Pearl: Illinois State Has Best NIT Resume Ahead of Semifinals

Auburn guard says last year's Final Four appearance motivates Tigers in this year's NIT run

Apr. 1, 2026 at 8:04pm

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Auburn basketball is one day away from its semifinal NIT game with Illinois State, as the Tigers are seeking their first NIT title in the program's history. Head coach Steven Pearl praised Illinois State's resume, which includes back-to-back Quad 1 wins over Wake Forest and Dayton. Auburn's starting lineup is averaging double figures throughout the post season, led by Kevin Overton at 17.0 ppg.

Why it matters

Auburn is looking to win its first NIT championship after making the Final Four last year, while Illinois State has proven itself as one of the toughest teams in the tournament with impressive road wins over high-major opponents.

The details

Auburn has used the same starting lineup for all three NIT games, with all five starters averaging double figures: Kevin Overton (17.0 ppg), Keyshawn Hall (14.7 ppg), Elyjah Freeman (12.6 ppg), Tahaad Pettiford (12.0 ppg), and Filip Jovic (10.7 ppg). Pettiford, who is 11 points away from 1,000 career points, said the team's motivation is to finish the job after making the Final Four last year. Illinois State defeated Wake Forest and Dayton in back-to-back road victories to advance to the semifinals, which Pearl called the best wins by any team in the entire tournament.

  • Auburn plays Illinois State on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. CT.
  • The game will be televised on ESPN.

The players

Steven Pearl

The head coach of the Auburn basketball team.

Tahaad Pettiford

An Auburn player who is 11 points away from 1,000 career points.

Elyjah Freeman

An Auburn player who discussed the team's scouting report for the Illinois State game.

Kevin Overton

An Auburn player who is averaging a team-high 17.0 ppg in the NIT.

Illinois State

The opponent Auburn will face in the NIT semifinals, known for impressive road wins over Wake Forest and Dayton.

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What they’re saying

“One thing I tell my teammates is that we didn't come here for no reason. So, last year making it to the Final Four, being on that stage and not finishing the job has definitely been on the back of my mind this year. We are in the Final Four in this tournament and my goal is to win it all. That's what we're going to do.”

— Tahaad Pettiford, Auburn Player

“We're playing an Illinois State team that, if you look at the resumes of teams in the NIT, they by far have the best one as far as the teams they've beaten: a 20-point victory over Kent State, back-to-back Quad 1 wins over Wake Forest and Dayton. They had Dayton down 20 in a sold-out venue. Just speaks to the level they're playing at right now. Really good defensively, play hard, try and make things difficult for you. They're very physical and do a good job limiting you to one shot. Offensively they've got guys that can really shoot it.”

— Steven Pearl, Auburn Head Coach

“The past two games that we watched on film both teams were up and they just kept battling. So, for this game whenever we go up, we just got to maintain the lead and guard the entire forty minutes.”

— Elyjah Freeman, Auburn Player

What’s next

The winner of the Auburn-Illinois State semifinal will advance to the NIT championship game.

The takeaway

This matchup features two teams with strong resumes and motivations, as Auburn looks to win its first NIT title after last year's Final Four appearance, while Illinois State has proven itself as one of the toughest teams in the tournament with impressive road wins over high-major opponents.