Illinois Basketball Earns No. 3 Seed, Faces Penn in NCAA Tournament First Round

The Illini will take on the Quakers in the opening round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament in Greenville, South Carolina.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 1:05am

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The University of Illinois men's basketball team has earned a No. 3 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament and will face No. 14 seed Penn in the first round on Thursday in Greenville, South Carolina. The Illini, led by head coach Brad Underwood, enter the tournament with a 24-8 record after a strong regular season that included key road wins in the Big Ten. Illinois boasts one of the most productive offenses in the country, led by freshman guard Keaton Wagler's nearly 18 points per game. The Quakers, coached by former Iowa coach Fran McCaffery, earned an automatic bid to the tournament by winning the Ivy League championship.

Why it matters

Illinois has reached the NCAA Tournament six years in a row, their longest streak since the mid-2000s. The Illini are seeking their first Final Four appearance since 2005, though they did reach the Elite Eight in 2024 under Underwood. A deep tournament run would continue to build momentum for the program and validate their status as one of the top teams in the country.

The details

Illinois enters the tournament with a 24-8 record and the No. 2 ranked adjusted offensive efficiency in the country according to KenPom. Freshman guard Keaton Wagler leads the team in scoring at nearly 18 points per game, while veterans Kylan Boswell and Andrej Stojakovic provide perimeter scoring. Freshman David Mirkovic and center Tomislav Ivisic give the Illini a strong interior presence. Penn earned an automatic bid by winning the Ivy League championship, led by junior forward TJ Power's nearly 17 points per game. The Quakers rely heavily on perimeter shooting, with Power, guard Ethan Roberts, and senior Michael Zanoni providing scoring from three-point range.

  • The Illinois-Penn first-round game is scheduled for Thursday, March 20, 2026 at 8:25 p.m. CT.
  • The winner of the Illinois-Penn game will advance to face either No. 6 seed North Carolina or No. 11 seed VCU on Saturday, March 22, 2026.

The players

Brad Underwood

The head coach of the University of Illinois men's basketball team, who has guided the Illini to six consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.

Keaton Wagler

A freshman guard for the University of Illinois who leads the team in scoring at nearly 18 points per game.

Fran McCaffery

The head coach of the University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team, who previously served as the head coach at the University of Iowa.

TJ Power

A junior forward for the University of Pennsylvania who leads the team in scoring at nearly 17 points per game.

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What they’re saying

“It's the best day of the year for a basketball coach. There's nothing better than Selection Sunday. You know what all the hard work has done to pay off.”

— Brad Underwood, Head Coach, University of Illinois

“Congratulations to our opponent - to Fran, a great friend. Obviously, a guy who we have had some battles with over the years. The have a special player, a young man who had 44 and 14 today in their win. We know any time we face a Fran McCraffery team we have our hands full.”

— Brad Underwood, Head Coach, University of Illinois

What’s next

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

The takeaway

Illinois' return to the NCAA Tournament continues the program's recent run of consistent postseason appearances, as the Illini seek their first Final Four berth since 2005. With a high-powered offense led by freshman Keaton Wagler, Illinois has the potential for a deep March Madness run, but will need to tighten up its defense to overcome tough opponents in the South Region.