Illini to play either Texas or Xavier in NCAA Tournament on Friday
The University of Illinois is making a fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance — the longest stretch for the Illini since making it eight years in a row at the turn of the millennium.
After winning four of their last five games, the Illini are headed right up the road to Milwaukee as the No. 6 seed in the Midwest.
There were plenty of smiling faces in Champaign after the announcement that the 21-12 Illini on Friday will face the winner of the first-four matchup between seeds Texas and Xavier in Milwaukee.
It has been an up-and-down year for the Illini, who have dealt with a slew of injuries and illnesses. For now, the Illini have to focus on themselves, since they won't know their opponent until after the play-in game between the Longhorns and the Musketeers on Wednesday in Dayton, Ohio.
The Illinois game tips off at 8:45 p.m. Central against either Texas or Xavier. A potential second-round matchup with second-seed Kentucky awaits next Sunday.
The Illini might go as far as Kasparas Jakucionis takes them. The talented freshman from Lithuania hit some clutch spots this season — he earned All-Big Ten Honors and averaged 15 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.
But Jakucionis has been a little loose with the ball at times, with 3.6 turnovers offsetting his 4.6 assists per game.