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GREENVILLE, S.C. (WCIA) – The Illinois men’s basketball team is gearing up for a shot at advancing to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament, a milestone they aim to reach for the second time under head coach Brad Underwood.
Following their commanding victory over Penn in the Round of 64, the Illini are set to face off against VCU this Saturday.
“I hope we stay focused throughout the entire 40 minutes,” shared Illinois freshman forward Mirkovic on Friday. “I feel confident about where we are right now.”
Mirkovic made a strong impression in his first NCAA Tournament appearance on Thursday, achieving a remarkable 29 points and 17 rebounds.
VCU enters the game with a 28-7 record, having staged a dramatic 19-point comeback to defeat North Carolina in the tournament’s opening round, after securing an automatic bid by triumphing over Dayton in the Atlantic 10 Championship.
The Rams are led by Terrence Hill Jr., who averages 14.9 points per game and scored 34 in their recent overtime win against the Tar Heels.
Saturday’s game is set for a 6:50 p.m. CT tip-off on TNT.