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2017 NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships |
| Championship Central |
Championship Central
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| When |
Friday, April 21 // 6 p.m. CT - Qualifier II
Saturday, April 22 // 5 p.m. CT - Championships Finals
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| Where |
Christl Arena // West Point, N.Y. |
| Follow Live |
Friday - Live Stats | NCAA
Saturday - Live Stats | NCAA
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| Team Information |
Illinois Meet Notes | Season Stats |
WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Illinois men's gymnastics team will head to West Point, N.Y., for the 2017 NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships on Friday and Saturday, April 21-22. There will be two Championships Qualifier sessions, with the fourth-ranked Fighting Illini will face off against No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 5 Minnesota, No. 8 Iowa, No. 9 California and No. 12 Navy in the evening Championships Qualifier at 6 p.m. CT on Friday. The top three from each qualifier will advance to the Championships Finals at 5 p.m. CT on Saturday.
"Big Tens was actually a really good meet for us," said head coach Justin Spring We just need to minimize those big mistakes; we only had like four of them. We are shooting for a little better consistency, and I think they are in a great position to do it. I don't see why they wouldn't."
The Fighting Illini have faced Minnesota and Iowa three times each this year, coming out on top in each contest. Illinois fell to Oklahoma in their one meeting in Norman by a score of 433.700-417.050. The Orange and Blue have not faced Cal or Navy yet this season.
"The fact that you are here at the final meet of the year can sometimes be a little daunting," Spring said. "I think we do a really good job of getting the team prepared. I always tell them 'it's a fine line between anxiety and excitement.' They can kind of feel the same, and I think we do a really good job of getting the guys excited for postseason. They are hitting and they are consistent, and it's exciting to go out on the biggest stage of the year, and show off what you have been training all year to do. We are in great position to do that, and they're ready to roll. They are excited to hit on the big stage, and hopefully we bring home some hardware this year."
LAST TIME OUT: ILLINOIS PLACES SECOND AT BIG TENS, SECURES THREE EVENT TITLES
The Illini placed second behind Ohio State at the Big Ten Championships at State Farm Center, by a score of 418.600-416.400. Brandon Ngai, Alex Diab and Johnny Jacobson earned Big Ten event titles on pommel horse, still rings and parallel bars, repectively. Diab's rings title was his second straight.
TO THE FINALS IN 13 OF THE LAST 14
Illinois has advanced to the NCAA Championships Finals in 13 of the last 14 years.
