Illinois favored over Xavier in NCAA Tournament matchup

Illinois will face Xavier in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 21. The game will take place at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee at 9:45 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on CBS. Illinois is favored by 3.5 points. Illinois has had a challenging season but has made it to the tournament. The team is notable for its reliance on young players, including two freshmen and one sophomore. However, they struggle with shooting, ranking 322nd in the nation for three-point accuracy. Despite that, they excel in rebounding, being one of the top teams in the country. Key players for Illinois include Kaparas Jakucionis, a freshman guard expected to be a future NBA lottery pick, and sophomore Tomislav Ivisic. Their ability to perform in the tournament remains uncertain due to their inexperience. Xavier, on the other hand, comes in with a better shooting percentage, particularly from beyond the arc. The team has improved lately, winning seven straight games to secure their place in the tournament. Ryan Conwell has been a standout player, scoring heavily in recent matches. Historically, the 6 vs. 11 matchups have been known for upsets, with 61 No. 11 seeds defeating No. 6 teams in tournament history. This year, there is a belief that another surprise could happen, as the trend shows that many 6 seeds have struggled to advance past the first round in recent years.