OMAHA – Get your basketball brackets ready! The first round of March Madness games begin Thursday, which includes an early matchup for the Illinois Fighting Illini.
Illinois is coming off a thrilling Big 10 Conference championship Sunday over the Wisconsin Badgers. The Fighting Illini earned a three-seed in the East Division behind the Big 10 title and a 26-8 season record.
First Round Matchup – How To Watch
No. 3 seed Illinois will face No. 14 seed Morehead State
Time: 2:10 p.m. CT.
TV Channel: truTV
Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app or Sling TV
Location: CHI Health Center Arena (Omaha, Nebraska)
Season Story
Brad Underwood has led Illinois to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and second conference title in four years. The Fighting Illini climbed to No. 9 in AP’s rankings at the start of the new year and enter the tournament as No. 10 in AP’s rankings. Illinois brings a four-game winning streak into tournament play.
Key Players
Terrence Shannon Jr., a guard and first-team All-Big Ten selection, finished second among all conference players in scoring with 23 points per game. Forward and graduate student Marcus Domask was also in the Top 10 in scoring at 16 points per game. Forward Coleman Hawkins leads Illinois in steals (46), blocks (35) and rebounds (214) this season.
March Madness history
Illinois is 42-34 all-time in March Madness competition. The Fighting Illini return to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive year and 35th time in program history. Before a first-round exit last year, Illinois won at least one game in each of its last two tournaments. That said, Illinois hasn’t advanced past the second-round since 2005. That year was the Fighting Illini’s closest chance to glory, ending with a championship-game loss to North Carolina in St. Louis.
If they advance
Illinois’ next matchup would be Saturday in Omaha against the winner of the No. 6 BYU vs. No. 11 Duquense matchup. Game time to be determined.
