SALT LAKE CITY -- Making history is quickly becoming second nature to sports teams from Illinois.
Only a few months after the Chicago Cubs snapped a 108-year drought to claim a World Series title, Northwestern ended its own ignominious streak that dogged its basketball program for decades. The Wildcats finally broke through and earned their first-ever NCAA Tournament bid.
Eighth-seeded Northwestern will open tournament play against No. 9 seed Vanderbilt on Thursday afternoon. The winner faces a potential matchup with top-seeded Gonzaga.
The rise from the Big Ten cellar dweller to a contender is no fluke for Northwestern.