lots of alums; I'm betting Illinois fans will easily outnumber Washington fans in tomorrow's game). I do recall that as a 4 seed in '02 we got to play at the United Center for 2 games followed by the Kohl Center, in '03 we were at the Hoosier Dome and in '04 it was Columbus. So we've had very good luck in the past as a 4 seed as far as geography goes. It's just that the 1 seeds this year are so much better than the 2s and 3s that a 4 seed is a death sentence in the Sweet 16, whereas as a 2 or 3 you'd at least have a much better shot at reaching the regional final, which is a much bigger accomplishment. I just have a hard time seeing why both Tennessee and North Carolina got seeded ahead of Illinois when Illinois had more wins, had fewer losses, beat UNC head-to-head AT Chapel Hill, and played in a tougher conference. You can say, "well, Illinois shouldn't have lost to Penn State at home." Again, let's compare Illinois, UNC and Tennessee in terms of losses to teams who did not make the NCAAs. Illinois had 2 such losses by a combined 9 points (PSU and Michigan), and both teams made the NIT; Tennessee had 2 (Okla. St. and S. Carolina, the latter of which was a semi-home game seeing as it was played in Nashville) by a combined 24 pts. with both teams making the NIT, and UNC had 3 (at USC, at Virginia and HOME to Miami-Fla.) by a combined 30 points, and USC did NOT make the NIT. I rest my case - Illinois' 4 seed was a screw job.
homers! illinois was lucky to face air force in the first round. the big 10 is overrated. all illinois can hope for is more air force teams in the next rounds.
Look out for the Huskies!,,,Beat UCLA in LA and Zona in Tucson....Have to keep Brian out of foul trouble guarding Brandon Roy
Take it from a 50 long years cub fan, I truly
believe that Steve Stone would make a great manager or GM for the Cubs; at least, a better choice than those two buffons now in place. I kid not.
Stone is not only a preeminient commenatator but a deeply knowledgeable baseball man: He knows how the game (of hardball) should be played and how
the players and managment
should conduct team'
affairs, publically and privately. Contrary to current managers who act and emote more like the players they are charged to
teach, if not by adult mouth, then by deed.
If its not Sammy, its Steve or its Walk, and so on.
Extentions for frick & frack, you's have to be
suicidal, as far as trying to beat the clock to the century mark, if you get my meaning.
steve d
Now what do you think of the seeding? Illinois just got hosed out there.
Typical. Complain about your seed and wonder if you can beat UConn. The answer is NO! UW played one of their worst games this season and handled that team tonight. Had to sit next to an Ill. fan at a bar and he was totally classless. Time to wake up and figure out that the Northwest is the new hot bed of hoops. While Chicago is smokin dope and trying to become rappers, we're hoopin in Washington State
Why all the hoopala about Illinois?
They were not even close to being the best team in their own conference, cry like babies about their seed, and then get smoked.
Over-achieving smack talking crybabies.
GOOD riddance
Smoked? I don't know about that. How about a good game that went to the wire despite a 30 to 10 free throw differential and an absolutely horrible foul call on Augustine at the end, that wasn't, that decided the game. In defense of the refs however, when you make too many bad fouls early, they become more inclined to blow it quickly at the end. Still, unfortunate that the stripes couldn't let the teams win or lose it at the end. I also think Bruce needs to evaluate how he finishes games - his record in tight games is not real good.
Down go the Illini, down go the Illini
Hey RICK, couldn't agree with you more. The Pacific Northwest is definitely the new place for ballas. Why, think of all those recent national championship teams from Oregon, Washington, even California.
WHAT A HOTBED!