Chambana Sun

The Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team is set to face the Duquesne Dukes in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, March 23, 2024. The game will take place at CHI Health Center Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska, with a scheduled tip-off at 7:40 p.m. CT. Fans can watch the broadcast on TNT or stream it live via NCAA March Madness Live.

Illinois enters this matchup as a No. 3 seed after defeating Morehead State 85-69 in the first round. The team aims to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since their national championship game appearance in 2005. This marks Illinois' fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and their 34th overall.

Under Head Coach Brad Underwood, Illinois has become a formidable force in college basketball once again. "Brad Underwood has brought Fighting Illini Basketball back to being a national contender," notes the team's history under his leadership.

In their tournament history, Illinois holds a record of 43-34 and ranks fifth among Big Ten teams for most appearances. The team has reached the Final Four five times but is still seeking its first national title.

Illinois leads Duquesne in their series record, having won two out of three previous encounters. Their last meeting was a decisive victory for Illinois in December 1988.

Key players for Illinois include Terrence Shannon Jr., who recently broke the school's single-season scoring record with 669 points, and Marcus Domask, who recorded a triple-double against Morehead State.

The Illini have shown strong performance metrics throughout this season, including leading blocks and assists during tournament games. They aim to continue this momentum against Duquesne on Saturday.