Illinois Reaches First Final Four Under Brad Underwood

Illini coach credits versatility, size, and renewed defensive focus for long-awaited breakthrough

Mar. 31, 2026 at 8:50pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the chaotic energy of a high-stakes basketball game, with sharp planes of color representing the players' movements and the intensity of the competition.Illinois' versatile roster and renewed defensive intensity have fueled their long-awaited Final Four run under coach Brad Underwood.Champaign Today

After several close calls in recent years, the Illinois Fighting Illini have finally broken through to the Final Four under head coach Brad Underwood. Underwood cited his team's versatility, size, and renewed defensive intensity as key factors in their tournament run, with players like Andrej Stojakovic stepping up off the bench. The Illini will now face a tough test against UConn in the national semifinals as they look to capture their first national championship.

Why it matters

Illinois has been knocking on the door of the Final Four for several seasons under Underwood, and this breakthrough represents a major milestone for the program. Reaching college basketball's biggest stage is a significant accomplishment that will raise the profile of the Illini and their coach, who has worked to build the team into a consistent contender.

The details

Underwood pointed to several factors that have fueled Illinois' run, including the team's versatility with multiple productive bench players, their size advantage that has paid dividends on the glass and defensively, and a renewed focus on the defensive end. The return to health of key players like Kylan Boswell and Andrej Stojakovic has also been crucial, with Stojakovic in particular locking down opposing stars.

  • Illinois earned a No. 1 seed in the 2021 NCAA Tournament but fell in the Round of 32.
  • In 2024, the Illini reached the Elite Eight before losing to eventual national champion UConn.
  • This year, Illinois has finally broken through to the Final Four under Underwood's leadership.

The players

Brad Underwood

The head coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini, who has led the team to six straight NCAA Tournament appearances and their first Final Four berth in his tenure.

Andrej Stojakovic

A key bench player for Illinois who has stepped up with his defensive intensity and scoring punch during the team's tournament run, averaging 15.0 points per game.

Kylan Boswell

A first-team All-Defensive player for the Illini who missed time due to injury during the season but has returned to bolster the team's defensive efforts.

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What they’re saying

“I think our versatility. This team's diverse. We may have more productivity off the bench. I like to say we've got eight starters. And then size. We're a big team. That impacts and can change some things. But I like our versatility, and I think it's been a key for us all year. Then we've been pretty good at offense.”

— Brad Underwood, Head Coach, Illinois Fighting Illini

“Focus. I think Kylan Boswell and Andrej Stojakovic back healthy. We hit the hiccup in the middle of Big Ten play. Obviously, Kylan breaks his hand. He's a first-team All-Defensive guy. And then Andrej Stojakovic has turned into 1a in terms of the defensive side. The job Andrej did in the second half [against Iowa] on Bennett [Stirtz] was incredible. ... It has taken him a while on that side, but he's been phenomenal.”

— Brad Underwood, Head Coach, Illinois Fighting Illini

What’s next

Illinois will face UConn in the Final Four on Saturday, March 30th, with the winner advancing to the national championship game on Monday, April 1st.

The takeaway

This Final Four breakthrough for Illinois represents a significant milestone for the program under Brad Underwood's leadership. The Illini's combination of versatility, size, and renewed defensive focus has been the key to their success, and they now have a chance to capture their first national championship.