(WAND) - Illinois is one of the few left standing in the NCAA Tournament.

Given the program hasn't been to the Final Four since 2005, no one on the team has experienced it before, including Head Coach Brad Underwood.

Despite the inexperience on the national stage, Underwood said the Illini are playing for each other ahead of this weekend's matchup. 

"The character of this team is really high and that always excites me. And I've said it many times; we're a team of character, not characters, and they're playing for the name on the front," Underwood said.  

Illinois will face UConn Saturday evening just after 5 p.m. 

Copyright 2026. WAND TV. All rights reserved.