VCU coach Phil Martelli Jr. breaks down facing Illinois basketball

VCU men's basketball coach Phil Martelli Jr. and players Jadrian Tracey, Terrence Hill, Nyk Lewis, and Lazar Djokovic spoke ahead of facing the Illinois Fighting Illini in the NCAA Tournament second round.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 2:49am

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VCU men's basketball coach Phil Martelli Jr. and players Jadrian Tracey, Terrence Hill, Nyk Lewis, and Lazar Djokovic spoke at an NCAA press conference on Friday ahead of facing the Illinois Fighting Illini in the NCAA Tournament second round on Saturday. No. 11-seeded VCU enters the matchup 28-7 overall after beating North Carolina 82-78 in overtime on Thursday. No. 3 seed Illinois comes into the contest 25-8 overall after defeating No. 14-seeded Penn 105-70 in the first round.

Why it matters

The winner of the VCU vs. Illinois game will advance to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in Houston on Thursday, March 26. VCU is looking to continue its Cinderella run in the tournament, while Illinois is seeking to prove itself as one of the top teams in the country.

The details

VCU overcame a 19-point deficit against North Carolina to win in overtime on Thursday. The Rams struggled with missed layups and defensive rotations in the first half, but found their rhythm in the second half to mount the comeback. Illinois is led by a high-powered offense and strong rebounding, presenting a major challenge for VCU's defense.

  • On Thursday, VCU beat North Carolina 82-78 in overtime in the NCAA Tournament first round.
  • The Illinois vs. VCU basketball game is scheduled to start at 7:50 p.m. ET/6:50 p.m. CT on Saturday.

The players

Phil Martelli Jr.

The head coach of the VCU Rams men's basketball team.

Jadrian Tracey

A veteran player and leader for the VCU Rams.

Terrence Hill

A key player for the VCU Rams who has stepped up in big moments this season.

Nyk Lewis

A VCU Rams player who is familiar with the Illinois team and their style of play.

Lazar Djokovic

A VCU Rams player who is excited for the opportunity to face the Illinois frontcourt, which includes some players he knows from his time playing in Europe.

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What they’re saying

“Credit to them, too. They came out and took a lot of shots. We let them get momentum too. With a team like that, we can't let them get any momentum. We talked about they're going to go on runs. How are we going to come back and settle in and stuff?”

— Jadrian Tracey, VCU player

“Most of the guys were hitting me. Even before the game, Zeb was hitting me just to stay in the moment. Phil, Max, all those guys. Jack Clark texted me before the game to say how proud he was of us going through the game.”

— Terrence Hill, VCU player

“Just the pace of their offense. We got to go over their scout yesterday and today. They had really good offense and really good players. Yeah, just their schemes overall. We've been looking at it a lot.”

— Nyk Lewis, VCU player

“Probably not the same thing I can say up here, but 19 — we just ain't going to give up, man. You know what I'm saying? We were talking trash on the court, like we were finna to lay down and stuff like that. That ain't been us.”

— Jadrian Tracey, VCU player

“I told Jimmy Martelli, the assistant coach, I told him I want to see them. I want to see them. I told them that before the Tournament. I'm going to be really hyped up going into this matchup.”

— Lazar Djokovic, VCU player

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.