(670 The Score) The Illinois Fighting Illini basketball program has reached the NCAA Tournament for a fifth straight March.
Illinois earned the No. 6 seed in the Midwest Region and will play Friday at 8:45 p.m. CT against the winner of the play-in game between Texas and Xavier. The Illini will play at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
“We’re really excited,” Illinois head coach Brad Underwood told the Mully & Haugh Show on Monday morning. “It’s an accomplishment. It’s something you never take lightly in this business, is hearing your name called on Selection Sunday. It’s pretty special. It’s great to see the excitement of a group of guys that worked really hard, went through some speed bumps this year.
“Six seed in Milwaukee. We’re fired up. It’s great for our fans. Should be a great region and a great weekend of basketball.”
Illinois is 21-12 overall and went 12-8 in Big Ten play. The Fighting Illini reached the Elite Eight last year under the watch of Underwood, who's in his eighth year as the head coach of the program.
If Illinois wins its opener, it would face the winner between third-seeded Kentucky and 14th-seeded Troy in a second-round matchup. Houston is the top seed in the Midwest Region.
Texas and Xavier are scheduled to play their play-in game Wednesday at 8:10 p.m. CT in Dayton.