Bill Murray Supports Both UConn and Illinois Ahead of Final Four Clash

The actor and comedian has ties to both teams playing in the NCAA Tournament semifinal.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 7:35pm

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Bill Murray, the famous actor and comedian, is in a unique position ahead of the Final Four matchup between UConn and Illinois. Murray grew up as an Illinois basketball fan, but his son Luke is an assistant coach for the UConn Huskies. Despite his divided loyalties, Murray has declared he will be rooting for the Huskies in their semifinal game against the Fighting Illini.

Why it matters

Bill Murray's fandom and family connections make him a high-profile figure in the lead-up to the UConn-Illinois Final Four clash. His support for both teams highlights the personal stakes involved in the game for the acclaimed actor.

The details

Murray, who is from Evanston, Illinois, has long been a fan of the Fighting Illini basketball team. He was seen supporting Illinois when they last made the Final Four in 2005. However, Murray's son Luke is an assistant coach for the UConn Huskies, who Murray has said he will be rooting for in their semifinal matchup against Illinois. Luke Murray has won two national championships as an assistant coach at UConn and was recently hired as the new head coach for Boston College.

  • Bill Murray will be in attendance for the Final Four on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
  • Luke Murray is in his fifth season as an assistant coach for UConn.

The players

Bill Murray

An acclaimed actor and comedian who grew up as an Illinois basketball fan but will be rooting for his son's team, UConn, in the Final Four.

Luke Murray

The 41-year-old assistant coach for the UConn Huskies, who was recently hired as the new head coach for Boston College.

Dan Hurley

The head coach of the UConn Huskies, who has won two national championships with Luke Murray as an assistant.

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What they’re saying

“Go Huskies!”

— Bill Murray

What’s next

The winner of the UConn-Illinois semifinal will advance to the national championship game on April 6, 2026.

The takeaway

Bill Murray's divided loyalties between his home state team of Illinois and his son's team at UConn highlight the personal connections and high stakes involved in the Final Four matchup. His support for both programs underscores the broader appeal of March Madness and the NCAA Tournament.