The Illinois Fighting Illini and Arkansas Razorbacks men’s basketball teams are scheduled to meet in the 2023 March Madness NCAA Tournament first round on Thursday in Des Moines, Iowa.
Illinois enters the NCAA Tournament first round at 20-12 overall. Most recently, Penn State beat Illinois 79-76 in the Big Ten Conference tournament second round on March 9.
The Arkansas Razorbacks come into the game vs. Illinois at 20-13 overall. On Friday, Texas A&M beat Arkansas 67-61 in the SEC tournament quarterfinals.
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Brad Underwood is the Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball head coach. This is his sixth season as the Illinois basketball head coach. He previously took Illinois to the NCAA Tournament in 2020-21 and 2021-22. Illinois ended the 2022 NCAA Tournament with a 68-53 loss to Houston in the second round.
The Illinois men’s basketball program made its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament during the 1941-42 season. Illinois has reached the Final Four on five occasions. Illinois last reached the Final Four in 2005, when it lost to North Carolina in the national championship game.
March Madness: Illinois vs. Arkansas Razorbacks basketball betting odds
Illinois’ Sencire Harris (1) works the ball around teammate Dain Dainja (42) as Wisconsin’s Chucky Hepburn (23) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Michael Allio)
Michael Allio
As of 1:25 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Arkansas is a 1.5-point favorite against Illinois, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
The over/under is 144 points.
Arkansas is -130 (bet $130 to win $100) to win outright, and Illinois is +110 (bet $100 to win $110) to win outright.
Arkansas opened as a 2.5-point favorite against Illinois, according to DraftKings Sportsbook as of 6:11 p.m. CT on Sunday. The over/under opened at 145.5 points. Arkansas opened as -135 (bet $135 to win $100) to win outright, and Illinois opened as +115 (bet $100 to win $115) to win outright.
Illinois guard Luke Goode advances the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball exhibition game Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Champaign, Illinois.
Illinois guard Luke Goode passes the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball exhibition game Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. Illinois won 101-34. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois guard Luke Goode passes the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball exhibition game Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. Illinois won 101-34. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois guard Luke Goode sets up on defense during the second half of an NCAA college basketball exhibition game Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. Illinois won 101-34. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois’ Luke Goode (10) celebrates after making a 3-point basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas Rio Grande Valley Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Michael Allio)
Illinois’ Luke Goode eyes the basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against St. Francis on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Champaign, Ill.
Illinois’ Luke Goode waits for a free throw during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against St. Francis Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. Illinois won 106-48. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Minnesota guard Sean Sutherlin (24) tries to move around Illinois guard Luke Goode (10) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022, in Minneapolis. Illinois won 76-53.
Nebraska forward Lat Mayen (11) dribbles the ball against Illinois guard Luke Goode (10) in the first half during a college basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, in Lincoln, Neb. (AP Photo/John Peterson)
Purdue’s Mason Gillis (0) holds the ball away from Illinois’s Luke Goode during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Michael Allio)
Purdue center Zach Edey (15) reacts into the ear of Illinois guard Luke Goode (10) after scoring with a dunk during an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, in West Lafayette, Ind. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Illinois guard Luke Goode advances the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball exhibition game Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Champaign, Illinois.
Illinois guard Luke Goode passes the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball exhibition game Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. Illinois won 101-34. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois guard Luke Goode passes the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball exhibition game Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. Illinois won 101-34. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois guard Luke Goode sets up on defense during the second half of an NCAA college basketball exhibition game Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. Illinois won 101-34. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois’ Luke Goode (10) celebrates after making a 3-point basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas Rio Grande Valley Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Michael Allio)
Illinois’ Luke Goode eyes the basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against St. Francis on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Champaign, Ill.
Illinois’ Luke Goode waits for a free throw during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against St. Francis Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. Illinois won 106-48. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Minnesota guard Sean Sutherlin (24) tries to move around Illinois guard Luke Goode (10) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022, in Minneapolis. Illinois won 76-53.
Nebraska forward Lat Mayen (11) dribbles the ball against Illinois guard Luke Goode (10) in the first half during a college basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, in Lincoln, Neb. (AP Photo/John Peterson)
Purdue’s Mason Gillis (0) holds the ball away from Illinois’s Luke Goode during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Michael Allio)
Purdue center Zach Edey (15) reacts into the ear of Illinois guard Luke Goode (10) after scoring with a dunk during an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, in West Lafayette, Ind. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
The 2023 NCAA Tournament Final Four in Houston starts Saturday, April 1. The NCAA Tournament national championship game is scheduled to take place Monday, April 3.
Erik Hall is the digital sports editor at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. You can find him on Twitter @HallErik.
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