## Illinois Basketball Faces Penn in First Round of NCAA Tournament
Get ready for some March Madness action! The No. 3 seed Illinois Fighting Illini (24-8) will battle the No. 14 seed Penn Quakers (18-11) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament (South Region). This exciting matchup takes place at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina, on Thursday, approximately at 8:25 p.m. CT.
This game presents a compelling narrative, especially considering the connection between Illinois head coach Brad Underwood and former Iowa Hawkeyes coach Fran McCaffery, now leading Penn. The tournament selection committee often crafts these kinds of intriguing first-round pairings, and this one certainly delivers on the potential for drama.
[Image of Illinois vs. Penn game graphic](https://www.si.com/college/illinois/sites/default/files/styles/full/public/2026/03/18/illinois-penn-ncaa-tournament.jpg?itok=D7GRNbamwI)
### How to Watch Illinois vs. Penn
The game will be broadcast nationally on TNT, with Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson providing commentary. For those preferring to listen on the radio, the game can be heard on affiliates of the Busey Bank Illini Sports Network (Champaign: WDWS 93.9 FM or 1400 AM; Chicago: WLS 890 AM) and streamed via Fighting Illini Productions and the Varsity Network App.
### A History Between the Programs
Illinois holds a perfect 6-0 all-time record against Penn, a consistent force in Ivy League basketball. However, the teams haven’t met since Illinois’ 78-71 victory over the Quakers on November 22, 2001, during the Las Vegas Invitational. A notable moment from that game was Frank Williams’ 22-point performance to overcome an 11-point halftime deficit.
More recently, Illinois clashed with McCaffery when he was still at Iowa. The Illini emerged victorious with a 106-94 win in the second round of last year’s Big Ten Tournament, with Kylan Boswell (24 points) and Tomislav Ivisic (19 points) leading the charge. That game also saw McCaffery ejected for arguing with officials.
### What to Expect on the Court
McCaffery’s arrival at Penn has revitalized the Quakers’ offense, leading them to an Ivy League title. Meanwhile, Underwood has significantly revamped the Illinois roster, adding skilled players like David Mirkovic and Zvonimir Ivisic, along with the surprisingly effective Keaton Wagler.
Penn boasts a potential matchup problem in forward TJ Power, a former five-star recruit, surrounded by capable shooters. However, the Quakers are significantly undersized and lack the athleticism to consistently challenge Illinois. Despite Penn’s offensive firepower, they’ll struggle to keep pace with an Illinois team that ranked among the nation’s best in offensive efficiency for much of the season.
Illinois should be able to avoid any late-game struggles in this contest. The Illini’s size and athleticism should prove to be a significant advantage.
**Source:** [Sports Illustrated – How to Watch Illinois vs. Penn in the NCAA Tournament](https://www.si.com/college/illinois/basketball/illinois-basketball-ncaa-tournament-penn-watch-live-stream-tv-channel-time)
## Key Players to Watch
* **Illinois:** Kylan Boswell, Terrence Shannon Jr., Coleman Hawkins
* **Penn:** TJ Power, Clark Slajchert, Nick Spinoso
