Basketball <\/p>\n
Just over two weeks ago, Illinois walked off the United Center floor with heads hung low. After the Illini fell to Wisconsin in overtime of the quarterfinal round of the Big Ten Tournament \u2013 their fifth loss in nine games \u2013 they were set to enter the NCAA Tournament without one iota of momentum.<\/p>\n
Has that less-than-desirable final month of the regular season (plus one league tournament game) mattered through two weekends of the Big Dance? Not in the slightest. After cruising past Penn in the Round of 64 with a 105-70 victory, Illinois followed that up with a 76-55 triumph over VCU in the Round of 32. Then the Illini met a monster in the form of Houston head-on \u2013 and found a way through<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n But after taking care of the Cougars in the Sweet 16 \u2013 a contest Brad Underwood\u2019s unit was in charge of wire-to-wire \u2013 Illinois met border-state rival Iowa, the No. 9 seed in the South Region. And after perhaps slightly overlooking the Hawkeyes, the Illini found themselves a hole.<\/p>\n Slowly but surely, though, the Illini clawed their way out, and then eventually buried Iowa in its own patch in the dirt (albeit not until quite late in the outing). Despite a season-worst effort from beyond the arc \u2013 both by percentage (17.6 percent) and volume (three made), Illinois wound up with a 71-59 win<\/u><\/a> \u2013 mostly behind a dominant showing on the boards and superb defense in the second frame.<\/p>\n With the Illini officially off to the Final Four for the first time since 2005, Illini Nation naturally had a sensational reaction. But the pundits \u2013 often harder to impress \u2013 were equally wowed by Saturday night’s end. Here\u2019s what they had to say:<\/p>\n Brad Underwood’s adjustment to move Andrej Stojakovic to the 2 over the final few minutes was a game changer.<\/p>\n Amplified Illinois’ positional size and huge defensively.<\/p>\n Five players on the floor 6-6 or bigger. https:\/\/t.co\/k4UETMX8Oa<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u2014 Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 29, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n It’s 125 miles from Illinois’ basketball complex in Champaign to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.<\/p>\n Be prepared to see a lot of Orange next weekend! https:\/\/t.co\/k4UETMX8Oa<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u2014 Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 29, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n 20 years ago, Brad Underwood was the head coach at Daytona Beach Community College.<\/p>\n Tonight, he led Illinois to the Final Four.<\/p>\n America! https:\/\/t.co\/k4UETMX8Oa<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u2014 Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 29, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n 6-foot-9 power forward rejects the screen, crossover, lob for a jam.<\/p>\n David Mirkovic is such a unique weapon. pic.twitter.com\/XzAXeIIqLj<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u2014 Isaac Trotter (@Isaac__Trotter) March 29, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n A freshman from Shawnee, Kansas, and a freshman from Niksic, Montenegro just catapulted Illinois to a Final Four.<\/p>\n Keaton Wagler and David Mirkovic are program-changers. Insane evaluations. pic.twitter.com\/Mgv5nHj3hI<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u2014 Isaac Trotter (@Isaac__Trotter) March 29, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n Illinois ends a 21-year Final Four drought with the win over Iowa. <\/p>\n The job Brad Underwood has done in Champaign is really, really impressive. <\/p>\n There was a stretch in which the program only went to tourney 4 times from 2008-20.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u2014 Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 29, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n Tomislav\u2019s. Time.<\/p>\n \u2014 John Fanta (@John_Fanta) March 29, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n The talent of Illinois is just ridiculous\u2014 and so fun to watch. Cannot say enough how brilliant of a job Brad Underwood did in putting this roster together.<\/p>\n \u2014 John Fanta (@John_Fanta) March 29, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n Brad Underwood has said previously that the path to making it to a Final Four was to just keep chipping away & make tournaments. <\/p>\n Tonight, his reward. Celebrate Champaign. <\/p>\n The Illinois Fighting Illini are going to the Final Four for the first time since 2005!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u2014 John Fanta (@John_Fanta) March 29, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n Wow my guy MARCUS LIBERTY ex @IlliniMBB<\/a> star with the Flying Illini is ecstatic with this year\u2019s Team heading to the Final 4 baby . @CoachUnderwood<\/a> \u2018s 5 beat @IowaHoops<\/a> 71-59 ! Marcus is at my March Madness bash in Sarasota . pic.twitter.com\/Pt9tSwulfM<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Dick Vitale (@DickieV) March 29, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n This game delivered. Great start to the Elite Eight. @IlliniMBB<\/a> first to punch ticket to @MFinalFour<\/a>. First time since 2005!<\/p>\n \u2014 Andy Katz (@TheAndyKatz) March 29, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nIllinois defeats Iowa to reach Final Four for first time since 2005<\/h2>\n
College basketball experts react to Illinois beating Iowa, advancing to Final Four<\/h2>\n
Underwood continues to shine as a game manager \u2013 and Jon Rothstein took notice<\/h3>\n
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An impending Illini takeover in Indianapolis next weekend<\/h3>\n
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College basketball is such a beautiful thing<\/h3>\n
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Isaac Trotter sees what the world sees: David Mirkovic is special<\/h3>\n
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As is Keaton Wagler<\/h3>\n
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Jeff Goodman gives Underwood his well-deserved flowers<\/h3>\n
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Tomislav Ivisic put in work on that low block (and from deep) \u2013 and John Fanta took notice<\/h3>\n
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Few build a roster better than Underwood<\/h3>\n
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Twenty-one long years later, the Illini are back<\/h3>\n
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Shout-outs from Dickie V and Marcus Liberty<\/h3>\n
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Andy Katz just enjoyed the cinematic hoops<\/h3>\n
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