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Greenville Today
By the People, for the People
Illinois to Face VCU in NCAA Tournament Second Round
Illini look to advance to Sweet 16 after cruising past Penn in first round
Mar. 21, 2026 at 11:20pm
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The Illinois men's basketball team is set to take on VCU in the second round of the NCAA tournament in Greenville, South Carolina. The Illini easily defeated Penn 105-70 in the first round, led by 29 points and 17 rebounds from David Mirkovic. VCU advanced with an 82-78 overtime win against North Carolina. Illinois is favored by 11 points, but the Rams will have a good contingent of supporters on hand as well.
Why it matters
Illinois is seeking its 13th Sweet 16 appearance, but VCU presents a tough challenge after the Rams knocked off North Carolina in the opening round. The Illini will look to continue their strong tournament run and advance deeper into the bracket.
The details
Illinois cruised past Penn in the first round, led by a dominant performance from Mirkovic. VCU, meanwhile, needed overtime to get past North Carolina, with Jadrian Tracey scoring 34 points for the Rams. The Illini are favored by 11 points, but VCU will have plenty of fans in attendance at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
- Illinois and VCU are scheduled to tip off around 7 p.m. on March 21, 2026.
- Duke and TCU are currently playing the earlier game, with Duke leading 68-50 with 6 minutes remaining.
The players
David Mirkovic
The Illinois forward had 29 points and 17 rebounds in the Illini's first-round win over Penn.
Jadrian Tracey
The VCU guard scored 34 points in the Rams' overtime victory against North Carolina in the opening round.
What they’re saying
“Illinois fans far outnumbered their counterparts from Penn, and those cheering for the Illini were pretty much the only ones left at the end of a late night of basketball.”
— Joey Wright, Reporter
“Looks like Illinois fans will primarily be on the south side of the arena tonight, though of course they'll fan out around the 15,000 seat arena.”
— Joey Wright, Reporter
What’s next
The winner of the Illinois-VCU matchup will advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.
The takeaway
Illinois is seeking its 13th Sweet 16 appearance, but VCU presents a tough challenge after the Rams knocked off North Carolina in the opening round. The Illini will need to continue their strong tournament play to advance past the feisty Rams.
