University of Illinois Athletics

March 12, 2023

Coleman Hawkins (33), Terrence Shannon Jr (0), Luke Goode (10), and Matt Mayer (24).

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The bracket is officially set for the 2023 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.

The Fighting Illini (20-12) earned an at-large bid, the program's third consecutive bid under head coach Brad Underwood, as the No. 9 seed in the West region and will open their NCAA Tournament run against No. 8 seed Arkansas (20-13) in the first round on Thursday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. CT and will be televised on TBS.

Illinois is one of four Big Ten teams – and one of 19 teams nationally – to earn a bid in each of the last three NCAA Tournaments. The Illini are one of 13 programs, meanwhile, who have won NCAA Tournament games the past two seasons.

Illinois’ active streak of three straight NCAA Tournament appearances is its longest since participating eight years in a row from 2000 through 2007.

Illinois is making its 33rd overall NCAA Tournament appearance, owning an all-time NCAA Tournament record of 42-33.

Coach Underwood, meanwhile, will be making his seventh* NCAA Tournament appearance in 10 years as a head coach (*eighth precluded by cancellation of 2020 postseason due to COVID-19).