*UPDATE: Due to the postponement of the Syracuse-UNC Greensboro game due to weather, the Illini-Valpo game has been moved up to 6 p.m. CT and will air on ESPN.
NIT Bracket (PDF) | Buy Tickets
Illinois (18-14) earned a No. 2 seed in the 2017 National Invitation Tournament and will host No. 7 seed Valparaiso (24-8) at State Farm Center in the first round on Tuesday, March 14, at 6:15 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast by ESPN2.
This will mark the seventh appearance in the NIT for Illinois. The Illini, who are 8-6 all-time in the NIT, also played in the tournament in 1980, 1982, 1996, 2010, 2014 and 2015. Overall, it marks the 37th postseason appearance for the Orange and Blue.
Vaparaiso went 24-8 overall and 14-4 in conference play to finish tied for first in the Horizon League regular season standings, earning one of the 22 at-large NIT bids. Illinois also was an at-large selection after finishing ninth in the Big Ten with an 8-10 conference record.
Winner of the Illinois-Valparaiso game will face the winner of Boise State at Utah game which is also played Tuesday night. The second-round game date and time will be announced after games are played Tuesday.
TICKET INFORMATION
I FUND members will receive an email tonight offering an exclusive purchase window at FightingIllini.com until 9 a.m. CT Monday, when sales open to the general public.
Premium Seating members will receive an email tonight with details regarding exclusive access to ticket and premium seating opportunities.
All tickets distributed for NIT games at State Farm Center will be delivered digitally with the ability to print at home and avoid in-person pick up at Will Call.
Public tickets go on sale Monday, March 13, at 9 am CT. Reserved seating tickets for $22 will be available in the 100 Level; general admission seating is available in the 200 Level for $11; and, student seating is available for $5 each.
Each State Farm Center parking lot will be paid parking for $9 per vehicle. SFC doors open at 5 pm for all ticket holders.
Additional information is available at FightingIllini.com.
