Illinois Hoops: Top 2 Seed, Deep Run Ahead

0:00On April 24th, Illinois Hoops fans are still buzzing from that final four-run last season, the first in 21 years during the 2026 campaign. The Illini fell short in the semis to Yukon, but they're already turning heads for next year. Just weeks after that tough loss, the roster looks solid. They lost a few players like Keaton Wagler and Kyle and Boswell, but Coach Brad Underwood is bringing in transfer Stefan Baix, a deep freshman class, and most of the core from last year stays put. Pundits are weighing in early, and ESPN's Jill Denardi has them as a never-too-seed in the South region for the 2027 tournament. That's a strong spot, but fans debate if it's spot-on or if they deserve higher. The top seas like Florida, Duke, Michigan State, and Michigan will be tough, especially with two big ten rivals in the mix. Beat those guys, and Illinois could climb to a number one seed and ease their path. All signs point to another deep tournament push, as the all season shakes out, and they

1:00build momentum.