The Fighting Illini get #9 seed, will play #8 Arkansas

FILE -The March Madness logo is shown on the court during the first half of a men's college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 20, 2021. Kansas, Villanova, North Carolina and Duke will play in the first Final Four to take place under the new world of “name, image and likeness” endorsements in college sports. It allows college players to earn money through endorsements. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)(Paul Sancya | AP)

By David Amelotti

Published: Mar. 12, 2023 at 5:38 PM CDT

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMOV) - The University of Illinois Men’s Basketball team is dancing and will play #8 Arkansas in Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday, March 16.

The Fighting Illini are (20-12) earning the #9 seed in the West Region of March Madness.

This is the third straight season the Illini have made the NCAA Tournament.