Bracketology 2013: Illinois, Northwestern Absent From Joe Lunardi's Early 2013 NCAA Tournament Projection

ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi hasn't wasted much time in beginning his projections for the 2013 NCAA Tournament; on Monday, he released an early guess at the field of 68. Neither Illinois nor Northwestern made the cut, and they were not listed among the first eight schools left out of the tournament, either.

Illinois is in a transitional period with a new head coach and Northwestern has to replace several key components to its 2012 team, including John Shurna. Lunardi must see too many question marks at this point to feel comfortable considering those schools NCAA Tournament-caliber.

Mike Brey's Notre Dame squad is in the field, though, and Lunardi has the Irish as a No. 9 seed. The Irish have made the NCAA Tournament in each of the last three seasons.

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Bracketology 2012: Prognosis Not Good For Northwestern Wildcats

The Northwestern Wildcats likely could've secured their first ever bid in the NCAA Tournament with a victory in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, but instead they lost in heartbreaking fashion to the Minnesota Golden Gophers, and will nervously wait on Sunday to see if they've received a bid. But if the selection committee is thinking anywhere along the lines of SB Nation's Chris Dobbertean, it will end up being a sad day in Evanston.

Bracketology 2012: Notre Dame A No. 8 Seed In Jerry Palm's Saturday Night Projection

After an impressive run through Big East Conference play, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish aren't worried about whether or not they get in the 2012 NCAA Tournament, they're simply worried about seeding. CBS Sports' Jerry Palm updated his bracket projection on Saturday night, and he feels that the Irish will land a No. 8 seed.

Related: Bracketology 2012: Notre Dame Projected By SB Nation As No. 7 Seed Out West

That means the Irish would most likely have to contend with a No. 1 seed in the second round, which is not a great position to be in. But as Notre Dame already has shown this season, they are capable of playing well enough to knock off one of the nation's top teams.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. Notre Dame Fighting Irish news and analysis is available at One Foot Down. For more on Big East basketball, visit the SB Nation blog Big East Coast Bias. Also be sure to check out SB Nation's college basketball hub.

Bracketology 2012: Jerry Palm Has Northwestern In NCAA Tournament As Of Saturday Night

Many bracketologists believe that Northwestern's 2012 NCAA Tournament hopes ended with the Wildcats' loss to Minnesota in the Big Ten Tournament, but CBS Sports' Jerry Palm still thinks Northwestern is worthy of an at-large bid.

Related: Bracketology 2012: Northwestern A Longshot In SB Nation's Latest Projections

In the bracket projection update he made at about 8:20 p.m. CT on Saturday night, Northwestern was still in the field, albeit as one of the last four teams to receive a bid. Palm seems to feel more strongly than most about Northwestern's tournament merits, and at the very list, this would seem to indicate that the Wildcats will be a part of the discussion among the selection committee on Sunday.

For more on this game stay with SB Nation Chicago. For more Northwestern coverage, check out Sippin' On Purple. News and notes on college hoops teams around the country can be found at SB Nation's college basketball news hub.

Bracketology 2012: Northwestern A Longshot In SB Nation's Latest Projections

The 2012 NCAA Tournament selection process is approaching quickly, and according to SB Nation's Bracketology the Northwestern Wildcats are on the outside of March Madness, looking in. The Drexel Dragons, South Florida Bulls, North Carolina State Wolfpack, and Mississippi State Bulldogs are listed of the last four teams to get in to the NCAA Tournament, while Mississippi Rebels, Seton Hall Pirates, Washington Huskies and Iona Gaels are the first four with a major beef for being left out of the big dance.

Meanwhile, Northwestern is among the next quartet of teams headed to the NIT, making sad company with the Tennessee Volunteers, Miami Hurricanes and Dayton Flyers. Here's how the process broke down in the latest run by SB Nation's Chris Dobbertean. Northwestern is part of the Next Four Out crowd, so they would need a major miracle to get in the field at this point.

Bracketology 2012: Notre Dame Projected By SB Nation As No. 7 Seed Out West

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish got bounced from the Big East Conference Tournament by the Louisville Cardinals, and SB Nation has them currently projected as a No. 7 seed in the 2012 NCAA Tournament.