2008 Men's NCAA Tournament Bracket in PDF Format

April 29, 2008

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The No. 15 Illinois men's tennis team will host Xavier in the first round of the 2008 NCAA Men's Tennis Tournament, next Friday, May 9, at the Atkins Tennis Center. The Illini (18-8), who are coming off a runner-up finish at the 2008 Big Ten Tournament and a 2007 runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships, will be making their 13th straight NCAA tournament appearance, and enter this year's installment as the 15th-seed.

"We are excited to have the opportunity to host again, especially with such a strong field in our regional," head coach Brad Dancer said. "With Xavier, the Atlantic 10 Conference Champion, undefeated Drake, and SEC powerhouse LSU in town, it is going to be a fantastic tennis weekend. It will be a great challenge for the us to advance to the Sweet 16. Our great fan support has been the difference maker all season and will be key next weekend.

Xavier (16-8) is making its first-ever team NCAA Tournament appearance as the Musketeers earned an automatic bid to the field after winning the 2008 Atlantic 10 Championship.

Illinois also welcomes the No. 46 Drake Bulldogs (24-0) and the No. 18 LSU Tigers (14-8) to the Atkins Tennis Center, as the pair will battle in the other first-round matchup on Friday, May 9, with the winner advancing to face the Illinois-Xavier winner on Saturday, May 10.

First- and second-round competition will be conducted Friday-Sunday, May 9-11,at 16 different regional sites with the winner of each site advancing to the NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Championships at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center in Tulsa, Okla., May 16-20.

The teams will play a single-elimination tournament beginning in the first round, with the finals site (16-team bracket) to determine the national champion. The matches shall be regulation dual matches with three eight-game pro-set doubles played for one team point, followed by six singles matches, each valued at one team point, played best of three sets. Regular scoring will be used and a 12-point tiebreaker will be played, at eight games all in doubles and at six games all in singles.

Match times have not yet been determined. Stay tuned to fightingillini.com for more details as they are made available.