Freshmen take center stage when Illinois meets Houston in Sweet 16

HOUSTON -- Both Illinois and Houston have been forged by tradition and buoyed by veterans. Yet the Illini and Cougars owe a noteworthy measure of their success this season to freshmen.

Guards Keaton Wagler of Illinois and Kingston Flemings of Houston will serve as the showcase young stars for the third-seeded Illini (26-8) and second-seeded Cougars (30-6), respectively, when they face off on Thursday in the second South Region semifinal of the NCAA Tournament.

Wagler and Flemings have...