Illinois and Kentucky Set for NCAA Tournament Rematch After Decades

The Fighting Illini and Wildcats face off Sunday in Milwaukee, their first meeting since 1984, with Illinois entering as slight favorites.

Illinois advanced to the second round with an 86-73 win over Xavier, led by standout performances from Will Riley and Tomislav Ivisic.
Kentucky secured its spot with a dominant 76-57 victory over Troy in the first round.
The matchup rekindles memories of their last tournament clash in 1984, when Kentucky narrowly defeated Illinois 54-51.
Illinois has averaged 80.8 points per game in its last 10 outings, slightly below its season average of 83.9, while Kentucky has averaged 82.1 points, down from 85.0.
Both teams have shown strong offensive capabilities but have struggled defensively in recent games, setting the stage for a potentially high-scoring contest.