‘We have to stick to our core principles’
GREENVILLE, SC —The Illinois protection is in a greater spot getting into the 2026 NCAA Tournament than it was prior to the Illini’s 2024 Elite Eight run. No. 3 seed Illinois (24-8) enters Thursday’s first-round NCAA Tournament typoff (8:25 CT, TNT) in opposition to No. 14 seed Penn with the No. 24 adjusted defensive effectivity…