The No. 11 seed in the Midwest Region Xavier Musketeers(22-11) are gearing up to face No. 6 seed Illinois Fighting Illini(21-12) in the 1st Round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. This game will take place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Friday evening.
Xavier made their way to the main draw following a thrilling victory in the First Four against the Texas Longhorns. Illinois is experienced in “The Big Dance.” It is their fifth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. These squads are evenly matched. Who wins?
Xavier Season Summary
The Musketeers overcame a 10-point deficit in the second half to advance to the 1st Round. Guard Marcus Foster scored a season-high 22 points against the Texas Longhorns. Xavier’s comeback was powered by a tremendous offensive performance. They shot 55.2% from the field and 48% from three-point range. They had five players score in double figures.
Even though the team won against Texas, their defense left much to be desired. They allowed 80 points to the Longhorns. The Musketeers are 153rd in points allowed, 220th in opposing field goal percentage, and 229th in three-point percentage. Xavier’s defense could be an issue in the 1st Round matchup.
Illinois Season Summary
The Fighting Illini had a tough time in the Big Ten. They finished seventh in the conference during regular season play. They lost in the Quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament to Maryland. Illinois has a poor offense. They are 11th in points scored, 162nd in field goal percentage, and 322nd in three-point percentage.
Their defense is also not particularly strong. They are 261st in points allowed, 84th in opposing field goal percentage, and 162nd in opposing three-point percentage. The Fighting Illini’s leading scorer is Guard Kasparas Jakucionis. He has struggled down the stretch of the regular season and will look to get on track in the NCAA Tournament.
Final Thoughts
Illinois is a slight favorite in this matchup. Xavier’s offense will need to keep the momentum going and exploit the Illini’s poor defense. The Illinois offense has struggled this year and may take advantage of Xavier’s poor defense. Illinois should win a close game by leaning on their experience in the tournament in recent years. Xavier will be riding high coming into Milwaukee, but they will have a tough opponent to contend with.
