Illinois really did it. The Illini are Final Four bound.

One more win against a Big Ten team.

More specifically, one more win against a Big Ten team they already defeated this season.

That was the barrier between the Fighting Illini and their first trip to the Final Four since two months into the second term of the 43rd POTUS.

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The draw fell ideally in Illinois’ favor.

Hell, they saw Fran and then Iowa.

The stakes were the highest in the history of a rivalry powered by generational hatred, historic betrayal, regional disdain, and recent intensity.

Luka Garza didn’t walk through that door. Nobody named Murray took the court on Saturday.

So the Hawkeyes, led by their young coach, took the court to stop Green Street from being more fun than Bourbon Street.

This was not the same Iowa squad against whom Illinois triumphed in Iowa City.

And the game that ensued on Saturday is beyond the creativity of any of the brilliant writers in Iowa City.

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It started with both potent scoring squads flexing their defense.

Iowa doesn’t have the horses. But their defensive strength (forcing turnovers) slowed the Illini early.

You know, the Illini squad that protects the ball like a fake baby in a 1980s sitcom plot.

Quite frankly, Iowa came out looking like Illinois offensively. They made their shots with precise efficiency. They created Illinois’ largest deficit in the entire tournament less than three minutes into the battle.

Much like classic Houston rap group Geto Boys, Iowa could not be stopped early. Iowa’s 9-0 start was an absolute dagger to Underwood’s squad. It took less than four minutes for Andrej Stojakovic, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Ben Humrichous to report to the scorers’ table.

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Iowa looked like a well-oiled machine. Illinois looked like a jalopy.

Illinois needed a line change to start digging out from their early 12-2 deficit.

He came in like a wrecking ball.

In baseball, a stopper refers to a reliable starting pitcher who takes the mound and pitches dependably well in a way that ends a losing streak.

Andrej…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/illinois-really-did-illini-final-015015577.html

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Publish date : 2026-03-29 01:50:00

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