Illini Hold Ground as Wildcats Face Off in Riveting Final Push
Don't overlook Penn.
The Illini received a great draw in this year’s NCAA Tournament and should be in a strong position to make another second weekend. Illinois still has to win the games, but the odds are in their favor to reach the Sweet 16, with Penn in the first round and either North Carolina or VCU in the second. Illinois was hurt by tough draws in 2021 and 2022, when they were forced to play Loyola-Chicago and Houston.
Loyola-Chicago was ranked No. 9 in the country at KenPom as a No. 8 seed, and Houston was No.
4 at KenPom despite being a lower seed. The committee also did the Illini no favors in 2024 when they dropped BYU from a No. 5 seed to a No.
6 seed and placed them in Illinois’ pod since they cannot play on Sundays. That ultimately did not come to fruition, as BYU was upset by Duquesne and Illinois advanced to its first Sweet 16 since 2005. The draw is favorable, but Illinois must avoid getting upset like in 2021, when the Illini were a No.