Cougars set for Sweet 16 matchup in Houston

Driving the news: The Coogs will face Illinois on Thursday in the Sweet 16 at Toyota Center.

• If they advance to the Elite Eight, they'll face either Iowa or Nebraska on Saturday in Houston.

The intrigue: Resale tickets for Thursday's games at Toyota Center start at $375 and go up to $2,800 on AXS, the NCAA's official ticket provider.

What they're saying: "I know people are saying it costs a lot," Houston's athletic director Eddie Nunez told KHOU.

• "Just think of it this way," Nunez said. "You're at home, you don't have to pay for a hotel or travel, you get a chance to cheer on your Coogs here in Houston for a chance to go to the Final Four."

Between the lines: Senior guard Emanuel Sharp touted the team's seventh straight Sweet 16 appearance.

• "Everybody can't do it," Sharp told the Houston Chronicle this week. "We're built for it. We've gotten here every year playing the way we play, Cougar basketball. That's what we are focused on — playing true to our identity."

Flashback: The Coogs lost last year's NCAA championship game in nearby San Antonio.

What's next: Houston tips off against Illinois at 9:05pm.