Illinois Fighting Illini
A section of seats at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum sit empty during a first round NCAA college basketball tournament game Friday, March 19, 2021, between Drexel and Illinois in Indianapolis. No bands. No cheer squad. No buildings filled with neutral fans suddenly throwing their support behind a plucky double-digit underdog hoping to pull off an upset. This is a decidedly different NCAA tournament experience for players and coaches when they get on the court. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Western Illinois at Illinois State 3/20/2021

Mar. 21, 2021 11:18 AM EDT

BYU guard Spencer Johnson (20) looks to shoot the ball in front of UCLA forward Mac Etienne, right, during the first half of a first-round game in the NCAA college basketball tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 20, 2021. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
East Regional - First Round - Game 5 (win) at East Regional - First Round - Game 6 (win) 3/22/2021

Mar. 20, 2021 10:14 PM EDT

Boise State guard Derrick Alston Jr. shoots during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against SMU in the first round of the NIT, Thursday, March 18, 2021, in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Charlotte Regional - First Round - Game 1 (win) at Charlotte Regional - First Round - Game 2 (win) 3/20/2021

Mar. 18, 2021 09:16 PM EDT

Alabama guard Keon Ellis (14) passes the ball as Auburn center Dylan Cardwell (44) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
SEC - First Round - Game 1 (win) at Kentucky Wildcats 3/4/2021

Mar. 02, 2021 07:46 PM EST

Illinois's Trent Frazier tries to pass around Wisconsin's Nate Reuvers during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
America East - First Round Game 2 (win) at America East - First Round Game 3 (win) 2/28/2021

Feb. 27, 2021 02:20 PM EST

Northwestern running back Cam Porter, left, scores a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Illinois in Evanston, Ill., Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Illinois State Redbirds at Western Illinois Leathernecks 12/13/2020

Dec. 12, 2020 01:36 PM EST

Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman watches the Illini take on North Carolina A&T in the arena empty of fans, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
North Carolina A&T Aggies at Illinois Fighting Illini 11/25/2020

Nov. 25, 2020 07:22 PM EST

Virginia's Jay Huff dunks as Towson's Charles Thompson defends in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Memphis Tigers 11/26/2020

Nov. 25, 2020 02:28 PM EST

Illinois men's basketball coach Brad Underwood tosses out the ceremonial first pitch before the a baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday, May 22, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Mark Black)
Phillies at Cubs 5/22/2019

May. 22, 2019 09:07 PM EDT

Penn State's Lamar Stevens (11) drivers against Minnesota's Amir Coffey (5) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the second round of the Big Ten Conference tournament, Thursday, March 14, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
Minnesota Golden Gophers at Purdue Boilermakers 3/15/2019

Mar. 14, 2019 09:19 PM EDT

Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell, left, and guard Geo Baker react during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the first round of the Big Ten Conference tournament against Nebraska in Chicago, Wednesday, March 13, 2019. Nebraska won 68-61. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Big Ten - First Round - Game 1 (win) at Maryland Terrapins 3/14/2019

Mar. 13, 2019 09:11 PM EDT