Partners in Futility, 2016

[Styre]

As we all know, NU is the only major conference school never to appear in the NCAA Tournament. But there are four other programs which have been around since the tournament started in 1939 and haven't played in it, and I like to track their progress in their conference tournaments.

They are:

Army: 18-12 (9-9), T-4th place in the Patriot League. Hosting #5 Colgate in a quarterfinal on March 3.
The Citadel: 10-21 (3-15), last place in the Southern Conference. They will play Mercer in a neutral site game on March 5.
St. Francis (NY): 15-16 (11-7), T-2nd place in the NEC. As the #4 seed, they will host #5 Mt. St. Mary's on March 2.
William & Mary: 19-10 (11-7), T-3rd place in the CAA. As the #5 seed, they will face #4 James Madison in a neutral site game on March 5.

None of these teams are going to receive at-large NCAA berths, so they must win their respective conference tournaments to qualify. I always root for them to do so.

 

[Styre]

In other news, the entire state of Illinois hasn't sent a single team to the NCAA Tournament since 2013. This year, SIU-Edwardsville and Western Illinois are already out of contention, as they were so bad they didn't even qualify for their respective conference tournaments. And barring a run to their conference tournament titles, it doesn't look like any of the other 11 will do it either. How does a state with 13 separate D1 programs potentially go three straight years without a single one making the NCAAs?

 

[pawildcat]

In other news, the entire state of Illinois hasn't sent a single team to the NCAA Tournament since 2013. This year, SIU-Edwardsville and Western Illinois are already out of contention, as they were so bad they didn't even qualify for their respective conference tournaments. And barring a run to their conference tournament titles, it doesn't look like any of the other 11 will do it either. How does a state with 13 separate D1 programs potentially go three straight years without a single one making the NCAAs?

That's a good question. Of course NU has never made the tourney, but it has always baffled me that the Illini haven't been more consistent over the years. I'm old enough to remember when Bradley was a power (Chet "the jet" Walker, anyone?), and Southern Illinois and Illinois State were pretty tough, not to mention Loyola's '63 championship. With the amount of talent available in an average year in the stte, it's got to be attributable to poor recruiting, less-than-stellar coaching, or a combination of both. Looks as if Groce just landed Frank Williams's kid, so maybe his recruiting is picking up. I'm hopeful NU's incoming class will help put us into the game.

 

[Walker Fan]

Illinois has struck out on a number of top Illinois guys that UK, KU and Duke have stolen the top level talent from Illinois (Anthony Davis, Jon Scheyer, Jabari Parker, Sherron Collins, Tyler Ullis, Cliff Alexander, Jalen Brunson - Villanova). Maybe without the Chevy Blazer enticement, Sham Bana is not as enticing.

 

[DaCat]

In other news, the entire state of Illinois hasn't sent a single team to the NCAA Tournament since 2013. This year, SIU-Edwardsville and Western Illinois are already out of contention, as they were so bad they didn't even qualify for their respective conference tournaments. And barring a run to their conference tournament titles, it doesn't look like any of the other 11 will do it either. How does a state with 13 separate D1 programs potentially go three straight years without a single one making the NCAAs?

This is just astounding. The state of Illinois has to be in the top 5 for basketball talent, which makes this fact simply mind boggling.

 

[NURoseBowl]

As we all know, NU is the only major conference school never to appear in the NCAA Tournament. But there are four other programs which have been around since the tournament started in 1939 and haven't played in it, and I like to track their progress in their conference tournaments.

They are:

Army: 18-12 (9-9), T-4th place in the Patriot League. Hosting #5 Colgate in a quarterfinal on March 3.
The Citadel: 10-21 (3-15), last place in the Southern Conference. They will play Mercer in a neutral site game on March 5.
St. Francis (NY): 15-16 (11-7), T-2nd place in the NEC. As the #4 seed, they will host #5 Mt. St. Mary's on March 2.
William & Mary: 19-10 (11-7), T-3rd place in the CAA. As the #5 seed, they will face #4 James Madison in a neutral site game on March 5.

None of these teams are going to receive at-large NCAA berths, so they must win their respective conference tournaments to qualify. I always root for them to do so.

You wouldn't make much of a Dolphins' fan, Styre.

 

[Styre]

You wouldn't make much of a Dolphins' fan, Styre.

Ha! I know how much it sucks to have never seen your team in the tournament, and if someone else can finally get to experience it, more power to them. W&M and St. Francis both had #1 seeds in their conference tournaments last year and they both lost the championship games. It was excruciating.

 

[DaCat]

Doesn't look like any of the Futile Five will get in this year. Who will be the first to to break the jinx out of these five? I hope it's NU next year.

 

[pschatz25]

In other news, the entire state of Illinois hasn't sent a single team to the NCAA Tournament since 2013. This year, SIU-Edwardsville and Western Illinois are already out of contention, as they were so bad they didn't even qualify for their respective conference tournaments. And barring a run to their conference tournament titles, it doesn't look like any of the other 11 will do it either. How does a state with 13 separate D1 programs potentially go three straight years without a single one making the NCAAs?

That's amazing. The last time a Chicago school (NU, DePaul, UIC, Loyola, Chicago St.) made the Tournament was 2004. Surprisingly, the closest call during the stretch was probably Chicago State losing in the 2006 Mid-Continent Conference championship game. I've always thought UIC or maybe Loyola would become a solid mid-major, but it hasn't happened yet.

 

[Styre]

That's amazing. The last time a Chicago school (NU, DePaul, UIC, Loyola, Chicago St.) made the Tournament was 2004. Surprisingly, the closest call during the stretch was probably Chicago State losing in the 2006 Mid-Continent Conference championship game. I've always thought UIC or maybe Loyola would become a solid mid-major, but it hasn't happened yet.

Here are the most recent tournament appearances for the Illinois schools:
Illinois – 2013
Southern Illinois – 2007
Bradley – 2006
DePaul – 2004
UIC – 2004
Eastern Illinois – 2001
Illinois State – 1998
Northern Illinois – 1996
Loyola (IL) – 1985
Chicago State – never
Northwestern – never
SIU-Edwardsville – never
Western Illinois – never

Only three have made it in the past decade!

 

[DonatelloCat]

I always root for them to do so.

Does anyone else root against them, or is that just me? (Not that I'm bitter or anything!)

 

[Turk]

In other news, the entire state of Illinois hasn't sent a single team to the NCAA Tournament since 2013. This year, SIU-Edwardsville and Western Illinois are already out of contention, as they were so bad they didn't even qualify for their respective conference tournaments. And barring a run to their conference tournament titles, it doesn't look like any of the other 11 will do it either. How does a state with 13 separate D1 programs potentially go three straight years without a single one making the NCAAs?

...and in a basketball rich state?

 

[Styre]

St. Francis (NY) has been eliminated, losing at home to Mount St. Mary's tonight in the opening round of the NEC tourney. We also have our third casualty from the state of Illinois, as Eastern Illinois was knocked out of the OVC tournament by Murray State.

 

[IdahoAlum]

Army has a shot this year, they suffered some injuries earlier this year, but I'm told they are healthy for their tournament. Other than the Cats, would love to see the Cadets make it to the tourney.

 

[Styre]

Army topples Colgate and they're off to the Patriot League semis, where they will host Holy Cross.

Another Illinois school went down, as Bradley fell to Loyola in the Missouri Valley opening round.

 

[Styre]

The Citadel, arguably the worst D1 program of all time, is eliminated in the opening round of the Big South tournament by Mercer.

And it was a bloodbath for Illinois in the MVC tournament, with Loyola, SIU, and Illinois State all going down.

 

[Deeringfish]

Here are the most recent tournament appearances for the Illinois schools:
Illinois – 2013
Southern Illinois – 2007
Bradley – 2006
DePaul – 2004
UIC – 2004
Eastern Illinois – 2001
Illinois State – 1998
Northern Illinois – 1996
Loyola (IL) – 1985
Chicago State – never
Northwestern – never
SIU-Edwardsville – never
Western Illinois – never

Only three have made it in the past decade!

I think North Park got in a couple of times the70s

 

[olshin]

If only Army ever had any good coaches, they would have made the NCAA Tournament by now.

But really -- they are one of the biggest, if not THE biggest example of being hurt by 1) independent status through the years and 2) the late expansion of the tournament.

They made the NIT Final Four 5 times in 7 years, essentially during Coach Knight's tenure. Of course when he left that basically ended the history of Army basketball, with the brief exception of a few years in the late 70s when one of Knight's proteges had a few respectable teams. I believe that Coach was from the Chicago-area ... if only I could recall HIS name or if he went on to accomplish anything at his next coaching stop ....

 

[BigCat77]

If only Army ever had any good coaches, they would have made the NCAA Tournament by now.

But really -- they are one of the biggest, if not THE biggest example of being hurt by 1) independent status through the years and 2) the late expansion of the tournament.

They made the NIT Final Four 5 times in 7 years, essentially during Coach Knight's tenure. Of course when he left that basically ended the history of Army basketball, with the brief exception of a few years in the late 70s when one of Knight's proteges had a few respectable teams. I believe that Coach was from the Chicago-area ... if only I could recall HIS name or if he went on to accomplish anything at his next coaching stop ....

Its a polish name if I remember correctly....

 

[Styre]

William & Mary survives, upsetting James Madison to move on to today's CAA semifinals against top-seeded Hofstra.

In more Illinois news, UIC was knocked out of the Horizon League tournament.

 

[Styre]

It's up to NU, as Army was knocked out today by Holy Cross and William & Mary was knocked out by Hofstra.