MILWAUKEE -- The way Ben Humrichous has viewed the NCAA tournament has changed as he's gotten older.

Growing up in Tipton, Ind., Humrichous viewed the tournament as "untouchable."

Unlikely. Out of reach.

Then, the NCAA tournament was "impossible" as Humrichous started his college basketball career at Huntington University in Indiana. Postseason basketball exists at the NAIA level, but it's just not the same.

Humrichous landing at Evansville after three years at Huntington at least put the NCAA tournament on the table as a dream to chase. But his single season with the Purple Aces revealed how "really difficult" it is to wind up as one of the 68 teams.

Now, the NCAA tournament isn't untouchable or impossible. It wasn't exactly a cakewalk for Illinois (21-12) to secure its fifth straight appearance, but there's not quite as much stacked against the Illini as Evansville trying to make it out of what has annually become a one-bid Missouri Valley Conference.

When Humrichous steps on to the court at Fiserv Forum ahead of the sixth-seeded Illini's first-round NCAA tournament game against Xavier (22-11) at 8:45 p.m. Friday, what he once thought was untouchable and impossible will become his reality.

"Starting to watch the games (Thursday), it's finally hitting me that this is really what we're doing," Humrichous said Thursday afternoon inside the Illinois locker room at Fiserv Forum. "I'm just so excited, so grateful, that we get to do this. ... Being a kid from Tipton, Ind., I didn't really know many -- or anyone -- that had been able to play in March Madness. As a kid, watching it from afar, it was such a dream."

Humrichous got his first crack at a possible NCAA tournament appearance last season at Evansville.

The Purple Aces finished 10th in the MVC and wound up in the CBI instead of the Big Dance.

What Humrichous learned during his first season at the Division I level, however, helped prepare him for making a real run with Illinois this year.

"Last year when I was at Evansville I learned what the daily commitment looks like," Humrichous said. "A season is a long journey. There's ups and downs, but, really, there's such a joy when you come together as a team and work hard as a team like this."

Humrichous had his eye on a different level of success when he went back in the transfer portal last spring.

The way he played for the Purple Aces, averaging 14.7 points and 4.7 rebounds and shooting 41 percent from three-point range, raised his profile to a higher level. Illinois wasn't the only power conference program involved -- Villanova and Louisville were also interested -- but the successful program Illini coach Brad Underwood had built was intriguing.

"I was really enticed by the way Coach Underwood drove his players toward a winning culture, toward greatness, toward toughness," Humrichous said. "With such a great history of winning, I knew with some great teammates we'd be successful. ... By the time I showed up over the summer and got to play with some of these dudes, I knew we were going to be high level. We were going to have great offense with capabilities for an incredible defense."

Humrichous started the first 21 games this season and then five more in February before moving into a role off the bench in the last three weeks. The 6-foot-9 forward is averaging eight points and 3.8 rebounds and shooting 35 percent from three-point range, but those statistics don't fully describe the effect he's had on this Illinois team.

Illinois guard Tre White calls Humrichous the Illini's "big brother."

Roughly four months shy of his 23rd birthday, Humrichous is the oldest player on the Illini roster.

"His experience, his knowledge, his wisdom is unmatched," While said. "He's always making sure we're good and putting things into perspective. ... From the day I met him, he's been true. He's been genuine."

What Humrichous has brought to Illinois off the court means just as much -- if not more -- to his teammates as what he's done on it.

"Outside of basketball, that's what means the most to us," Illinois guard Ty Rodgers said. "He's just a great person. That's the biggest thing Ben's brought. You can go to him when you need to talk to somebody. Forget basketball. He's just a great person."

Illinois guard Kylan Boswell said Humrichous has helped him the most with his mental approach. Helped when he's stuck thinking too much during a game. Helped provide perspective to any outside noise.

"He's a great example of cancelling all that stuff out," Boswell said. "I appreciate him so much and have so much love for him. He's been a great leader for this team."

White, Rodgers and Boswell have all had their own NCAA tournament experiences. All three had their own March Madness dreams that were realized two seasons ago as freshmen with White at Southern Cal, Rodgers at Illinois and Boswell at Arizona. That they get to be a part of Humrichous' first is meaningful.

"I'm not taking that for granted," Rodgers said. "For him to be able to be here and enjoy this moment, hopefully we can all go on a run."

"It's great to see how much work he's put in on his path to get to this point," Boswell added. "Now he finally gets to reap those benefits. I know for a fact (Friday) he will be locked in."