Illini Face Penn in NCAA Tournament

0:00On March 16th, the Illinois men's basketball team earned a number three seed in the NCAA tournament and faces number 14 Penn in the first round. On Thursday in Greenville, South Carolina, the winner advances to play number six North Carolina or number 11 VCU on Saturday. In the South region with number one Florida and number two Houston, the Illinois head to regional semifinals and finals on March 26th and 28th in Houston with the final four set for April 4th and 6th in Indianapolis. Coming off a 24-and-a record, Illinois stumbled in his last nine games with five losses, including a big ten tournament overtime defeat. To Wisconsin, that dinged their seeding, Coach Brad Underwood called it a chance for a fresh start, marking their sixth straight tournament trip under him. Meanwhile, Penn punched its ticket by upsetting top-seated Yale in the Ivy League final for its first appearance since 2018, led by Coach. The Quaker's features several Illinois natives, but will miss leading score Ethan Roberts

1:04due to concussion issues. Should Illinois advance, a rematch looms with North Carolina from the 2005 title game, keeping the path exciting as the Aligny Chase, another deep run.