Illinois, Penn set for March Madness Round 1 clash

Fighting Illini and Quakers to meet in NCAA Tournament opener

Mar. 19, 2026 at 6:40am

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Illinois, the No. 3 seed in the South Region, will take on No. 14 Penn in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Led by veteran coach Brad Underwood, the Fighting Illini enter the game with a balanced offensive attack, while the Quakers punched their ticket to the Big Dance with back-to-back overtime wins in the Ivy League Tournament. However, Penn will be without leading scorer Ethan Roberts due to a concussion, and TJ Power is questionable with an illness.

Why it matters

This first-round matchup between Illinois and Penn features a classic David vs. Goliath scenario, as the heavily favored Fighting Illini look to avoid an early upset against the underdog Quakers. The outcome could have major implications for both teams' tournament runs.

The details

Illinois, led by top scorer Keaton Wagler (17.9 ppg), enters the game as the No. 3 seed in the South Region. Penn, meanwhile, punched its ticket to the Big Dance with back-to-back overtime wins in the Ivy League Tournament. However, the Quakers will be without leading scorer Ethan Roberts due to a concussion, and TJ Power is questionable with an illness.

  • The game is scheduled to tip off at 9:25 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 19.
  • The 2026 NCAA Tournament Final Four is set for April 4 and 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The players

Brad Underwood

The veteran head coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini.

Keaton Wagler

The top scorer for Illinois, averaging 17.9 points per game.

Ethan Roberts

The leading scorer for Penn, who will miss the game due to a concussion.

TJ Power

A Penn player who is questionable for the game due to illness.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The winner of the Illinois-Penn matchup will advance to face the winner of the game between the No. 6 and No. 11 seeds in the South Region.

The takeaway

This first-round clash between the heavily favored Fighting Illini and the underdog Quakers will be a true test of March Madness magic, as Penn looks to pull off the upset and keep its tournament dreams alive.