On Sunday, the Illini learned their NCAA Tournament fate after losing early in their conference postseason competition early: a No. 4 seed in the South Region and a trip to Pittsburgh to take on the No. 13 Chattanooga Mocs. 

Illinois is making back-to-back appearances in the Big Dance for the first time since the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 seasons, though the program has not advanced to the Sweet 16 since 2005.

After the Illini were eliminated in the Round of 32 last season by the in-state Loyola Chicago Ramblers, they will open their 2022 campaign with a meeting with the Mocs on Friday, with tipoff scheduled for 5:50 p.m.

Let’s take a look at all 17 teams in the South Region.

Note: Bryant and Wright State will meet in the First Four on Wednesday, with the winner advancing as the No. 16 seed and taking on Arizona on Friday in San Diego.

No. 1 seed: Arizona Wildcats (automatic bid)

Conference: Pac-12

Overall record: 31-3 

Conference regular-season record: 18-2

NET ranking: 2

Strength of schedule: 20

Conference tournament seed: No. 1 seed

Conference tournament: Won Pac-12 tournament

Wins against tournament teams (7): versus Michigan (Nov. 21), versus Wyoming (Dec. 8), at Illinois (Dec. 11), versus UCLA (Feb. 3), versus Southern California (Feb. 5), at Southern California (March 1), UCLA (March 12 in Pac-12 tournament title game)

Record against tournament teams: 7-2

Coach: Tommy Lloyd

All-conference awards: Coach Tommy Lloyd (Pac-12 Coach of the Year), G Bennedict Mathurin (Pac-12 Player of the Year, first team, Pac-12 tournament Most Outstanding Player), C Christian Koloko (Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, most improved, first team, defensive team), G Pelle Larsson (Pac-12 Sixth Man of the Year), F Ąžuolas Tubelis (first team), G Dalen Terry (defensive team)

Points per game: 84.6

Points allowed per game: 67.5

Scoring leader: G Bennedict Mathurin (17.4 points per game)

Rebounding leader: C Christian Koloko (7.1 rebounds per game)

Assists leader: G Kerr Kriisa (4.9 assists per game)

Steals leader: G Dalen Terry (1.2 steals per game)

Blocks leader: C Christian Koloko (2.7 blocks per game)

No. 2 seed: Villanova Wildcats (automatic bid)

Conference: Big East

Overall record: 26-7

Conference record: 16-4

NET ranking: 8

Strength of schedule: 7

Conference tournament seed: No. 2 seed

Conference tournament: Won Big East tournament

Wins against tournament teams (9): versus Tennessee (Nov. 20), at Seton Hall (Jan. 1), versus Creighton (Jan. 5), versus UConn (Feb. 5), versus Seton Hall (Feb. 12), at Providence (Feb. 15), versus Providence (March 1), versus UConn (March 11 in Big East tournament semifinals), versus Creighton (March 12 in Big East tournament title game)

Record against tournament teams: 9-7

Coach: Jay Wright

All-conference awards: G Collin Gillespie (Big East Player of the Year, first team, Big East tournament Most Outstanding Player), G Justin Moore (second team, all-tournament team)

Points per game: 72.6

Points allowed per game: 63.1

Scoring leader: G Collin Gillespie (15.9 points per game)

Rebounding leader: F Eric Dixon (6.3 rebounds per game)

Assists leader: G Collin Gillespie (3.3 assists per game)

Steals leader: F Brandon Slater (1.1 steals per game)

Blocks leader: F Jermaine Samuels (0.7 blocks per game)

No. 3 seed: Tennessee Volunteers (automatic bid)

Conference: Southeastern

Overall record: 26-7

Conference record: 14-4

NET ranking: 7

Strength of schedule: 1

Conference tournament seed: No. 2 seed

Conference tournament: Won Southeastern Conference tournament

Wins against tournament teams (7): versus North Carolina (Nov. 21), versus Arizona (Dec. 22), LSU (Jan. 22), Kentucky (Feb. 15), Auburn (Feb. 26), Arkansas (March 5), Kentucky (March 12 in SEC tournament semifinals)

Record against tournament teams: 7-7

Coach: Rick Barnes

All-conference awards: G Santiago Vescovi (first team, all-tournament team), G Kennedy Chandler (second team, freshman team, SEC tournament Most Outstanding Player), G Zakai Zeigler (freshman team, defensive team), G Josiah-Jordan James (all-tournament team)

Points per game: 73.2

Points allowed per game: 62.8 

Scoring leader: G Kennedy Chandler (13.8 points per game)

Rebounding leader: G Josiah-Jordan James (5.9 rebounds per game)

Assists leader: G Kennedy Chandler (4.6 assists per game)

Steals leader: G Kennedy Chandler (2.1 steals per game)

Blocks leader: G Josiah-Jordan James (1.1 blocks per game)

No. 4 seed: Illinois (at-large berth)

Conference: Big Ten

Overall record: 22-9

Conference regular-season record: 15-5

NET ranking: 15

Strength of schedule: 9

Conference tournament seed: No. 1 seed

Conference tournament: Lost in Big Ten tournament quarterfinals

Wins against tournament teams (10): versus Notre Dame (Nov. 29), versus Rutgers (Dec. 3), at Iowa (Dec. 6), versus Michigan (Jan. 14), versus Michigan State (Jan. 25), versus Wisconsin (Feb. 2), at Indiana (Feb. 5), at Michigan State (Feb. 19), at Michigan (Feb. 27), versus Iowa (March 6)

Record against tournament teams: 10-7

Coach: Brad Underwood

All-conference awards: C Kofi Cockburn (first team), G Trent Frazier (second team, defensive team), G Alfonso Plummer (third team)

Points per game: 75.8

Points allowed per game: 67.6

Scoring leader: C Kofi Cockburn (21.1 points per game)

Rebounding leader: C Kofi Cockburn (10.6 rebounds per game)

Assists leader: G Trent Frazier (4.1 assists per game)

Steals leader: G Trent Frazier (1.3 steals per game)

Blocks leader: C Kofi Cockburn (0.9 blocks per game)

No. 5 seed: Houston Cougars (automatic bid)

Conference: American

Overall record: 29-5

Conference regular-season record: 15-3

NET ranking: 3

Strength of schedule: 52

Conference tournament seed: No. 1 seed 

Conference tournament: Won American Athletic Conference tournament

Wins against tournament teams (2): versus Bryant (Dec. 3), versus Memphis (March 13 in American tournament title game)

Record against tournament teams: 2-4

Coach: Kelvin Sampson

All-conference awards: Coach Kelvin Sampson (AAC Coach of the Year), F/C Josh Carlton (first team), F Fabian White Jr. (first team, AAC tournament Most Outstanding Player), G Kyler Edwards (second team, all-tournament team), G Jamal Shead (third team), G Taze Moore (all-tournament team)

Points per game: 75.8

Points allowed per game: 58.9

Scoring leader: G Kyler Edwards (13.6 points per game)

Rebounding leader: F/C Josh Carlton (6.4 rebounds per game)

Assists leader: G Jamal Shead (6.0 assists per game)

Steals leader: G Jamal Shead (1.6 steals per game)

Blocks leader: F Fabian White Jr. (1.5 blocks per game)

No. 6 seed: Colorado State Rams (at-large berth)

Conference: Mountain West

Overall record: 25-5

Conference regular-season record: 14-4

NET ranking: 28

Strength of schedule: 85

Conference tournament seed: No. 2 seed

Conference tournament: Lost in Mountain West tournament semifinals

Wins against tournament teams (6): versus Creighton (Nov. 21), versus Saint Mary’s (Dec. 4), versus San Diego State (Feb. 4), at Boise State (Feb. 13), versus Wyoming (Feb. 23), versus Boise State (March 5)

Record against tournament teams: 6-3

Coach: Niko Medved

All-conference awards: F David Roddy (first team, Mountain West Player of the Year, all-tournament team), G Isaiah Stevens (second team)

Points per game: 73.7

Points allowed per game: 65.7

Scoring leader: G David Roddy (19.4 points per game)

Rebounding leader: G David Roddy (7.6 rebounds per game)

Assists leader: G Isaiah Stevens (4.8 assists per game)

Steals leader: G Isaiah Stevens (1.2 steals per game)

Blocks leader: G David Roddy (1.1 blocks per game)

No. 7 seed: Ohio State Buckeyes (at-large berth)

Conference: Big Ten

Overall record: 19-11

Conference regular-season record: 12-8

NET ranking: 26

Strength of schedule: 16

Conference tournament seed: No. 6 seed 

Conference tournament: Lost in Big Ten tournament second round

Wins against tournament teams (8): versus Akron (Nov. 9), versus Seton Hall (Nov. 22), versus Duke (Nov. 30), versus Wisconsin (Dec. 11), at Michigan (Feb. 12), versus Indiana (Feb. 21), at Illinois (Feb. 24), versus Michigan State (March 3)

Record against tournament teams: 8-6

Coach: Chris Holtmann

All-conference awards: F E.J. Liddell (first team, defensive team), G Malaki Branham (Big Ten Freshman of the Year, freshman team, third team)

Points per game: 73.8

Points allowed per game: 68.5

Scoring leader: F E.J. Liddell (19.6 points per game)

Rebounding leader: F E.J. Liddell (7.9 rebounds per game)

Assists leader: G Jamari Wheeler (3.0 assists per game)

Steals leader: G Jamari Wheeler (1.3 steals per game) 

Blocks leader: F E.J. Liddell (2.6 blocks per game) 

No. 8 seed: Seton Hall Pirates (at-large berth)

Conference: Big East

Overall record: 21-10

Conference regular-season record: 11-8

NET ranking: 37

Strength of schedule: 31

Conference tournament seed: No. 6 seed

Conference tournament: Lost in Big East tournament quarterfinals

Wins against tournament teams (7): versus Yale (Nov. 14), at Michigan (Nov. 16), versus Texas (Dec. 9), versus Rutgers (Dec. 12), versus UConn (Jan. 8), versus Creighton (Feb. 4), at Creighton (March 5)

Record against tournament teams: 7-7

Coach: Kevin Willard

All-conference awards: G/F Jared Rhoden (first team)

Points per game: 72.9

Points allowed per game: 66.3

Scoring leader: G Jared Rhoden (15.9 points per game)

Rebounding leader: F Alexis Yetna (7.8 rebounds per game)

Assists leader: G Kadary Richmond (4.1 assists per game)

Steals leader: G Kadary Richmond (1.6 steals per game)

Blocks leader: C Ike Obiagu (3.2 blocks per game)

No. 9 seed: Texas Christian Horned Frogs (at-large berth)

Conference: Big 12

Overall record: 20-12

Conference regular-season record: 8-10

NET ranking: 44

Strength of schedule: 26

Conference tournament seed: No. 5 seed

Conference tournament: Lost in Big 12 tournament semifinals

Wins against tournament teams (5): at Iowa State (Jan. 22), versus LSU (Jan. 29), versus Texas Tech (Feb. 26), versus Kansas (March 1), versus Texas (March 10 in Big 12 tournament quarterfinals)

Record against tournament teams: 5-8

Coach: Jamie Dixon

All-conference awards: G Mike Miles Jr. (second team)

Points per game: 68.1

Points allowed per game: 65.0

Scoring leader: G Mike Miles Jr. (15.0 points per game)

Rebounding leader: F Emanuel Miller (6.3 rebounds per game)

Assists leader: G Damion Baugh (4.4 assists per game)

Steals leader: G Damion Baugh (1.3 steals per game)

Blocks leader: F Emanuel Miller (0.8 blocks per game)

No. 10 seed: Loyola Chicago Ramblers (automatic bid)

Conference: Missouri Valley

Overall record: 25-7

Conference regular-season record: 13-5

NET ranking: 23

Strength of schedule: 93

Conference tournament seed: No. 4 seed

Conference tournament: Won Missouri Valley tournament

Wins against tournament teams (1): vs. San Francisco (Jan. 6)

Record against tournament teams: 1-2

Coach: Drew Valentine

All-conference awards: G Lucas Williamson (Missouri Valley Defensive MVP, first team, defensive team, MVC tournament Most Outstanding Player), G Braden Norris (third team, all-tournament team), F Chris Knight (newcomer team), F Aher Uguak (defensive team)

Points per game: 73.8

Points allowed per game: 61.7

Scoring leader: G Lucas Williamson (14.0 points per game)

Rebounding leader: G Lucas Williamson (5.0 rebounds per game)

Assists leader: G Braden Norris (3.9 assists per game)

Steals leader: G Lucas Williamson (1.3 steals per game)

Blocks leader: F Chris Knight (0.9 blocks per game)

No. 11 seed: Michigan Wolverines (at-large berth)

Conference: Big Ten

Overall record: 17-14

Conference regular-season record: 11-9

NET ranking: 34

Strength of schedule: 5

Conference tournament seed: No. 8 seed

Conference tournament: Lost in Big Ten tournament second round

Wins against tournament teams (7): versus San Diego State (Dec. 4), at Indiana (Jan. 23), versus Purdue (Feb. 10), at Iowa (Feb. 17), versus Rutgers (Feb. 23), versus Michigan State (March 1), at Ohio State (March 6)

Record against tournament teams: 7-12

Coach: Juwan Howard

All-conference awards: C Hunter Dickinson (second team), F Moussa Diabate (freshman team)

Points per game: 73.0

Points allowed per game: 69.9

Scoring leader: C Hunter Dickinson (18.3 points per game)

Rebounding leader: C Hunter Dickinson (8.3 rebounds per game)

Assists leader: DeVante’ Jones (4.6 assists per game)

Steals leader: G Eli Brooks (1.2 steals per game)

Blocks leader: C Hunter Dickinson (1.4 blocks per game)

No. 12 seed: University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers (automatic bid)

Conference: Conference USA

Overall record: 27-7

Conference regular-season record: 14-4

NET ranking: 46

Strength of schedule: 114

Conference tournament seed: No. 2 seed 

Conference tournament: Won Conference USA tournament

Wins against tournament teams (0): N/A

Record against tournament teams: 0-1

Coach: Andy Kennedy

All-conference awards: G Jordan Walker (Conference USA Player of the Year, Conference USA Sixth Player of the Year, first team, Conference USA tournament Most Outstanding Player), G Quan Jackson (third team, defensive team, all-tournament team), G Michael Ertel (all-tournament team)

Points per game: 80.7

Points allowed per game: 66.3

Scoring leader: G Jordan Walker (20.4 points per game)

Rebounding leader: C Trey Jemison (7.4 rebounds per game)

Assists leader: G Jordan Walker (4.8 assists per game)

Steals leader: G Quan Jackson (2.4 steals per game)

Blocks leader: C Trey Jemison (1.6 blocks per game)

No. 13 seed: Chattanooga Mocs (automatic bid)

Conference: Southern

Overall record: 27-7

Conference regular-season record: 14-4

NET ranking: 63

Strength of schedule: 128

Conference tournament seed: No. 1 seed

Conference tournament: Won Southern tournament

Wins against tournament teams (0): N/A

Record against tournament teams: 0-1

Coach: Lamont Paris

All-conference awards: Coach Lamont Paris (SoCon Coach of the Year), G Malachi Smith (SoCon Player of the Year, first team, SoCon tournament Most Outstanding Player), G David Jean-Baptiste (second team, all-tournament team)

Points per game: 74.8

Points allowed per game: 64.7

Scoring leader: G Malachi Smith (20.1 points per game)

Rebounding leader: F Silvio De Sousa (7.0 rebounds per game)

Assists leader: G Malachi Smith (3.1 assists per game)

Steals leader: G Malachi Smith (1.7 steals per game)

Blocks leader: F Silvio De Sousa (1.1 blocks per game)

No. 14 seed: Longwood Lancers (automatic bid)

Conference: Big South

Overall record: 26-6

Conference regular-season record: 15-1

NET ranking: 125

Strength of schedule: 319

Conference tournament seed: No. 1 seed

Conference tournament: Won Big South tournament

Wins against tournament teams (0): N/A

Record against tournament teams: 0-1

Coach: Griff Aldrich

All-conference awards: Coach Griff Aldrich (Big South Coach of the Year), G Isaiah Wilkins (first team, Big South tournament Most Outstanding Player), G Justin Hill (first team)

Points per game: 76.4

Points allowed per game: 65.0

Scoring leader: G Justin Hill (14.2 points per game)

Rebounding leader: G Isaiah Wilkins (6.3 rebounds per game)

Assists leader: G Justin Hill (4.2 assists per game)

Steals leader: G Isaiah Wilkins (1.6 steals per game)

Blocks leader: F Leslie Nkereuwem (0.5 blocks per game)

No. 15 seed: Delaware Blue Hens (automatic bid)

Conference: Colonial

Overall record: 22-12

Conference regular-season record: 10-8

NET ranking: 137

Strength of schedule: 169

Conference tournament seed: No. 5 seed

Conference tournament: Won Colonial tournament  

Wins against tournament teams (0): N/A

Record against tournament teams: 0-1

Coach: Martin Ingelsby

All-conference awards: F Jyare Davis (Colonial Rookie of the Year, Colonial tournament Most Outstanding Player, all-tournament team), G Jameer Nelson Jr. (second team), G Kevin Anderson (all-tournament team), F Andrew Carr (all-tournament team)

Points per game: 73.8

Points allowed per game: 69.9

Scoring leader: G Jameer Nelson Jr. (13.7 points per game)

Rebounding leader: F Dylan Painter (6.6 rebounds per game)

Assists leader: G Kevin Anderson (3.6 assists per game)

Steals leader: G Jameer Nelson Jr. (1.6 steals per game)

Blocks leader: F Andrew Carr (1.1 blocks per game)

No. 16 seed: Bryant Bulldogs (automatic bid)

Conference: Northeast

Overall record: 22-9

Conference regular-season record: 16-2

NET ranking: 200

Strength of schedule: 264

Conference tournament seed: No. 1 seed

Conference tournament: Won Northeast tournament

Wins against tournament teams (0): N/A

Record against tournament teams: 0-1

Coach: Jared Grasso

All-conference awards: Coach Jared Grasso (Northeast Coach of the Year), G Peter Kiss (first team, Northeast tournament Most Outstanding Player), G Charles Pride (first team, all-tournament team), F Hall Elisias (all-tournament team)

Points per game: 77.9

Points allowed per game: 72.7

Scoring leader: G Peter Kiss (25.1 points per game)

Rebounding leader: G Charles Pride (8.6 rebounds per game)

Assists leader: G Luis Hurtado Jr. (3.7 assists per game)

Steals leader: G Peter Kiss (1.6 steals per game)

Blocks leader: F Hall Elisias (3.0 blocks per game)

No. 16 seed: Wright State Raiders (automatic bid)

Conference: Horizon

Overall record: 21-13

Conference regular-season record: 15-7

NET ranking: 191

Strength of schedule: 224

Conference tournament seed: No. 4 seed

Conference tournament: Won Horizon League tournament

Wins against tournament teams (0): N/A

Record against tournament teams: 0-2

Coach: Scott Nagy

All-conference awards: G Tanner Holden (first team) F Grant Basile (second team), C AJ Braun (freshman team)

Points per game: 75.5

Points allowed per game: 71.1

Scoring leader: G Tanner Holden (19.8 points per game)

Rebounding leader: F Grant Basile (8.6 rebounds per game)

Assists leader: G Trey Calvin (3.3 assists per game)

Steals leader: G Trey Calvin (1.6 steals per game)

Blocks leader: F Grant Basile (1.6 blocks per game)

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