In an NCAA Tournament edition of “Polling Place,” your home for Sun-Times sports polls on the social platform X, we asked how deep No. 3 seed Illinois will go.
“Completely depends on their commitment to urgency,” @jobin_theman commented. “They have the talent and skill to hang with other elite teams and crush lower teams, but they get complacent. Just need to let the dawgs out.”
Next, we asked which local program will get back to the Big Dance first: DePaul, Loyola, Northwestern or UIC?
Last, which postseason is better, college basketball’s or college football’s?
“The basketball tournament rocks,” @RonaldVoigt4 wrote, “and Vegas during the first two days is electric.”
On to the polls:
Poll No. 1: How far will Illinois’ men’s basketball team go in the NCAA Tournament?
It’s time for a March Madness edition of “Polling Place.” Let us hear from you! Selected comments will appear in Thursday’s paper.
Poll No. 1: How far will Illinois’ men’s basketball team go in the NCAA Tournament?
— Sun-Times Sports (@suntimes_sports) March 16, 2026
Upshot: If the Illini get to Houston for the Sweet 16, they’ll run up against second-seeded Houston. That’s some tough trip.
Poll No. 2: Which men’s program will get back to the Big Dance first?
Poll No. 2: Which men’s program will get back to the Big Dance first?
— Sun-Times Sports (@suntimes_sports) March 16, 2026
Upshot: Do we like what DePaul’s Chris Holtmann is cooking or is this vote more about what the others don’t have on the ol’ stove?
Poll No. 3: Which postseason is better?
Poll No. 3: Which postseason is better?
— Sun-Times Sports (@suntimes_sports) March 16, 2026
Upshot: The Big Dance rules, people, but you knew that already.