CHAMPAIGN – Sitting in a room by themselves Sunday night waiting to hear where they were headed to start the NCAA Tournament, Illinois' players could be forgiven if they were worried they might not hear their name called at all.

The Illini (22-12, 8-10 Big Ten) were considered a shoo-in, but they were just a year removed from a season when they missed the postseason and watched their coach lose his job.

They had to wait Sunday until the final region, the East, was filled out to learn that they're a No. 7 seed and will take on Colorado (21-11, 10-8 Pac 12), a 10 seed, Friday in Austin, Texas.