The Penn Quakers will play against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament. This first-round game in the South Region is set for Thursday, March 19, 2026. The game will take place at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC, and will start at 9:25 PM ET on TNT.
Penn comes into this game with an 18-11 overall record and an 11-5 conference record in the Ivy League. They have been strong in recent games, winning against Yale, Harvard, and Brown. In their last game, they won against Yale with a score of 88-84. TJ Power scored 44 points in that game.
Illinois holds a 24-8 overall record and a 15-6 record in the Big Ten. They are ranked #13 in the AP poll. In their recent games, they won against Maryland and Oregon but lost to Wisconsin. Against Wisconsin, they lost 91-88, with David Mirkovic scoring 19 points.
Illinois Preview
The Illinois Fighting Illini are ranked #13 in the AP poll. They play in the Big Ten Conference. In the 2025 postseason, they won against Xavier in the first round. However, they lost to Kentucky in the second round.
In the 2026 regular season, Illinois has a record of 24-8. Their conference record is 15-6. They have shown strong performance in recent games. They won against Maryland and Oregon but lost to Wisconsin.
Illinois scores an average of 84.4 points per game. They attempt 62 field goals per game with a 46.3% success rate. The team makes about 10.9 three-pointers per game. Their free throw percentage is 78.9%.
Key players include Keaton Wagler and David Mirkovic. Wagler averages 17.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Mirkovic averages 13.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Andrej Stojakovic also contributes with 13.4 points per game.
Penn Preview
The Penn Quakers play in the Ivy League. In the 2026 regular season, they had an overall record of 18-11. Their conference record was 11-5, showing strong performance in their league.
Recently, the Quakers won three games in a row. They beat the Yale Bulldogs 88-84, with TJ Power scoring 44 points. Against Harvard Crimson, they won 62-60, and TJ Power again led with 16 points. They also defeated the Brown Bears 82-61, with Power scoring 17 points.
The Quakers average 76.1 points per game. They attempt 60 field goals per game and make 44% of them. Their three-point shooting is strong, with a 38.6% success rate. They also average 36.4 rebounds and 14 assists per game.
TJ Power is a key player for the Quakers. He averages 16.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Ethan Roberts also contributes with 16.9 points per game. AJ Levine helps with 8.3 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.
Statistical Breakdown for Illinois vs Penn
The game between Illinois and Penn will focus on scoring and defense. Illinois scores more points per game and has a higher field goal percentage. Penn relies on three-point shooting and TJ Power’s scoring. Rebounding and free throw shooting will also be important.
- Illinois Points Per Game: 84.4
- Penn Points Per Game: 76.1
- Illinois Field Goal Percentage: 46.3%
- Penn Field Goal Percentage: 44.0%
- Illinois Three-Point Made Per Game: 10.9
- Penn Three-Point Percentage: 38.6%
- Illinois Free Throw Percentage: 78.9%
- Penn Free Throw Percentage: 69.3%
- Illinois Rebounds Per Game: 40.7
- Penn Rebounds Per Game: 36.4
- Key Illinois Player: Keaton Wagler (17.9 PPG)
- Key Penn Player: TJ Power (16.8 PPG)
Betting Insights
The Penn Quakers and Illinois Fighting Illini are set for an intriguing game. Penn struggled last season with a low win rate, while Illinois showed stronger performance. Bettors might find value in analyzing the trends from last season. Here are the top betting insights:
- Penn’s Over/Under in the last 5 games hit the Over 80% of the time.
- Illinois covered the spread in 80% of their last 5 games.
- Penn’s ATS as underdogs was 47.4% last season.
- Illinois had a 75% SU win rate as favorites last season.
- Penn’s overall ATS record was 40.7% last season.
Free Betting Prediction for Illinois vs Penn
Illinois has been strong this season, with a solid record and high scoring average. Their offense, led by Keaton Wagler, is effective. They also have a good free throw percentage, which can be key in close games. Illinois’ defense and rebounding give them an edge over Penn.
Penn has shown improvement, winning their last three games. TJ Power is a key player, and his scoring will be important. However, Penn’s defense may struggle against Illinois’ high-powered offense. Their three-point shooting could keep them competitive, but they face a tough challenge.
Given the strengths of both teams, Illinois is likely to win. Their scoring ability and defense make them the favorites. Penn will need a strong performance to keep the game close. Illinois’ experience and skill should lead them to victory.
- Our Free Prediction: Illinois -24.5
