(6) Illinois takes on (11) Xavier in one of the final games of the 2025 NCAA Tournament’s first round.
The Musketeers are coming off a First Four win over Texas, powered by their frontcourt scoring duo: 6’4″ junior Ryan Conwell and 6’9″ senior Zach Freemantle, both averaging around 17 points per game.
But Illinois may have the edge thanks to its offensive firepower. Keep an eye on freshman Kasparas Jakucionis from Lithuania — a projected first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The 6’6″ guard leads the team with 15 points and 4.6 assists per game, while shooting 33% from three.
The Fighting Illini have plenty of scoring options beyond Jakucionis, which is why they boast one of the most potent offenses in the country — and likely why they’ll come out on top tonight.
How to Watch Illinois vs. Xavier
The Illinois–Xavier game tips off at 9:45 PM Eastern and airs nationally on CBS. That means there are multiple ways to watch for free.
If you have an antenna, you can watch the game for free over the air.
The March Madness Live app or website offers this and other CBS games for free.
The first-round game also streams on the CBS, Paramount+, and Sling apps and websites.
(6) Illinois vs. (11) Xavier
Date: Friday, March 21, 2025
Time: 9:45 PM Eastern
Venue: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
TV: CBS
Streaming: CBS, Paramount+, Sling, March Madness Live App, DirecTV Stream (free trial), Hulu + Live TV (free trial), YouTube TV (free trial)
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