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Brad Underwood ended his own personal NCAA Tournament drought at the same time that Illinois’ second-weekend postseason demons ended in Omaha. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 24, 2024

OMAHA, Neb. — Brad Underwood couldn’t help but turn, clap at and tear up while acknowledging the fans dressed in orange and blue behind his bench.

The Illinois seventh-year head coach exercised some significant postseason demons on Saturday as his employer ended a 19-year drought of reaching the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. It’s a destination Underwood had never found and the goal of ending this drought was the reason he was hired away from Oklahoma State on March 18, 2017. 

By IlliniGuys Staff March 23, 2024 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Illinois senior forward Coleman Hawkins says he’s more intensely monitoring an injury situation to his left leg that has hampered most of his 2023-24 season. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 23, 2024

OMAHA, Neb. — During each of the three open locker room sessions of this NCAA Tournament, Coleman Hawkins has sat on the stool in front of his locker while constantly rubbing, stretching and extending his left leg. 

“It felt like (Thursday) I was playing on one working leg,” Hawkins said Friday. “I’m not going to lie. That game against Morehead State got to me.” 

Three members of Duquesne roster have been observing the daily fasting requirement of Ramadan along with still contributing to the program’s historic March winning streak. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 23, 2024

OMAHA, Neb. — It would be highly inadvisable to tell three players on the Duquesne roster that the concept of a miracle doesn’t exist. 

Duquesne fifth-year senior forward Fousseyni Drame and sophomore forward Halil Barre will tell anybody who will listen that they're experiencing a miracle everyday this month. And no, this phenomenon has nothing to do with their team’s run through the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament last week and the program’s first NCAA Tournament victory in 55 years on Thursday. Before, during and after this NCAA Tournament run is over for Duquesne (25-11), Drame, along with his injured and inactive twin brother, Hassan, and Barre say they consistently have the energy throughout the day that human beings with their current diet restriction shouldn’t be feeling. 

Brad Sturdy, Illini Uber-Insider & Co-Host of IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular & Big Sports Radio

March 23, 2024

The Illini have the opportunity to take the next step and move into the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2005 and will need to beat a tough and battle tested Duquesne team to get it done on Saturday night in Omaha. The veteran Illini squad has gotten continued great performances from their stars, and also have had someone step up from the other guys in every game. They have yet to have a game when everyone is clicking though, and they may need that down the road, but for Saturday it’s just about effort and intensity from the tip as they try to exorcize some demons from the 2021 tournament and the past 19 years of struggle. 

Here’s what we expect. 

Setting the Stage

2024 NCAA Tournament // Second Round // East Region 

3 Illinois (27-8, 14-6 Big Ten) vs. 11 Duquesne (25-11 Overall, 10-8 Atlantic 10) 

Saturday, March 23, 2024 // 7:40 p.m. CT // Omaha, Neb. // CHI Health Center Omaha 

TV: TNT – Tom McCarthy (Play-By-Play), Avery Johnson & Debbie Antonelli, AJ Ross (Sideline)

Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play), Deon Thomas

National Radio: Westwood One – Kevin Kugler (Play-By-Play), Stephen Bardo (Analyst) Satellite Radio: SiriusXM – 209 or 202

Notables

Even while the leading scorer in a NCAA Tournament opener on Friday, Illinois All-American guard Terrence Shannon still needed to hear from irate head coach Brad Underwood about his defense. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 23, 2024

OMAHA, Neb. — Any doubt Illinois head coach Brad Underwood genuinely doesn’t care much about his players offensive numbers should’ve ended at the under-4-minute media timeout of his team’s NCAA Tournament opening round game. 

Terrence Shannon Jr. already had a game-high 19 points and was walking to the bench for the break while the 3-seed Illini were holding onto a 36-31 lead on 14-seed Morehead State after the upset-minded Eagles began the game on a 9-0 run. Before Shannon got a chance to sit down, Underwood was in the face of Illinois’ leading scorer and the seventh-year coach was screaming. 

Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

March 22, 2024

As March Madness starts, the Illinois basketball program finds itself not only competing on the court but also winning hearts and minds off it, particularly with their incoming recruits. Jase Butler, a promising four-star recruit hailing from Point Reyes Station, CA, committed to Illinois in October 2023, is one such individual eagerly watching his future team's journey through the tournament.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

March 22, 2024

Jason Jakstys, hailing from Yorkville, IL, stands as a promising Power Forward committed to the Illini since July of 2023. He's 6 feet 10 inches and weighing in at 200 pounds, Jakstys showcased his talents on the court during the season for the Foxes, averaging an impressive 17 points per game along with 9 rebounds.

Brad Sturdy, Illini Uber-Insider & Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular and Big Sports Radio

March 22, 2034

The Illini took care of business on Thursday in their NCAA tourney opener, taking down a well-coached and talented Morehead St. team by an 85-69 score. The Illini used a dominant second half performance to pull away and showed a team with a multitude of weapons ready to make a run in March. 

The Illini got great individual performances from the big 2, with Terrence Shannon scoring 26 points and Marcus Domask posting the 10th triple double in NCAA tournament history. But it was the bench that came up big, With Dain Dainja posting 21 points on 9-9 shooting and grabbing 8 boards, while Luke Goode hit 3-4 from deep and Dravyn Gibbs-Lawhorn hit a pair of big 3’s and played some excellent defense. The Illini depth was on full display. 

Now the Illini get upset minded Duquesne on Saturday at 7:30PM, but let’s take a look back at this one.

These 3 Things 
Confidence is Key - every coach wants to have

Despite finishing 11th in the Big Ten Conference in passing defense, Illinois only acquired one addition to its defensive secondary out of the transfer portal. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

March 22, 2024

CHAMPAIGN — Maybe the one consolation to the questions for the Illinois secondary entering this spring season is the coaches have to be somewhat familiar with what and, specifically, who the answers have to be. 

After finishing the 2023 season 11th in the Big Ten Conference in passing defense by allowing opponents 228.1 yards per game through the air, Illinois acquired only one addition - sophomore Chase Canada - via the junior college or transfer portal. In his introductory media conference inside the Smith Family Football Complex, new Illini defensive backs coach David Gibbs, who actually gave a rousing defense for the fact that his predecessor, Antonio Fenelus, shouldn’t have been fired. 

Illinois guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn knocks down a pair of three-point shots and provides confidence in a first-half NCAA Tournament struggle for the Illini. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 22, 2024

OMAHA, Neb. — After being called to sub in to his first NCAA Tournament game, practically everybody near press row could hear Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn banging his hands together in excitement.

“I was trying to keep myself calm and focused on what I was being called into the game to do,” the Illinois freshman guard said. 

(From Illinois Sports Information Office) CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – [4] Illinois […]

Illinois center Dain Dainja leads a resurgent bench effort in the Illini’s 85-68 win over Morehead State in first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 21, 2024

OMAHA, Neb. — As he walked into a winning locker room following a first-round victory, Illinois head coach Brad Underwood was handed a printed box score by a NCAA official.

The Illini seventh-year head coach stopped and stared at just one statistic on the paper - bench scoring. In an 85-69 win in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, Underwood knew it was the guys sitting next to him that propelled them to advance in this event. 

By IlliniGuys Staff March 21, 2024 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

March 21, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

The Illini are dancing again, this time in Omaha as they try to get the monkey off their back and make the second weekend for the first time since 2005. First team in their path is the Morehead State Eagles, winners of the OVC. The Illini, coming off of a win in the Big Ten Tournament, finished the season ranked 10th in the AP Poll and are feeling good heading into the NCAA’s this year. 

It all starts today. 

Setting the Stage

2024 NCAA Tournament // First Round // East Region 

3 Illinois (26-8, 11-9 Big Ten) vs. 14 Morehead State (26-8 Overall, 14-4 OVC) 

Thursday, March 21, 2024 // 2:10 p.m. CT // Omaha, Neb. // CHI Health Center 

TV: TruTV – Tom McCarthy, Avery Johnson & Debbie Antonelli AJ Ross 

Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart, Deon Thomas 

National Radio: Westwood One – Kevin Kugler (Play-By-Play), Stephen Bardo Satellite Radio: SiriusXM – 209 or 202 

Notable

*This is the 34th NCAA tourney appearance for Illinois, and the 4th in a row. They have made 5 Final Fours, the last coming in 2005 and are 42-34 overall all time.