URBANA — The new format for this year's NCAA tournament meant Illinois men's tennis coach Brad Dancer had a conversation with his team before the season started about how the postseason would work.
It also set a clear goal for the Illini to chase.
Starting with this season's national tournament, the 16 teams that advance from the first and second rounds will participate in two-team super regionals on the campus of the higher-seeded team. The top 16 seeded teams — like in the past — will still host the first and second rounds.
"We want them to have that understanding and know what they are playing for at the end of the season, but after that, we really don't address it with them," Dancer said.