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The Men’s NCAA Tournament is filled with challenges for the 68 teams that make it each year.
That includes the difficulty — and often years of drought — of making the Final Four. It’s something that, after a near trip to the Final Four in 2024, No. 3 seed Illinois finally experienced inside the Toyota Center in Houston on Saturday, March 28. The Fighting Illini defeated Big Ten foe, No. 9 Iowa, in the Elite Eight to become the first team to advance to the Final Four.
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REQUIRED READING: From overlooked to overjoyed, Keaton Wagler leads Illinois to Final Four
Keaton Wagler won the point guard battle against Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz, as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year finished with 25 points, three assists, two rebounds and a steal. That line was good enough for Wagler to be named the South Region’s Most Outstanding Player after he averaged 19.0 points in two games in Houston.
It’s also a win that lets head coach Brad Underwood live out a dream.
“It’s better than I dreamt it would ever be,” he said in postgame following his team’s win vs. Iowa. “Thirty-nine years in the business and that’s all I’m going to say about my side of this.”
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REQUIRED READING: David Mirkovic celebrates Illinois’ Final Four berth with Texas accessory
But with the Illini now sitting two wins away from a national championship, curiosity has risen about when the last time Illinois — which had seen four first-round exits in the last five years entering this year’s Men’s NCAA Tournament — last made the Final Four.
Here’s what to know.
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See the best photos of Illinois basketball’s run to 2026 Final Four
Illinois Fighting Illini center Zvonimir Ivisic (44) dunks the ball against the Penn Quakers in the second half of a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
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See the best photos of Illinois basketball’s run to 2026 Final Four
Illinois Fighting Illini center Zvonimir Ivisic (44) dunks the ball against the Penn Quakers in the second half of a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
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See the best photos of Illinois basketball’s run…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/last-time-illinois-basketball-made-154203125.html
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Publish date : 2026-03-29 15:42:00
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