CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) - Illinois men's basketball will return to the NCAA tournament for a sixth-consecutive season, earning the #3 seed in the South Region. The Illini will open the tournament in Greenville, South Carolina, against Penn, the #14 seed and Ivy League tournament champion. With a win, Illinois would advance and play #6 seed North Carolina or #11 Virginia Commonwealth.
It matches the highest seed the team has had since the 2023-24 season, when the program ran through the postseason to the Elite Eight.
Tip-off times and broadcast schedules for the First Round of the tournament will be announced at a later time.
The Illini enter the NCAA tournament with a 24-8 overall record and one of the best regular season resumes in college basketball. Their strength of schedule ranks 23rd in the nation according to the latest Kenpom Rankings, including ranked wins over Texas Tech, Tennessee, Iowa, Purdue, and Nebraska. However, they were eliminated from the Big Ten tournament in the quarterfinal round after receiving a triple-bye.
The 2024 tournament was the deepest run Illinois has had in the Brad Underwood era. Illinois won the Big Ten tournament championship, before winning three-straight games in the NCAA tournament.
In past year's, the Illini's seeding has stacked as follows:
- 2025: #6 seed, Lost in Second Round
- 2024: #3 seed, Lost in Regional final
- 2023: #9 seed, Lost in First Round
- 2022: #4 seed, Lost in second Round
- 2021: #1 seed, Lost in Second Round
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