Overview
- 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.