If you have filled out your 2009 NCAA Bracket Predictions you probably found the Western Kentucky vs. Illinois matchup an upset waiting to happen. This game is one of those 5/12-seed matchups that often end up with an overrated-5 losing to an underrated-12. Let there be no doubt about it; the Hilltoppers of the Sun Belt Conference will have BIG TEN member Illinois' full attention when this NCAA Tournament first round game tips off at 9:55 p.m. Thursday from the Rose Garden in Portland, Ore.
2009 NCAA Bracket Predictions oddsmakers at online sportsbook SBGglobal.com installed the Fighting Illini as 4 1/2-point favorites over the Hilltoppers with a 125 total. Illinois is also favored -200 on the SBGglobal moneyline. Western Kentucky backers are getting +170 moneyline odds.
Betting bracketologists should take into account that a 12-seeding suits the Hilltoppers just fine. It was only one year ago the school was a 12-seed and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 after upsetting Drake in OT 101-99 and San Diego 72-63 in round two. In its program's history, Western Kentucky has advanced as far as the Sweet 16 seven times.
Illinois is 24-9 on the season after falling to Purdue in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament on Saturday. The Illini finished in a tie for second place in the Big Ten during the regular season and are back in the NCAA Tournament for the ninth time in the last 10 years after a one-year hiatus. Overall, it is Illinois' 28th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Western Kentucky finished the season with at 24-8.
If head coach Ken McDonald has anything to do with it, the Hilltoppers will not be overlooking the Illini.
"I don’t think a lot of people have been giving Illinois the respect that they deserve this year, said McDonald. "I think they’ve had a terrific year. I’ve seen them a couple of times on TV and they do an excellent job. They are a motion oriented team, just like us, and they run a lot of ball screens."
Of course McDonald also likes his teams chances.
"I like this match-up," said McDonald. "I don’t think they are the most physical team but they are obviously big. We’re going to have to play well but I believe that it is one of those match-ups where all year long they’ve been playing and proving some people wrong, just like we were."
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