Mens Final 4 2026: Illinois punches ticket, set to face UConn after Iowa win
Mens final 4 2026 just got a new headline: Illinois is back on college basketball’s biggest weekend after beating Iowa 71-59 on Saturday. The Fighting Illini ended a drought that dated to 2005 and now move on to face UConn in the Final Four on Saturday, April 4, in Indianapolis, Indiana. The stakes are clear in the locker room—Illinois is celebrating the milestone, but talking openly about winning two more games.
Illinois overwhelms Iowa inside to end the drought
Illinois advanced by dominating the frontcourt and owning the glass in an all-Big Ten Elite Eight clash. Freshman Keaton Wagler delivered 25 points, and Illinois’ size showed up everywhere: the Illini outrebounded Iowa 38-21 and outscored the Hawkeyes 40-12 in the paint. David Mirkovic led the rebounding effort with 12 boards as Illinois’ physicality steadily squeezed the life out of Iowa’s underdog run.
The game tightened late before Illinois created separation. The Illini went on an 8-0 run to take a 58-51 lead with less than five minutes remaining, getting four points in that burst from Tomislav Ivisic. After Iowa trimmed the margin, Zvonimir Ivisic threw down an alley-oop dunk that pushed Illinois ahead 60-52 with about four minutes to go. Iowa rallied again—Sage Tate hit four straight free throws to pull within four with two minutes left—but Andrej Stojakovic answered with a layup, and Wagler’s free throws helped close it out at 71-59.
It was also the second meeting this season between the rivals; Illinois won 75-69 on Jan. 11. On Saturday, Illinois never led in the first half, then took its first lead just after halftime, with a dozen lead changes before the Illini finally pulled away.
Mens Final 4 2026: Illinois vs UConn is set for Indianapolis
The matchup is now locked in: Illinois will face UConn in the Final Four after UConn beat Duke 73-72 in the Elite Eight. The teams will meet Saturday, April 4, in Indianapolis, Indiana, with Illinois making its sixth trip to the Final Four as a program and still chasing its first national title.
Illinois’ roster storylines are piling up at the exact right moment. Under coach Brad Underwood, an emphasis on recruiting Eastern Europeans has paid off in this tournament, with 7-foot-1 Tomislav Ivisic of Croatia and his 7-2 twin brother Zvonimir shining during March. Stojakovic added 17 points against Iowa; he was born in Greece and is the son of Peja Stojakovic, a Serbian three-time NBA All-Star, who watched as his son helped send Illinois through.
Immediate reactions: “We’re coming to win two more games”
Illinois players and coaches framed the win as a step, not the finish line. “I don’t want anybody to think this is it, ” Andrej Stojakovic said. “We didn’t get to the Final Four just to get there. We’re coming to win two more games. ”
Underwood, the Illinois head coach, leaned into the emotion of the moment while keeping the spotlight on his roster. “It’s better than I dreamt it would ever be, ” Underwood said. “Thirty-nine years in the business and that’s all I’m going to say about my side of this. This is about these guys. ” He also praised Wagler’s edge: “He gets probably not near enough credit for how tough he is because he’s very unemotional and very stoic. But he’s tougher than nails. ”
Wagler, named the South Region’s Most Outstanding Player, said the moment hit home but didn’t feel complete. “This is what kids dream of, ” he said. “I know I dreamed of this when I was growing up, playing in the Final Four, competing for a national championship… but we’re not done yet. ”
What’s next
The focus now shifts immediately to Indianapolis and the national semifinal against UConn on Saturday, April 4. For Illinois, the message around mens final 4 2026 is simple and consistent—from Stojakovic to Wagler to Underwood: enjoy the breakthrough, then chase the last two wins.
