Illinois Favored to Defeat Penn in NCAA Tournament Opener

Illini look to bounce back from late-season struggles against undermanned Quakers

Mar. 19, 2026 at 3:20am

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The third-seeded Illinois Fighting Illini (24-8) are heavy favorites against the No. 14 seed Penn Quakers (18-11) in their NCAA Tournament first-round matchup on Thursday in Greenville, South Carolina. However, the Illini have struggled down the stretch, going just 4-5 in their last nine games, while the Quakers enter on a five-game winning streak after capturing the Ivy League title. Penn will be without its two leading scorers, Ethan Roberts and TJ Power, due to injury and illness, making the task of pulling off the upset even more daunting.

Why it matters

A 14-over-3 upset would be a major surprise in the NCAA Tournament, but the Quakers may be facing an uphill battle without their top offensive threats. Illinois is looking to regain its early-season form and make a deep run in the Big Dance, but the Illini will need to avoid overlooking their undermanned opponent.

The details

The Illini boast the nation's top-ranked offense and are led by a talented roster, but they've been inconsistent of late. Penn, on the other hand, has been on a roll, winning the Ivy League title in dramatic fashion. However, the Quakers will be without their two leading scorers, Ethan Roberts (16.9 ppg) and TJ Power (16.8 ppg), which significantly reduces their chances of pulling off the upset.

  • The Illinois-Penn matchup is scheduled for Thursday, March 19, 2026, with an approximate tipoff time of 8:25 p.m. CT.
  • Illinois has gone 4-5 over its past nine games, including an early exit from the Big Ten Tournament.

The players

Illinois Fighting Illini

The third-seeded Illinois Fighting Illini are a talented team looking to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament after a late-season slump.

Penn Quakers

The No. 14 seed Penn Quakers are the Ivy League champions, but will be without their two leading scorers, Ethan Roberts and TJ Power, for the first-round matchup against Illinois.

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What they’re saying

“If Illinois was ever going to lock in this season, the time has come. But even if the Illini shuffle their way through this one, the undersized and outgunned Quakers were going to be up against it. Now, without Roberts (16.9 points per game) and perhaps Power (16.8)? They simply don't stand a chance.”

— Jason Langendorf

“The Quakers finished third in the Ivy League, which is like finishing third in a hotdog-eating contest behind the bikini model and the pescatarian. Don't bore me with stats or X's and O's here, please. Again: third in the Ivy. If the Illini don't blow out the third nerds, something is seriously amiss.”

— Steve Greenberg

What’s next

The winner of the Illinois-Penn matchup will advance to face the winner of the game between the 6th-seeded San Diego State Aztecs and the 11th-seeded Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

While a 14-over-3 upset would be a Cinderella story, the Illini's talent and size advantage, combined with Penn's key injuries, make it difficult to envision the Quakers pulling off the surprise. Illinois will need to regain its early-season form to make a deep tournament run, but the team should have enough to handle Penn in the opening round.