CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) — The University of Illinois men’s basketball team will take the court Thursday night with a spot in the Elite Eight on the line, facing Houston in the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen.
The third-seeded Fighting Illini enter the regional semifinal with a 26-8 record after commanding wins over Penn and VCU in the opening rounds. Illinois will take on second-seeded Houston at 9:05 p.m. Central Time at the Toyota Center in Houston.
Under head coach Brad Underwood, Illinois continues a stretch of consistent postseason success. The program is making its sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and has reached the Sweet Sixteen for the second time in the past three seasons.
Illinois has a long NCAA Tournament history, marking its 36th appearance this year and 13th trip to the Sweet Sixteen. The Illini are seeking their first trip back to the Elite Eight since 2024, when they made a deep tournament run.
The matchup with Houston is expected to be competitive, as the two programs are tied 3-3 in their all-time series. The Cougars won the most recent meeting in the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
If Illinois advances, it will face either Nebraska or Iowa in the Elite Eight.