Illinois Men's Basketball Earns No. 3 Seed in NCAA Tournament

Illini to face Penn in first round, look to make deep run after up-and-down regular season

Mar. 15, 2026 at 10:33pm

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The Illinois men's basketball team has earned a No. 3 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament and will face 14th-seeded Penn in the first round on Thursday in Greenville, South Carolina. The Illini, led by freshmen Keaton Wagler and David Mirković, are making their sixth straight tournament appearance under head coach Brad Underwood, despite losing five of their last nine games heading into the Big Dance.

Why it matters

Illinois has been a consistent presence in the NCAA Tournament in recent years, but has struggled to make a deep run, losing in the second round last season after an Elite Eight appearance in 2024. This year's team will look to build on that experience and make a push towards the Final Four, which will be held in Indianapolis.

The details

The Illini (24-8) received their No. 3 seed despite a quarterfinal overtime loss to Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament. All five of Illinois' losses in the last nine games came against other NCAA Tournament teams. The winner of the Illinois-Penn first-round matchup will face either No. 6 seed North Carolina or No. 11 VCU in the second round.

  • The NCAA Tournament first round games will be played on Thursday, March 20, 2026.
  • The NCAA Tournament regional semifinals and final will be held on March 26 and 28 in Houston.
  • The 2026 NCAA Final Four will take place on April 4 and 6 in Indianapolis.

The players

Brad Underwood

The head coach of the Illinois men's basketball team, leading the Illini to their sixth straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

Keaton Wagler

A freshman standout for Illinois, expected to play a key role in the team's NCAA Tournament run.

David Mirković

Another talented freshman who has contributed to Illinois' success this season.

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What they’re saying

“We get another life, man. That's all we've been talking about. And the best thing is we don't see a Big Ten team. It's a fresh life. It's a new experience. It's fun.”

— Brad Underwood, Head Coach

What’s next

The winner of the Illinois-Penn first-round matchup will face either No. 6 seed North Carolina or No. 11 VCU in the second round on Saturday, March 22, 2026.

The takeaway

Illinois has been a consistent presence in the NCAA Tournament, but has struggled to make a deep run in recent years. This year's team, led by a talented group of freshmen, will look to build on their tournament experience and make a push towards the Final Four, which will be held in their home state of Indiana.