The Latest Breaking News from Illini

It's better to be lucky than good sometimes.

PITTSBURGH — Watching Illinois go through its dunking drills before Friday’s game against Chattanooga in the first round of the NCAA Tournament was a treat for the early-arriving crowd at PPG Paints Arena.

And if time is running out, the score is close and the ball is looking for a hero to send it spinning toward the rim? “I’ll be ready,” Plummer says.

What do we ever really know as we plunge straight into the deep end of another March Madness?

Trent Frazier and Coleman Hawkins wore sunglasses to their news conference Sunday after getting the word Illinois had earned a No. 4 seed in the South Region of the NCAA Tournament, where they’ll take on 13th-seeded Chattanooga in a first-round game at 5:50 p.m. Friday in Pittsburgh (TNT).

INDIANAPOLIS — Illinois guard Andre Curbelo executed a beautiful behind-the-back dribble during the first half of a Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal against Indiana — then blew the layup.

INDIANAPOLIS — And just like that, Illinois is done.

Coach Brad Underwood claims extra rest heading into the NCAA Tournament will be just what the doctor ordered.

The Illini and Badgers were conference co-champs in the regular season, and a couple of awards don’t do anything to tip the scales. That’s what the Big Ten tournament is for.