Your live blogger for this game will be NBCSports.com contributor Yoni Cohen, whose Internet home is Yoco Hoops.
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Nation: Cinderella is nowhere to be found in Portland.
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South Region: No. 5 Illinois (24-9) vs. No. 12 Western Kentucky (24-8)When: Thursday, 9:55 p.m., EDTWhere: Rose Garden, Portland, OregonILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI1) They're not that bad offensively. Fine, fine, so the Big Ten isn't exactly stacked with a bunch of Bo Kimbles and Kiki Vandeweghes.
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Michigan State is in Illinois right now, trying to win a share of the Big Ten title, so if you don't hear from me for a little while, don't panic. If they lose—panic.