For the first time in program history, Illinois will play a game in April. Earning a spot in the semifinals of the inaugural WBIT, the Fighting Illini will take on Washington State at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Monday evening.
With only a handful of teams still competing for hardware in the 2023-24 season, the Orange and Blue are savoring the moment and enjoying the opportunity to play and spend time together.
But, that isn't quite good enough. They also want to win a championship.
"We're super excited to be playing in this tournament and make the Final Four", said head coach Shauna Green. "Like I told these guys, to be playing April 1. Not many teams in the country are still playing in April. Being able to play in back-to-back postseasons, the first time we've done that since 2007 and 2008, it's a really big step for us in the broad picture of the program, but more importantly, for this team and for continuing to get the opportunity to play basketball and play the game we love.
"I think coming here to Hinkle for us, it's nice because it's only a couple hours away. I think we'll have a really good following and a good support system that will be traveling over here, so we're excited about that."
The Illini's path to Indianapolis has involved a double-digit comeback win over Missouri State in the opening round at State Farm Center. It included a commanding 17-point victory in the second round over Colonial champion Stony Brook, which had only lost four times coming into the game. It featured a dominant road win over Tulsa in the quarterfinals on a court the Golden Hurricane had previously only lost once all season.Â
Each game has presented different challenges and opportunities for the Illini, but the ability to still be playing in April – despite the highs and lows of the program's 2023-24 campaign – is not taken lightly.
"This opportunity means everything," said Illini junior Adalia McKenzie. "Not every team is still playing. To have another opportunity to win a game and play the game that we love means a lot."
McKenzie has literally put her blood, sweat, and tears into the team this season, and that has been especially evident in the Illini's postseason run. After getting hit in the eye on a shot attempt in the fourth quarter of Illinois' quarterfinal win over Tulsa on Thursday, McKenzie spent only two minutes on the bench.
In a win-or-go-home contest, there was no way McKenzie was going to miss more time than necessary. Despite blood gushing from near her left eye, an injury for which she got stitches after the game, she checked in as soon as she received medical attention.
That all-out effort and commitment are what head coach Shauna Green has preached all season long. To see that talking point being put into practice, especially in an intense road game in the WBIT quarterfinals, Green could not have been prouder.
"It's what I want this program to be built on: It's toughness; it's grit; it's that dirty work," Green said. "She literally goes up for a layup and gets nailed. We have a picture of her shooting the layup, another hand going like this (indicating blocking face), blood running down her face, and she made the layup.
"That's focus. That's grit. She didn't even sit down. She just walked right back up to me and said, 'I'm ready.' I went, 'Are you good?' She went, 'I'm good.' She went right back in the game and continued to lock the best player up. That right there, that makes a coach really happy and proud because that's what I want our program to be about: toughness, love, and passion. Nothing is going to stop us."
For senior Kendall Bostic, who saw her teammate with blood streaming down their face, McKenzie's toughness and grittiness came as no surprise. It's the kind of passion and effort McKenzie puts into everything she does, both on and off the court.
"I was really hoping she would come back in the game," Bostic said. "She was a crucial part of that game, holding one of their best players to pretty low points. Having her come back was huge. I did not think she would come back with as much blood as there was, so I was really happy to see her and see her continue to fight that whole game."
Returning to her home state, Bostic is expecting a big turnout from friends and family in Kokomo. This will not be her first time playing in Hinkle – the Illini secured a win against Butler in Indianapolis last season – in her career, but the opportunity to compete close to home is "pretty exciting."
"I'm excited to have everybody here," Bostic said. "Being able to play in the postseason is pretty special. To have the possibility to be the first champion of this tournament is pretty special for all of us, but you can't get there without going 1-0 in this next game."
Heading into the WBIT semifinals, Illinois is the lone remaining team that had to play away from home in their respective journeys to Indy.
While the rest of the tournament will be played on a neutral court, the Illini have grown reacquainted with life on the road in the last week, something the remainder of the field has not experienced in several weeks. Green hopes to use that as an advantage on Monday, when the Illini take on the Washington State Cougars at 4 p.m. CT in the WBIT semifinals.
"I think it was good for us. We played our two home games, and then we had to go to Tulsa and play there. Tulsa is a really, really good team," Green said. "That was a tough environment and they had a great crowd, so I think that in itself just prepares us to now come on the road here where everyone else was at home the whole time.
"This tournament has provided so much as we are building and going forward into next year. I think it's just going to propel us and springboard us into next season."
