Iowa's Cinderella March Madness Run Ends in Elite Eight

Hawkeyes fall short against Illinois despite Ben McCollum's breakout season

Mar. 29, 2026 at 6:39pm

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The Iowa Hawkeyes' remarkable March Madness run came to an end in the Elite Eight, as they fell 71-59 to the Illinois Fighting Illini. Led by first-year head coach Ben McCollum, the Hawkeyes had exceeded all expectations by advancing to the regional finals as a 9-seed, but they were ultimately outmatched by Illinois' size and physicality. Despite the disappointing loss, the Hawkeyes' unexpected tournament success has fans excited for the future of the program.

Why it matters

Iowa's deep tournament run was a surprise to many, as the team was not expected to advance this far in the NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes' success has generated significant excitement and renewed optimism around the program, which has struggled in recent years. While the loss is tough, the team's performance has established a new standard of excellence that will raise expectations going forward.

The details

The Hawkeyes got off to a strong start, jumping out to a 12-2 lead early. However, Illinois stormed back, led by a 24-point performance from junior guard Bennett Sturtz. The Fighting Illini took their first lead early in the second half and never looked back, outrebounding Iowa 47-30 and outscoring them 40-12 in the paint. Foul trouble for Iowa's star player, Keaton Wagler, also proved costly down the stretch.

  • The Hawkeyes' tournament run ended on March 29, 2026 with the loss to Illinois in the Elite Eight.
  • Iowa was making its first appearance in the Elite Eight in 39 years.

The players

Ben McCollum

The first-year head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes, who led the team on an unexpected March Madness run.

Bennett Sturtz

A junior guard for the Illinois Fighting Illini, who scored 24 points to lead his team to victory over Iowa.

Keaton Wagler

A freshman forward for the Iowa Hawkeyes, who scored 25 points in the loss to Illinois.

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What they’re saying

“We needed a defensive rebound very well thought we didn't make hits physical enough. And then offensively we we just didn't have enough shooting down the stretch.”

— Ben McCollum, Head Coach, Iowa Hawkeyes

“Everybody was sad, but everybody was very grateful. And it will set in when they do get back to Iowa City. Bennett saying we still get to spend all spring together.”

— Shannon Ehrhardt, Reporter

What’s next

McCollum and the Hawkeyes will look to build on this season's success and set their sights on an even deeper tournament run next year, with the majority of their core players set to return.

The takeaway

Iowa's surprise tournament run has established a new standard of excellence for the program, and has fans excited about the team's future under the leadership of first-year coach Ben McCollum. While the loss to Illinois was disappointing, the Hawkeyes proved they can compete with the best teams in the country.