How Far will Illinois Basketball go in March Madness?

For the fifth consecutive season under head coach Brad Underwood, Illinois Basketball is back in the NCAA Tournament—this time as a No. 6 seed, with an undetermined foe lurking ahead.

While they have faced several challenges throughout the regular season, including injuries, illness, and youthfulness, a promising path to the second weekend of the tournament is now within reach for the Fighting Illini, who are looking to potentially maximize thier talent once again, and make a run on college basketball’s biggest stage.

Illinois now awaits the winner of Wednesday night’s play-in game between Xavier and Texas to determine their first-round opponent on Friday night (3/21) in Milwaukee. A victory, of course, would set them up for a round of 32 matchup against either banged-up blue-blood Kentucky—led by new head coach Mark Pope, or Sun Belt champion Troy—a team riding a six-game win streak after capping off a 23-10 regular season with a conference tournament title.

As the Illini prepare for what lies ahead, some national experts are bullish on their chances to get to the second weekend and even beyond. Several of CBS’s College Basketball analysts are predicting a strong opening weekend for coach Underwood’s crew among their 2025 bracket predictions. Can they bounce back from a loss to Maryland, and regain momentum once again for the big dance?

Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images.

How Far Can Illinois Basketball Dance? – CBS Sports 2025 Bracket Predictions

Several CBS Sports analysts believe Illinois has a strong chance to advance past the first weekend, with one even projecting an Elite Eight appearance. Here’s how their predictions break down in CBS Sports’ 2025 NCAA Tournament Bracket Predictions:

• Kyle Boone – Illinois defeats Texas/Xavier, takes down Kentucky and UCLA, then falls to Houston in the Elite Eight.
• Gary Parrish – Illinois defeats Texas/Xavier, beats Kentucky, but falls to Tennessee in the Sweet 16.
• Jerry Palm – Illinois defeats Texas/Xavier, beats Kentucky, but loses to Tennessee in the Sweet 16.
• Chip Patterson – Illinois defeats Texas/Xavier, beats Kentucky, but is eliminated by Tennessee in the Sweet 16.
• Isaac Trotter – Illinois defeats Texas/Xavier, beats Kentucky, but falls to Tennessee in the Sweet 16.

With a favorable seeding and a talented roster, Illinois Basketball certainly can make a deep run in the big dance. However, considering Illinois’ recent inconsistencies, the question will be—which Illinois team will show up at 8:45 PM tipoff Friday night, in Milwaukee?

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