With a little more than a month to go before conference tournaments, it’s clear who has the best college basketball team in the state.
But after No. 8 Illinois, how do the other 11 NCAA Division I programs rank?
If the defending Big Ten champion and last year’s NCAA runner-up is solid at the top, Southern Illinois clearly is above the rest.
In a less-than-great season for the state’s 12 Division I schools, the Illini and the Salukis look like the only candidates for NCAA at-large bids if they fail to earn their respective conferences’ automatic slots. Loyola, Bradley and Northern Illinois could surprise in conference tournaments.
The Salukis’ 33-game home winning streak is matched only by Illinois. They are a rugged, blue-collar bunch that wins with defense. The four-time defending Missouri Valley Conference champions (16-5, 9-2) moved into a tie for the league lead with a 65-52 victory Saturday at Illinois State.
“Their defense is so good, you have to make some jump shots,” Illinois State coach Porter Moser said. “[They are] the best defensive team in the country. They are going to lock you up.”
The Salukis start no seniors. Against ISU, they were led by 6-foot-7 sophomore forward Randal Falker, who had 18 points and 15 rebounds. Southern Illinois limited the Redbirds to 37 percent shooting.
The Missouri Valley ranks No. 5 in the conference Ratings Percentage Index. SIU, Northern Iowa, Wichita State and Creighton are ranked among the top 40 teams in the country in RPI.
State of hoops
College basketball reporters from the Chicago Tribune ranked Illinois’ top men’s basketball teams (records through Sunday).
1. Illinois, 19-2, 5-2 Big Ten
2. Southern Ill., 16-5, 9-2 Missouri Valley
3. Bradley, 12-7, 6-5 MVC
4. Northern Ill., 11-7, 6-4 Mid-American
5. Loyola, 12-7, 4-5 Horizon
6. DePaul, 8-10, 1-6 Big East
7. Northwestern, 10-8, 3-4 Big Ten
8. Illinois-Chicago, 10-11, 3-6 Horizon
9. Illinois State, 8-11, 3-8 MVC
10. Chicago St., 4-15, 3-5 Mid-Continent
11. Eastern Illinois, 5-14, 4-9 Ohio Valley
12. Western Illinois, 6-15, 2-8 Mid-Con
