The #3 Illinois Fighting Illini (26-8) have punched their ticket into the NCAA Tournament. They will face #14 Morehead State (26-8) in the round of 64 on March 21st. There has been recent success for both basketball programs. Both teams will come into the game with the same record after their conference tournaments ended on Sunday.
Illinois vs. Morehead State: Illini Strong On Offense
Illinois won the Big Ten conference tournament on Sunday against the Wisconsin Badgers. Their star player Terrence Shannon Jr has been putting on a show as of late. On Saturday, Shannon Jr scored 40 points in a comeback victory for the Fighting Illini. His scoring ability helped the team reach the Big Ten Championship game.
The guard hit five three-pointers and only missed three free throws in that contest. His teammates praised him for his performance that set a record for points in a single game, along with no turnovers. Illinois went on to beat the Wisconsin Badgers in the championship by a score of 93-87. Shannon dropped 34 points and went 15-17 from the free throw line in their win on Sunday. This may be a tough task for Morehead State to defend arguably the best guard in the Big Ten.
Illinois vs. Morehead State: Eagles On A Run
Morehead State has been on a good run over the last four seasons. They won their conference tournament in the Ohio Valley Conference by a score of 69-55 back on March 9th. A big piece of their success has come from their senior guard, Riley Minix. He has averaged 20.8 points per game and 9.8 rebounds. He has scored 20 or more points in the last 12 games.
Just like Shannon, Minix is a fifth-year player as well. Most of the production on the offensive end has come from the guard position. Also, Drew Thelwell set a single-season record for assists in the regular season. He has the most wins all-time with the Morehead State basketball team (94) since the 2020-21 season. Their team is 6-9 in the NCAA tournament throughout their history thus far in March Madness.
Illinois vs. Morehead State Matchup
The matchup will be more about the offense. With playmakers on both sides, there is a chance for a high-scoring game. Most would believe that the Illinois Fighting Illini is the favorite to win, considering the overall strength of the Big Ten conference. Both teams will be playing for a shot to advance into the next round. But, everyone knows that anything can happen as there are many twists and turns in March Madness, and the NCAA tournament!
For More Great Sports Content
James has been a sports writer for 2 years. He is a close follower of College Sports, the NFL, and MLB—a fan of the Michigan Wolverines, Green Bay Packers, and the Atlanta Braves. Follow me on Twitter(X) @michfan20.