March Madness: Illini Advance To 1st Final Four Since 2005

HOUSTON — For the first time in 21 years, the Illinois men's basketball team will be playing in the Final Four following Saturday's 71-59 victory over Iowa. Keaton Wagler led the Fighting Illini with 25 points to end a Cinderella run by their Big 10 rivals.

Illinois, who were the No. 3 seed in the tournament's South region, will face the winner of Sunday's Duke vs. Connecticut next weekend in Indianapolis. It will be the program's sixth Final Four appearance, and the first since losing to North Carolina in the 2005 national championship game.

The Hawkeyes, the No. 9 seed in the South, were the lowest seed in Big Ten history to reach the Elite Eight.

"This group is special," said Illinois head coach Brad Underwood, according to the Illinois website. "We beat a really good Iowa team who has played great. Our resilience was unbelievable. Guys just kept throwing body blows, we just kept hanging in there."