AUSTIN, Texas — In the heart of Texas, next to a football stadium that looms tall over the capital city, many eyes will watch the start of Illinois basketball’s fourth season.

If there’s one thing that landed John Groce the head coaching position at Illinois less than a year ago, it was his success in the fourth season.

See, the first season saw Illinois jump to a 13-1 nonconference record that included a commanding road victory at Gonzaga – one of two losses the Bulldogs sustained all season. The second season featured a 2-7 start to the Big Ten conference schedule and doubters questioning the Illini’s merit. But a roller-coaster upset over No. 1 Indiana launched Illinois into a 6-3 finish to the second season. The Big Ten Tournament, the third season, came and went in 24 hours with a buzzer-beater win over Minnesota and a loss to Indiana.

And at 3:40 p.m. at the Frank Erwin Center, the ball will tip and the most important season will begin.

“Season four is the NCAA tournament, and now our focus is on Colorado,” Groce said.

Groce’s track record in the fourth season grabbed the attention of Illinois’ roster quickly upon his hiring, and this week’s routine leading up to the team’s second-round game against Colorado hasn’t deviated much from his previous trips to the tournament, one of which was a Sweet 16 berth.

“Last year, we were looking at our first-round opponent and saying, ‘What do we have to do to survive and advance against that particular opponent?'” Groce said. “That’s no different this year than approaching the Colorado game.”

Groce and his coaching staff have earned the trust of their players, who believe in the man’s coaching history and trust his knowledge of tournament success.

“When he says something — when he’s had success at this level — we trust that when he says something, it’s going to work,” senior forward Tyler Griffey said.

That has meant a similar practice schedule to how the team has practiced all season and a loose atmosphere during the lead-up to Friday’s game. Illinois visited the former Texas quarterback Vince Young’s restaurant, which served sumptuous steaks, Brandon Paul said. And the players met Young themselves.

Illinois held a closed practice before opening up its session in the afternoon to the public. The Illini followed a timed script as they do in all their practices, completing transition drills, shooting competitions and free throws at a lesser pace. The Groce credo, “physically loose and mentally tight,” appeared to be in full effect.

“If you would have went to dinner with us last night, you wouldn’t have worried about loose,” Groce joked. “It gets back to knowing your guys, knowing what works for them. And our group is, I think for the most part, been a pretty confident and loose group.”

Illinois runs into a Colorado squad that has a dearth of seniors but a surprising amount of tournament experience. Last year’s Colorado team used a hot streak that began with a Pac-12 Tournament title and ended with an upset of UNLV as a No. 11 seed. Much of that team returns in the shape of young, athletic and long players that can play and guard multiple positions on the court.

Led by Andre Roberson, who won Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and boasts a 7-foot wingspan and the ability to defend guards and post players, Colorado hopes to dominate the rebounding battle to extend possessions.

Illinois’ players seemed unfazed by the murmurs of Colorado’s superior length and size, citing their extensive preparation in the second season against the toughest conference in college basketball.

“Coming from the league we played in all year, we’re kind of used to being one of the smaller teams inside,” fifth-year senior Sam McLaurin said. “I think our body of work this entire season has prepared us for a moment like this.”

“I played against Victor Oladipo the last few years,” Paul said when asked about Roberson checking him on defense Friday. “He’s a tough guy to go against.”

With the thrills of Illinois’ first three seasons, the beginning of the team’s fourth season promises intrigue and the chance of greatness because anything can happen.

“To have a chance to survive and advance in the tournament, you have to be there first,” Groce said. 

Thomas can be reached at [email protected] and @ThomasBruch.