Home Sweet 16 Home: Illinois downplays Houston’s hometown advantage

HOUSTON -- Illinois is the road team in more ways than one on Thursday night when the Fighting Illini play in the South Region semifinal against the Houston Cougars.

The University of Houston campus is less than three miles from the Toyota Center, where Illinois and Houston play in a purported "neutral site" game with a spot in the Elite Eight on the line.

Illinois coach Brad Underwood said he can't complain, partially because of a rough March that featured a loss in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinal to Wisconsin.