Click here for our NCAA rundown

Western Kentucky first-year coach Ken McDonald had an inkling his Hilltoppers might be paired against Illinois in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.

Maybe he should play the lottery tonight, because McDonald was right on with guessing a first-round opponent after his team clinched a berth by virtue of winning the Sun Belt Conference tournament.

"I felt like we'd be a 12 seed from the past of what's gone on and you start to pay more attention to with who the fives are and I thought that matchup could happen and that's the one I stuck with and it worked out," McDonald said after the pairings were announced Sunday on CBS.

Thursday's game won't be the first time the Illini and Hilltoppers have met in the Big Dance. In 2003, freshmen Dee Brown, Deron Williams and James Augustine combined to score 37 points en route to a 65-60 win for fourth-seeded Illinois in Indianapolis.

McDonald was on the bench as an assistant coach under Dennis Felton for that game, but Thursday in Portland, Ore., he'll be calling the shots for the first time in the NCAA tournament.

His first squad has been somewhat inconsistent this season. The Hilltoppers (24-8) dominated the Sun Belt with a 15-3 mark and stunned then-No. 3 Louisville – No. 1 overall seed in the NCAAs – 68-54 early in the season.

But losses to the likes of Murray State and Evansville were killers.

Eight players, including Sun Belt Player of the Year Orlando Mendez-Valdez, return from last season's Western Kentucky team that reached the Sweet 16 – as a 12 seed – on the heels of an upset against Drake in the first round and a win against 13th-seeded San Diego.

"Those kids have had the opportunity to play in the tournament and be successful in the tournament," Illinois coach Bruce Weber said. "You know that will give them a little bit of an advantage."

Mendez-Valdez, a 6-foot-1 senior guard, is averaging 14 points, four rebounds and four assists.

Mendez-Valdez and the Hilltoppers like to utilize fullcourt pressure after made baskets and play zone defense, though they will play some man-to-man.

McDonald hasn't broken down the film on Illinois yet, but he's seen the Illini play and knows his team will have its hands full.

"One thing I know about (Illinois) is I think a lot of people have not so much been down on Illinois, but maybe not have given them the respect that they deserve," McDonald said. "I think they've had a terrific year. I've seen them a couple times on TV. They do an excellent job."

Western Kentucky (24-8)

Nov. 15    Houston 73, WKU 64
Nov. 18    WKU 62, Campbellsville 48
Nov. 22    Murray State 89, WKU 61
Nov. 26    WKU 79, Southern Illinois 70
Nov. 30    WKU 68, Louisville 54
Dec. 2    WKU 67, Georgia 63
Dec. 6    WKU 82, Tulane 67
Dec. 13    Evansville 72, WKU 40
Dec. 18    WKU 69, South Alabama 66
Dec. 21    WKU 83, Alabama A&M 60
Dec. 28    Florida State 82, WKU 69
Jan. 1    WKU 99, Troy 76
Jan. 3    WKU 79, Arkansas-Little Rock 47
Jan. 5    Mississippi State 95, WKU 67
Jan. 8    Florida International 81, WKU 79
Jan. 10    WKU 78, Florida Atlantic 57
Jan. 15    WKU 63, Middle Tennessee State 61
Jan. 17    WKU 70, New Orleans 60
Jan. 22    WKU 73, Louisiana-Lafayette 68
Jan. 24    Denver 78, WKU 74
Jan. 31    WKU 71, North Texas 67
Feb. 2    WKU 68, Arkansas State 63
Feb. 5    WKU 64, Louisiana-Monroe 55
Feb. 7    WKU 67, South Alabama 59
Feb. 14    Troy 87, WKU 82
Feb. 19    WKU 78, Arkansas-Little Rock 69
Feb. 21    WKU 79, Florida International 66
Feb. 26    WKU 87, Florida Atlantic 67
Feb. 28    WKU 68, Middle Tennessee State 49
SUN BELT TOURNAMENT
March 8    WKU 66, Florida International 48
March 9    WKU 77, North Texas 70
March 10    WKU 64, South Alabama 56
NCAA TOURNAMENT
March 19    vs. Illinois *
* — At Portland, Ore.