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NCAA tournament gives Illinois chance at long awaited revenge against North Carolina

The NCAA tournament selection committee has fun with the bracket, and they are giving Illinois a chance at revenge against UNC
ByRees Woodcock|
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Dec 29, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) and teammate Kylan Boswell (4) react in the closing minutes of the second half against the Southern University Jaguars at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
Dec 29, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) and teammate Kylan Boswell (4) react in the closing minutes of the second half against the Southern University Jaguars at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images | Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Illinois basketball had a chance at a national championship 22 seasons ago, but that opportunity was ripped away from us.

Every year, the NCAA tournament sets up a ton of great storylines. For the 2026 NCAA tournament, the Illini could end up being a part of one of those great storylines.

The NCAA tournament brackets were revealed on Sunday night. Illinois snagged the No. 3 seed and will take on No. 14 Penn on Thursday. That isn’t the storyline that most people are talking about right now.

If Illinois can advance past the Quakers, the next opponent in the Round of 32 could very well be North Carolina. Yes, the Tar Heels, who once broke the hearts of all Illinois fans as they clipped us by a score of 75-70 in the 2005 national championship.

Since that disappointing title result, Illinois has played North Carolina twice. Just six months after the defeat, we beat the Tar Heels in the regular season. In 2010, the Illini once again got the best of the Tar Heels. So, we are on a two-game winning streak right now.

But those were just regular season games. Taking down North Carolina again, this time in the NCAA tournament, would be sweet revenge from all those years ago. We will never be able to erase that defeat, but we will be able to chip away at the pain.

North Carolina has a ton of talent, but Illinois basketball would at least get them a man down

The Tar Heels have to be one of the best No. 6 seeds in the NCAA tournament. They have big-time talent up and down the roster, and that game would be extremely scary.

With that being said, North Carolina is a man down. They lost their leading scorer, Caleb Wilson, a month ago. He was averaging 19.8 points per game.

Since that injury, North Carolina is 5-4 with losses to North Carolina State, Duke, and Clemson. They still bring a ton of firepower.

While Illinois could finally get a rematch to knock North Carolina out of the NCAA tournament, it won’t be an easy task. The Tar Heels are talented and battle-tested. 22 seasons later, let’s hope this time around goes in our favor.

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