Illinois punches ticket
No. 3 seed Illinois became the first team to clinch a Final Four berth after an Elite Eight win over a Big Ten rival. (usatoday.com) Freshmen like Andrej Stojakovic contributed patient plays and tough buckets that powered the run. (x.com)
Illinois closed out the South regional final 71-59 over Iowa in Houston on March 28, 2026. (espn.com)) Keaton Wagler led Illinois with 25 points on 8-of-17 shooting, while Tomislav Ivisic contributed 13 points off the bench. (freeplays.com)) Andrej Stojakovic finished with 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting, five rebounds and 3-of-4 free throws in 27 minutes. (espn.com)) Illinois dominated the paint, outrebounding Iowa 38-21 and turning its frontcourt edge into a second-half pullaway after taking its first lead just after halftime. (nba.com)) The game featured a dozen-plus lead changes before Illinois pulled away, and the win moved the Illini to a 28-8 season record. (msn.com)) Illinois will face the winner of Duke vs. UConn in the Final Four in Indianapolis on April 4, 2026; Duke and UConn meet in the East-region Elite Eight on March 29, 2026. (nba.com))
