Illinois Women's Basketball Faces Colorado in NCAA Tournament Opener The University of Illinois women's basketball team will open its 2026 NCAA Tournament campaign on Saturday, March 21, against No. 10 seed Colorado in a first-round matchup hosted by No. 2-seeded Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tennessee. The winner of the game will face the victor of Vanderbilt and No. 15 seed High Point in the second round on Monday, with all action broadcast on ESPN2. Head Coach Shauna Green, entering her fourth season at Illinois, will lead the Fighting Illini in their first postseason game against Colorado, marking the first-ever neutral-site meeting between the teams. Illinois, ranked No. 7 in the latest poll, will face a Colorado squad with a 22-11 record, including an 11-7 mark in Big 12 play. The Buffaloes, led by head coach JR Payne in her 10th season, have advanced to the NCAA Tournament four times under her leadership. Colorado’s record against top-ranked teams includes a 48-47 loss to eventual tournament champion West Virginia in the Big 12 semifinals. The two teams have not faced each other in the regular season, and Illinois will be making its first postseason appearance against Colorado. Green’s Illini, ranked No. 7 in the latest poll, will be the youngest team in the 68-team NCAA Tournament field, with an average age of 19.83 years. This places Illinois third among Power 4 + Big East teams behind Kansas State (19.78) and Creighton (19.79). Only two players—Gretchen Dolan and Gisela Segura—started the season above age 21, with Segura, the team’s oldest player, turning 23 in December. Cearah Parchment, the youngest starter at 18 years and four months, was born just five days after the iPhone’s launch.#shauna_green #colorado #university_of_illinois #vanderbilt #james_r_payne
Akron Coach John Groce Reflects on Career Milestones and NCAA Tournament Hopes John Groce, the head coach of the Akron Zips, is preparing for his fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in five years, with hopes of making a deep run this season. The 54-year-old coach, who was fired from the University of Illinois in 2017, has led Akron to a remarkable run of success in the Mid-American Conference (MAC), including three consecutive tournament titles over the past three seasons. As the Zips gear up for their first-round NCAA Tournament matchup against No. 5 seed Texas Tech, Groce is reflecting on his journey and the lessons learned from his time at Illinois. Groce’s tenure at Illinois was marked by challenges, including a low winning percentage in both the Big Ten and overall (.411 and .559, respectively), which were the worst since Lou Henson took over in 1975. Despite these struggles, Groce remains grateful for the experience, stating, “I’m always open-minded” about future opportunities, though he has yet to secure a new coaching position. His time at Illinois also shaped his coaching philosophy, emphasizing accountability and emotional intelligence. “Through experience, you learn,” he said, noting that his focus has shifted from high-intensity energy to a balance of passion and emotional quotient (EQ). At Akron, Groce has transformed the team’s style of play, moving from a slower, more traditional approach to a faster, more free-flowing system. The Zips have thrived under his leadership, posting a stellar 100-28 record in MAC play over the last seven seasons and a 34-2 mark in the past two years. Their home-court dominance is equally impressive, with 31 straight wins at the Rubber Bowl and 43 of the last 45 games against MAC opponents.#university_of_illinois #john_groce #akron_zips #mid_americans_confederation #rubber_bowl
Illinois High School Boys Basketball Elite Eight: 2026 IHSA Supersectional Scores The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) boys basketball postseason has advanced to the Elite Eight stage in all four classifications. Teams are set to compete in supersectional games across the state tonight, with the goal of securing a spot in the state championship semifinals. These semifinals will take place this weekend at State Farm Center in Champaign, located on the campus of the University of Illinois. The supersectional matchups for each class are as follows: Class 1A At Charleston (EIU): Lawrenceville vs. LeRoy, 7 p.m. At Jacksonville Bowl: Jacksonville Routt vs. Goreville, 7 p.m. At Joliet Central: Chicago Marshall 37, Indian Creek 23 (4th quarter) At Macomb (WIU): Lanark Eastland vs. Tremont, 7 p.m. Class 2A At Carbondale (SIU): Quincy Notre Dame vs. Benton, 7 p.m. At Joliet Central: Chicago Farragut vs. Chicago Crane, 7:30 p.m. At Pontiac: Bishop McNamara vs. Tolono Unity, 7 p.m. At Sterling: Johnsburg vs. Manual, 7 p.m. Class 3A At Chicago (UIC): Chicago Leo 40, Chicago Hyde Park 25 (4th quarter) At DeKalb (NIU): Maple Park Kaneland 49, Morton 47 (final score) At Hoffman Estates (NOW Arena): Deerfield 51, Wheaton St. Francis 36 (4th quarter) At Springfield (Bank of Springfield Central): East St. Louis vs. Decatur MacArthur, 7 p.m. Class 4A At Chicago (UIC): Chicago St. Ignatius vs. Elmhurst York, 7:30 p.m. At DeKalb (NIU): Rockford Auburn vs. Lisle Benet, 7:30 p.m. At Hoffman Estates (NOW Arena): Chicago DePaul Prep vs. Hersey, 8 p.m. At Normal (ISU): Richwoods vs. Chicago Marist, 7 p.m. The state finals schedules for each class are outlined below: Class 1A Semifinal: EIU supersectional winner vs. Jacksonville supersectional winner, 10 a.m.#illinois_high_school_association #state_farm_center #university_of_illinois #champaign #ihsa_boys_basketball
