Illinois Men's Basketball Reaches Final Four

Illini defeat Iowa to advance to NCAA tournament's semifinals

Mar. 29, 2026 at 2:02am

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The Illinois men's basketball team has reached the 2026 NCAA Final Four after defeating Iowa 71-59 in the regional finals on Saturday night in Houston, Texas. This marks the first time the Illini have made the Final Four since 2005.

Why it matters

Illinois' return to the Final Four is a major accomplishment for the program, which has struggled to reach college basketball's biggest stage in recent years. The Illini's deep tournament run will generate excitement among the team's passionate fan base and could help with recruiting top high school talent.

The details

Illinois, the three-seed in the Houston regional, used a balanced scoring attack to pull away from six-seed Iowa in the second half. Junior guard Terrence Shannon Jr. led the Illini with 18 points, while senior forward Coleman Hawkins added a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

  • Illinois defeated Iowa 71-59 on Saturday, March 29, 2026 in the regional finals in Houston.
  • This marks Illinois' first Final Four appearance since 2005.

The players

Terrence Shannon Jr.

A junior guard for the Illinois men's basketball team who led the Illini with 18 points in the regional final victory over Iowa.

Coleman Hawkins

A senior forward for the Illinois men's basketball team who recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds in the win over Iowa.

Illinois

The three-seed men's basketball team that defeated six-seed Iowa 71-59 to advance to the 2026 NCAA Final Four.

Iowa

The six-seed men's basketball team that lost to Illinois 71-59 in the regional finals of the 2026 NCAA tournament.

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What they’re saying

“We've been working so hard all season for this moment. I'm so proud of my teammates and can't wait to compete on the biggest stage in college basketball.”

— Terrence Shannon Jr., Illinois Junior Guard

What’s next

Illinois will face the winner of the other regional final between one-seed Gonzaga and five-seed San Diego State in the 2026 NCAA Final Four in Houston on April 5.

The takeaway

Illinois' return to the Final Four for the first time in over 20 years is a testament to the program's resurgence under head coach Brad Underwood. The Illini's deep tournament run has energized the team's passionate fan base and could pay dividends on the recruiting trail as the program looks to build on this success in the coming years.