Illinois Basketball on the Rise

College Basketball News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jun 26, 2026 · 2m

Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman is riding high after the team’s deep NCAA run, recalling packed arenas and roaring crowds — a far cry from past years hoping just to make the tournament. With season tickets expected to sell out to the waitlist and a tougher schedule including a showdown against North Carolina, the program’s momentum is undeniable. Whitman credits the NCAA’s quad system for pushing harder matchups, and he’s locked in coach Brad Underwood with a decade-long contract extension — possibly his final team in Champaign. After major renovations, the focus now is on incremental…