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College Basketball Experts React to Illinois' Elite Eight Win Over Iowa
Mar 28, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) controls the ball against Iowa Hawkeyes guard Kael Combs (11) in the first half during an Elite Eight game of the South Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

College Basketball Experts React to Illinois' Elite Eight Win Over Iowa

Originally posted on Illinois Fighting Illini on SI
By Jackson Langendorf  |  Last updated Mar 29, 2026 12:42 AM ET

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 – their fifth loss in nine games – they were set to enter the NCAA Tournament without one iota of momentum.

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 – and found a way through.

Illinois defeats Iowa to reach Final Four for first time since 2005

Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

But after taking care of the Cougars in the Sweet 16 – a contest Brad Underwood’s unit was in charge of wire-to-wire – 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.

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 – both by percentage (17.6 percent) and volume (three made), Illinois wound up with a 71-59 win – mostly behind a dominant showing on the boards and superb defense in the second frame.

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 – often harder to impress – were equally wowed by Saturday night's end. Here’s what they had to say:

College basketball experts react to Illinois beating Iowa, advancing to Final Four

Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Underwood continues to shine as a game manager – and Jon Rothstein took notice

An impending Illini takeover in Indianapolis next weekend

College basketball is such a beautiful thing

Isaac Trotter sees what the world sees: David Mirkovic is special

As is Keaton Wagler

Jeff Goodman gives Underwood his well-deserved flowers

Tomislav Ivisic put in work on that low block (and from deep) – and John Fanta took notice

Few build a roster better than Underwood

Twenty-one long years later, the Illini are back

Shout-outs from Dickie V and Marcus Liberty

Andy Katz just enjoyed the cinematic hoops

This article first appeared on Illinois Fighting Illini on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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