Illinois gets a 3-seed in 2024 NCAA Tournament minutes after winning the Big Ten Tournament title. Illini will play a first round matchup in Omaha against Morehead State.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 17, 2024

Minutes after winning the 2024 Big Ten Tournament championship, Illinois learned it will be a 3-seed in the East Region and sent to Omaha, Nebraska for its first round game of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

Illinois (26-8) play 14-seed Morehead State (26-8), which won the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament title last week, at the CHI Health Center in Omaha.

Illinois hasn’t been a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament since 1988 when Lou Henson’s squad defeated the University of Texas at San Antonio in the first round but were defeated in the second round against Villanova.

The top seed in Illinois’ East Region is the tournament’s overall No. 1 seed and defending national champion Connecticut and the 2-seed in the region is Big 12 Tournament champion Iowa State as the Cyclones defeated Houston 69-41 in the league tournament final in Kansas City on Saturday afternoon.

Opposite of the Illinois-Morehead State is 6-seed Brigham Young playing 11-seed Duquesne.