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Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andrej Stojakovic (2) passes to forward David Mirkovic (0) near VCU Rams guard Tyrell Ward (15) during the first half of the NCAA Tournament.

Illinois would have breezed past VCU with or without Nyk Lewis in the lineup

Sam Fariss

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Mar 21, 2026

A golden opportunity awaits Illinois basketball in the NCAA tournament

Rees Woodcock

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Mar 21, 2026

3 keys for Illinois basketball to avoid the upset against VCU

Rees Woodcock

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Mar 21, 2026

One incalculable stat Illinois basketball has to deal with against VCU

Kellen Sherman

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Mar 21, 2026

Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kylan Boswell (4) shoots the ball Thursday, March 19, 2026, during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament first round game against the Penn Quakers.

Thursday confirmed the Illini are on a clear crash course in the South Region

Sam Fariss

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Mar 20, 2026

Mar 19, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood instructs his team against the Penn Quakers in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Illinois vs. VCU betting line doesn't mean Brad Underwood can take it easy

Sam Fariss

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Mar 20, 2026

Illinois Fighting Illini center Zvonimir Ivisic (44)

Illinois should be completely immune to the UNC problems VCU exploited in its upset win

Josh Yourish

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Mar 20, 2026

Mar 18, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood during a press conference ahead of the first round of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Brad Underwood made it clear what's on his mind after Illinois throttled Penn

Sam Fariss

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Mar 20, 2026

Mar 19, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) dribbles the ball against the Penn Quakers in the first half of a first-round game of the NCAA Tournament.

Brad Underwood got an emphatic answer from Illinois's biggest March Madness question mark

Sam Fariss

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Mar 20, 2026

Mar 19, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Zvonimir Ivisic (44) dunks the ball against the Penn Quakers in the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Illinois basketball vs VCU how to watch, series history, and players to watch

Rees Woodcock

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Mar 20, 2026

Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) is defended by Penn Quakers guard AJ Levine (0) Thursday, March 19, 2026, during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament first round game at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.

Illinois has impeccable timing, as everything is coming together for an NCAA tournament run

Rees Woodcock

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Mar 20, 2026

Mar 19, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward David Mirkovic (0) dribbles the ball against the Penn Quakers in the first half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

David Mirkovic rewrites Illinois record book in an epic NCAA tournament performance

Rees Woodcock

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Mar 19, 2026

Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andrej Stojakovic (2) celebrates after scoring Thursday, March 19, 2026, during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament first round game against the Penn Quakers at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.

5 huge observations from the Illinois basketball win over Penn

Rees Woodcock

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Mar 19, 2026

Penn Quakers guard Michael Zanoni (7) and Penn Quakers guard AJ Levine (0) defend Illinois Fighting Illini forward David Mirkovic (0) in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament first-round game.

David Mirkovic gives Brad Underwood exactly what he had been asking for vs. Penn

Sam Fariss

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Mar 19, 2026

Feb 15, 2026; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood before the first half against the Indiana Hoosiers at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Illinois needs to take advantage of the NCAA tournament gift from North Carolina

Rees Woodcock

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Mar 19, 2026

Mar 18, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood chats with Penn Quakers head coach Fran McCaffery during a practice session ahead of the first round of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Mid-major NCAA tournament upsets should have Illinois basketball on high alert

Rees Woodcock

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Mar 19, 2026

Penn Quakers forward TJ Power (12)

Final Penn injury report vs. Illinois fuels uncertainty about Quakers' upset chances

Josh Yourish

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Mar 19, 2026

Mar 18, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) talks during a press conference ahead of the first round of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Final odds and predictions for No. 3 Illinois vs. Penn in NCAA Tournament first round

Sam Fariss

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Mar 19, 2026

Mar 13, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward David Mirkovic (0) reacts at the end of the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

No blurred lines between Illinois success and abject failure in the NCAA tournament

Rees Woodcock

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Mar 19, 2026

Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Shauna Green calls out to her team Friday, March 6, 2026, during a Big Ten women's basketball tournament game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

One big stat that will be key for Illinois basketball success in the NCAA tournament

Kellen Sherman

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Mar 19, 2026

Mar 18, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kylan Boswell (4) and guard Keaton Wagler (23) and forward Ben Humrichous (3) during a press conference ahead of the first round of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Illinois player has NCAA tournament spotlight shining bright on him

Kellen Sherman

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Mar 18, 2026

Mar 13, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini players react after the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

The 3 players in the South Region who are giving Illinois fans nightmares

Rees Woodcock

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Mar 18, 2026

Dec 20, 2025; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Penn Quakers forward TJ Power (12) goes to the basket against Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

Update on TJ Power's status vs. Illinois places even more doubt on Penn upset chances

Sam Fariss

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Mar 18, 2026

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood is shown during overtime of their quarterfinal game in the Big Ten tournament Friday, March 13, 2026.

Brad Underwood doesn't hold back on what Illinois needs to go on a deep run

Sam Fariss

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Mar 18, 2026

Mar 3, 2026; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) grabs a loose ball away from Oregon Ducks forward Kwame Evans Jr. (10).

The familiar Keaton Wagler weakness Brad Underwood must hide in the NCAA Tournament

Sam Fariss

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Mar 18, 2026

Feb 4, 2026; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood prepares his game plan before tip-off against the Northwestern Wildcats at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

3 keys for Illinois basketball to avoid the NCAA tournament upset against Penn

Rees Woodcock

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Mar 18, 2026

Mar 13, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) brings the ball up court against Wisconsin Badgers guard Andrew Rohde (7) during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Illinois basketball's superstar freshman continues to rack up huge national accolades

Kellen Sherman

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Mar 17, 2026

Feb 21, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Illinois players Keaton Wagler (23), Andrej Stojakovic (2), David Mirkovic (0), Zvonimir Ivisic (44) and IBen Humrichous (3) during the 2nd half against the UCLA Bruins at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

Numbers that show Illinois basketball shouldn’t be an NCAA tournament bracket buster

Rees Woodcock

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Mar 16, 2026

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