We all know that the 2021 season was an interesting one, to put it mildly, following the lost season of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Things were especially strange in the Big Ten, where the conference decided its teams would play a conference-only schedule. The season didn’t start until March 5, almost two weeks after everyone else, and the schedule wasn’t released until a couple of weeks before that time. There also was no conference tournament. 

As a result, RPI had no meaning to Big Ten teams. Unfortunately, RPI still meant something to the selection committee and only three B1G squads advanced to the postseason: Nebraska, Maryland and Michigan.

That isn’t to say a team like Illinois was deserving because it wasn't. Even long-time Illini Head Coach Dan Hartleb would admit that after finishing the year an even 22-22 with a 7-9 home record, an 11-7 road mark and a 4-6 record at neutral sites.

Looking ahead to 2022...