Illinois basketball vs Kentucky prediction: Our pick for 2025 NCAA tournament second round
Illinois basketball slid into the second round in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in five seasons with a 86-73 victory against Xavier on Friday.
The Fighting Illini (22-12) are a No. 6 seed in March Madness and now will face No. 3 Kentucky at 4:15 p.m. Sunday in Milwaukee. The Wildcats (23-11) advanced with a 76-57 win over No. 14 seed Troy.
Here's what to know about the matchup on Sunday:
NCAA tournament:Bracket busters | Final Four picks | IHSA players in the NCAAs
What to know about the Illinois Fighting Illini (22-12)
- Head coach: Brad Underwood, 8th year (165–100).
- Key players: 6-6 fr. Kasparas Jakicionis (15.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.6 apg), 6-8 fr. Will Riley (12.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg), 7-1 so. Tomislav Ivisic (12.5 ppg, 77. rpg), 6-2 jr. Kylan Boswell (11.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.4 apg), 6-7 jr. Tre White (10.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg).
- Rankings: NET 17th. KenPom 20th.
- Did you know? Illinois is in the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight season. Illini made the Elite Eight last season and lost to eventual NCAA champ UConn. ... Illinois is 2-2 this season vs the SEC, with wins over tourney teams Arkansas and Missouri, and losses to NCAA Tournament No. 2 seeds Alabama and Tennessee. ... Illinois has made the second round of March Madness for the fourth time in five seasons.
What to know about the Kentucky Wildcats (23-11)
- Head coach: Mark Pope, 1st year (23-11)
- Key players: 6-4 jr. G Otega Oweh (16.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 20 points vs Troy, all-SEC 2nd team); 7-0 sr. C Amari Williams (10.9 ppg, 8.6 rpg); 6-6 sr. G Jaxson Robinson (13.0 ppg); 6-2 sr. G Lamont Butler (11.0 ppg); 6-11 sr. G Andrew Carr (10.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg).
- Rankings: NET 14. KenPom: 15.
- Did you know? Kentucky is a bona fide blueblood of college basketball with eight national championships and 17 trips to the Final Four. ... Pope is in his first season at Kentucky. He was 110-52 in the five previous seasons, all at BYU. ... Faced one Big Ten opponent this season, an 85-65 loss to Ohio State on Dec. 21
Illinois vs Kentucky basketball history
Illinois and Kentucky have met 15 times, with the Wildcats holding an 11-4 edge. Kentucky has won three in a row in the series. The Wildcats and Fighting Illini haven't played since 1984 — a 54-51 UK victory in a regional championship game.
Illinois prediction: March Madness second round
Illinois 91, Kentucky 86: Don't take your eyes off the screen too much this Sunday or you're bound to miss a basket. Expect a high-scoring showdown here between two high-ceiling teams. Brad Underwood knows how to coach in the tournament — and if Illinois shoots like it did Friday, the Illini move on to the Sweet 16.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illinois vs Kentucky prediction, pick, odds March Madness
| 1d 1:15 AM ET ago |
Read more at Yahoo Sports
Topics
-
Kentucky vs. Illinois odds, March Madness predictions: 2025 NCAA Tournament picks from proven model
The SportsLine Projection Model has revealed its Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Kentucky Wildcats picks for the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament on SundayCBS Sports - 4h -
Kentucky vs Liberty prediction in March Madness: Prediction for 2025 NCAA Tournament opener
It’s Kentucky vs Liberty in the first round of the 2025 Women’s NCAA Tournament. Here’s our prediction for the March Madness basketball game.Yahoo Sports - 6d -
Ole Miss basketball vs Iowa State prediction: Our pick for 2025 NCAA tournament second round
It’s the Ole Miss Rebels vs Iowa State in the March Madness bracket. Here’s our prediction for the 2025 NCAA tournament basketball game.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Louisville women's basketball vs TCU prediction for NCAA Tournament second round
It’s Louisville vs TCU in the Women’s March Madness bracket. Here’s our prediction, pick for the 2025 NCAA Tournament basketball game.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Oregon Basketball vs Liberty prediction: Our pick for 2025 NCAA Tournament first round
It’s Oregon vs Liberty Flames in March Madness bracket. Here’s our prediction for the 2025 NCAA Tournament basketball game.Yahoo Sports - 6d -
Drake basketball vs Missouri prediction: Our pick for 2025 NCAA Tournament first round
It’s Drake Bulldogs vs Missouri Tigers in March Madness bracket. Here’s our prediction for the 2025 NCAA Tournament basketball game.Yahoo Sports - 6d -
Ohio State basketball vs Tennessee prediction for NCAA Tournament second round
It’s Ohio State Buckeyes vs Tennessee Vols in the March Madness bracket. Here’s our prediction, pick for the 2025 NCAA Tournament basketball game.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
South Carolina women's basketball vs Indiana prediction, pick for 2025 NCAA Tournament second round
It's South Carolina vs the Indiana Hoosiers in the March Madness bracket. Here’s our prediction, pick for the 2025 NCAA Tournament basketball game.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
LSU women's basketball vs Florida State prediction for 2025 NCAA Tournament second round
It's LSU women's basketball vs Seminoles in the March Madness bracket. Here's our prediction, pick for the 2025 NCAA Tournament basketball game.Yahoo Sports - 1h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Italy's Maurizio Bormolini, Elisa Caffont win snowboard mixed parallel team title at worlds
Yahoo Sports - 44m -
Italy's Maurizio Bormolini, Elisa Caffont win snowboard mixed parallel team title at worlds
Yahoo Sports - 44m -
Supercross 2025 results: 450 highlights, finishing order, reaction at Birmingham, Chase Sexton wins
Chase Sexton stalled Cooper Webb's momentum and cut the points deficit in half.Yahoo Sports - 46m -
Supercross 2025 results: 450 highlights, finishing order, reaction at Birmingham, Chase Sexton wins
Chase Sexton stalled Cooper Webb's momentum and cut the points deficit in half.Yahoo Sports - 46m -
Detroit Tigers sign outfielder Manuel Margot to 1-year MLB contract
The Detroit Tigers signed Manuel Margot — released by the Milwaukee Brewers — for his ability to hit left-handed pitchers and play center field.Yahoo Sports - 49m
More in Sports
-
2025 NASCAR at Miami Fantasy rankings, start-sit advice, racing picks, lineups for Straight Talk Wireless 400
SportsLine's Mike McClure gives his top NASCAR Fantasy picks for this week's 2025 Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on SundayCBS Sports - 40m -
2025 Straight Talk Wireless 400 betting, odds, top predictions: Three free NASCAR longshot picks for Homestead
SportsLine's model has simulated the 2025 Straight Talk Wireless 400 10,000 times and released its NASCAR at Miami best bets for this weekCBS Sports - 41m -
NASCAR DFS: 2025 Homestead-Miami NASCAR lineups, daily fantasy racing picks this week for DraftKings, FanDuel
Mike McClure, a DFS pro with over $2 million in winnings, gives daily Fantasy NASCAR picks for the 2025 Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami SpeedwayCBS Sports - 42m -
2025 Straight Talk Wireless 400 odds, Homestead NASCAR picks: Expert who hit 17 winners loving 80-1 longshot
SportsLine's Steven Taranto reveals his picks for NASCAR at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where Kyle Larson, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney and William Byron are favoritesCBS Sports - 43m -
Italy's Maurizio Bormolini, Elisa Caffont win snowboard mixed parallel team title at worlds
Yahoo Sports - 44m