Illinois hasn’t been to the Final Four in all of … one month . Naturally, though, the Illini are seeking to make the final weekend of college hoops a common occurrence for the program rather than an anomaly (2026 was Illinois' first Final Four appearance since 2005). The first step in that process: a generous path in the Big Dance. And, according to the NCAA’s Andy Katz, the Illini may get just that in the 2027 NCAA Tournament. 🚨 FIRST 76-TEAM BRACKET PREDICTION 🚨 @TheAndyKatz makes his first bracket prediction for the 2027 tournament, complete with matchup projections for the new Opening Round 🔮 pic.twitter.com/hNeK8q7QDe — NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) May 8, 2026 In his initial bracket prediction – which, as it's always worth noting at this point in the offseason, is very early – Katz listed Illinois as a No. 1 seed in the West Region. He has the Illini facing the winner of Tennessee State vs. North Dakota in the Round of 64. Is the expectation a No.…