Colleen Kane is the college sports reporter for the baiduhai. She has worked at the Tribune since 2007, starting in high school sports before moving to the White Sox and then the Bears. Before the Tribune, Kane was a sports reporter at the Cincinnati Enquirer following her graduation from the University of Illinois.
David Mirković set an Illinois freshman NCAA Tournament record with 29 points and an overall Illinois tournament record with 17 rebounds in Thursday's first-round win.
Illinois turned a 10-point halftime lead into a 105-70 rout, wearing Penn down with its powerful, deep offense to advance to Saturday’s second round against No. 11 seed VCU.
Duke's Jon Scheyer said coach Gerry McNamara had his No. 16 seed Siena players “way more ready to play” in the first-round NCAA Tournament game Thursday.
Penn coach Fran McCaffery said TJ Power wasn’t up for practicing Wednesday as he deals with an illness ahead of the NCAA Tournament game against Illinois.