NCAA TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND PREVIEW: The Misery of Facing Friends in March Madness

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood and Pennsylvania head coach Fran McCaffrey have been close friends for decades and would obviously not face each other in a NCAA Tournament setting.

ILLINOIS vs. PENNSYLVANIA

Records: Illinois 24-8, 15-5 in Big Ten Conference; Pennsylvania 18-11, 9-5 in Ivy League

Date/Time/Place: Thursday March 19, 2026: 8:25 p.m. CST, Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina

Capacity: 15,000

ODDS: Illinois by 25.5

Series notes: Illinois leads 6-0. Illinois has never lost to Penn in the previous six times the two programs have face . . .

 

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582 - Illini Assistant Coach Geoff Alexander

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581 Illini Legend Eddie Johnson Talks Illini Final Four

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580 Illini Getting Ready for Final Four

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579 Illini are Final Four Bound

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578 Illini vs Iowa Preview

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3.27.26 - Illini 2nd EE in 3 Years & IlliniGal CeCe Parchment

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576 - Illini Earn 2nd Elite 8 Appearance in 3 Years

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575 Sweet 16 - Illini Bust Up VCU 76-55

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3.20.26 March Madness and Matt Brown on NIL

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574 Mirk & the Illini Roll Over Penn 105-70

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573 The 2026 NCAA Tournament Show

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