Nov. 13, 2006

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Third-seeded and 15th-ranked Illinois learned this morning that it will be playing second-seeded and fifth-ranked Florida State in the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 1 p.m. at the Seminole Soccer Complex in Tallahassee, Fla. The Illini learned they would be facing the `Noles after the Orange and Blue downed Saint Louis 4-1 and FSU took care of California 3-1 on Sunday.

The game presents an interesting match-up, as Florida State was the team that eliminated the Illini in the second round of the NCAA Tournament a year ago. The storyline goes even deeper, as the Seminoles hired former Illinois assistant coach Eric Bell in May.

The meeting of the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds is one of only two such match-ups next weekend in the Sweet Sixteen, with No. 2 seed UCLA facing No. 3 Florida in a different region. After a crazy first weekend, only nine of the top 16 seeds remain in the tournament.