By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular
March 28, 2024
(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)
It’s rare when we actually get to see the top offense and the top defense go head to head in a March matchup, but we have that on Thursday night when #3 Illinois and their high powered offense take on #2 Iowa State and their elite defense. Something’s gotta give.
Setting the Stage
2024 NCAA Tournament // Regional Semifinal // East Region
3 Illinois (28-8, 14-6 Big Ten) vs. 2 Iowa State (29-7 Overall, 13-7 Big 12)
Thursday, March 28, 2024 // 9:09 p.m. CT (10:09 p.m. ET) // Boston, Mass. // TD Garden
TV: TBS/TruTV – Kevin Harlan (Play-By-Play), Dan Bonner & Stan Van Gundy, Andy Katz Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play), Deon Thomas National Radio: Westwood One – Scott Graham (Play-By-Play), Jordan Cornette (Analyst) Satellite Radio: SiriusXM – 209 or 202
Notable
*Following victories over Morehead State (85-69) in Round 1 and Duquesne (89-63) in Round 2 last week in Omaha, Neb., Illinois advances to the NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal at TD Garden in Boston. The third-seeded Fighting Illini will face second-seeded Iowa State on Thursday (9:09 p.m. CT, TBS/TruTV).
*Illinois is making its 34th all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament and its fourth straight.
*Illinois is playing in the Sweet 16 for first time since its 2005 NCAA Championship game appearance. Overall, this marks Illinois’ 12th all-time appearance in the Sweet 16, and the ninth time that the Fighting Illini have reached this stage since the tournament field expanded to 32 teams in 1975.
*Illinois ranks fifth among Big Ten teams and 19th among all schools for most NCAA Tournament appearances. Illinois is one of only three Big Ten teams – and one of just 14 teams nationally – to earn a bid in each of the last four NCAA Tournaments. Illinois’ active streak of four straight NCAA Tournament appearances is its longest since participating eight years in a row from 2000 through 2007.
*Illinois has compiled a 44-34 (.564) record all-time in NCAA Tournament games
*The Cyclones ran their winning streak to five over the weekend, picking up wins over No. 15 seed South Dakota State (82-65) and No. 7 seed Washington State (67-56) to advance to the seventh Sweet 16 in program history. Iowa State cruised to the Big 12 Championship, winning all three games by an average of 20.3 points. Those wins included two over top 15 teams. Keshon Gilbert was named the Big 12 Championship Most Outstanding Player, while Tamin Lipsey and Milan Momcilovic were named to the AllChampionship Team.
*Only five players in the country are averaging at least 12.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game this season. Two of them reside in the Cyclone backcourt in Tamin Lipsey and Keshon Gilbert, with ISU being the only school in the nation with multiple players hitting those marks.
*Iowa State is 31-1 under T.J. Otzelberger when four or more players score in double figures.
Keys to the Game
Ball Security -