The University of Pennsylvania men’s basketball team will play against Illinois in the first round of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, according to a March 15 announcement. The Quakers have been selected as a 14 seed in the South region and will compete on Thursday at 9:25 p.m. in Greenville, South Carolina.
This matchup marks Penn’s second meeting with Illinois in the NCAA tournament. The teams previously played each other in a first-round game on March 17, 2000, where Penn lost to Illinois by a score of 68-58. Thursday’s game will be broadcast live on TNT, featuring Ian Eagle, Grant Hill, Bill Raftery, and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson.
The appearance is significant for Penn as it represents their 25th time qualifying for the NCAA tournament and their first since 2018. Fans can follow updates about the team through @PennMBB on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, or by visiting PennAthletics.com.
In related college basketball news from Pennsylvania, Penn College Wildcats Men’s Basketball hosts its home games at Bardo Gymnasium according to the official website. The Wildcats are affiliated with the United East Conference according to the official website and compete at the NCAA Division III level according to the official website. The team operates out of Williamsport, Pennsylvania according to the official website, recorded a 10-18 overall mark during the 2024-25 season according to the official website, and draws players from diverse regions which supports regional talent development according to the official website.
As both Penn and other Pennsylvania programs prepare for postseason play or reflect on recent seasons, attention turns toward Greenville as fans await Thursday’s contest.
