Illinois Basketball Team Seeds No. 6 for NCAA Tournament

The Illinois Fighting Illini basketball team has secured a No. 6 seed in the Midwest Region for the 2025 NCAA Tournament, marking their fifth consecutive tournament appearance. Head coach Brad Underwood expressed his excitement about the achievement, emphasizing the hard work of his team throughout a challenging season. Illinois will face the winner of the Texas and Xavier play-in game, with the potential to encounter tough competition from higher-seeded teams like Kentucky and Houston in subsequent rounds. Despite a recent setback with a disappointing loss to Maryland in the Big Ten Tournament, Underwood remains optimistic about his team's potential and the lessons learned from their experience. He highlighted the importance of staying competitive and not taking the opportunity of the NCAA Tournament for granted. The team's performance has been inconsistent, but they aim to capitalize on their chances as they enter the tournament.