NCAA Tournament Elite 8 Preview | 3 Illinois vs. 9 Iowa

Head Coach Brad Underwood

Career Record: 301-136 (.689), thirteenth 12 months

At Illinois: 192-109 (.638), ninth 12 months

Big Ten: 107-71 (.601)

NCAA Tournament at Illinois / All-Time: 9-5 (.643), sixth look / 11-9 (.550), tenth look

Illinois NCAA Tournament History

Appearances / Streak: thirty sixth / 6

Record: 49-36 (.576)

Final Four Appearances / Last: 5 / 2005

Series History – NCAA Tournament Regional Final

IOWA (9 SEED)

Series Record / Streak: 95-77 / Illinois W-5

Last Meeting: #16 Illinois 75, #19 Iowa 69 (1/11/26 at Iowa City)

Record at Neutral Sites / Streak: Tied 3-3 / Illinois W-2

Last Meeting at Neutral Site: #24 Illinois 106, Iowa 94 (3/13/25 at Indianapolis / B1G Tournament Round 2)

Record within the NCAA Tournament: First Meeting

Underwood vs. Iowa: 10-6 

FIGHTING ILLINI UNDER HEAD COACH BRAD UNDERWOOD

• Two NCAA Elite Eights within the final three years
• Big Ten’s winningest workforce in convention play during the last seven seasons
• One of 4 faculties nationally with seven straight 20-win common seasons 
• Six straight NCAA Tournament appearances (seventh precluded by COVID-19 cancelation in 2020)
• One of 10 faculties to look in every of the final six NCAA Tournaments
• One of 12 faculties with NCAA Tournament wins in at the least 5 of the final six years
• 2024 NCAA Elite Eight; Illinois’ first look since advancing to 2005 nationwide title recreation
• 2021 NCAA Tourney No. 1 seed (fourth in class historical past)
• Top-two Big Ten finishes in 4 of the final six years
• 96 wins in Big Ten play since 2019-20, essentially the most in class historical past over a seven-year interval
• Five Top-25 finishes in final seven years, together with two within the Top 10 
• Five All-Americans (4 consensus)
• 22 All-Big Ten picks (eight first workforce)
• 2024 Big Ten Tournament Champions
• 2022 Big Ten Regular Season Champions
• 2021 Big Ten Tournament Champions

FIGHTING ILLINI NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTES

• Following Thursday evening’s 65-55 victory over 2 seed Houston within the Sweet Sixteen, the 3 seed Fighting Illini advance to the Elite Eight in opposition to 9 seed Iowa on Saturday in Houston (5:09 p.m. CT, TBS/TruTV).
• Illinois gained its twenty seventh recreation of the season, tied for the fourth-most wins in program historical past. Brad Underwood is the primary head coach in Illinois program historical past to win 27+ video games in a number of seasons.
  
  1. 2005 – Bruce Weber, 37-2 – National Runner-Up
  
  2. 1989 – Lou Henson, 31-5 – Final Four
  
  3. 2024 – Brad Underwood, 29-9 – Elite Eight
  
  T4. 2026 – Brad Underwood, 27-8 – Elite Eight
  
  T4. 2001 – Bill Self, 27-8 – Elite Eight
• Illinois additionally picked up its third win over an AP top-5 ranked opponent this season, tying this system report set in 1951-52. 
• Illinois is making its thirty sixth all-time look within the NCAA Tournament, and sixth* straight (*seventh precluded by cancellation of 2020 Tournament attributable to COVID-19).
• Illinois is enjoying within the Elite Eight for the second time in three seasons. In 2024, Head Coach Brad Underwood additionally led the Fighting Illini to an Elite Eight look, this system’s first since 2005.
• This is the sixth time Illinois has superior to the Elite Eight for the reason that match discipline was expanded to 32 groups in 1975, and this system’s eleventh all-time Elite Eight look.
• Underwood joins Lou Henson as the one Illinois head coaches within the trendy period to steer the Fighting Illini to 2 Elite Eights:
  
  » 2026 Elite Eight – Brad Underwood
  
  » 2024 Elite Eight – Brad Underwood
  
  » 2005 Runner-Up – Bruce Weber
  
  » 2001 Elite Eight – Bill Self
  
  » 1989 Final Four – Lou Henson
  
  » 1984 Elite Eight – Lou Henson
  
  » 1963 Elite Eight – Harry Combes
  
  » 1952 Third Place – Harry Combes
  
  » 1951 Third Place – Harry Combes
  
  » 1949 Third Place – Harry Combes
  
  » 1942 Elite Eight – Doug Mills
• Illinois is aiming for its sixth journey to the Final Four, and first since ending as nationwide runner-up in 2005: 
  
  » 2005 Runner-Up – Bruce Weber
  
  » 1989 Final Four – Lou Henson
  
  » 1952 Third Place – Harry Combes
  
  » 1951 Third Place – Harry Combes
  
  » 1949 Third Place – Harry Combes
• Illinois’ 5 Final Four appearances are second-most amongst groups but to win a nationwide title, trailing solely Houston (7), and tied with Oklahoma.
• Illinois is tied for 18th amongst all faculties, and fifth of B1G faculties, for many NCAA Tournament appearances.
• Illinois is one in all solely three Big Ten groups – and one in all simply 10 groups nationally – to earn a bid in every of the final six NCAA Tournaments. Illinois’ six-year streak is tied for the nation’s seventh-longest lively streak.
• Illinois and Michigan State are the one two B1G groups to advance within the NCAA Tournament 5 of the final six years. 
• Illinois’ lively streak of six straight NCAA Tournament appearances is its longest since collaborating eight years in a row from 2000 via 2007. 
• Brad Underwood is simply the second head coach in class historical past to steer Illinois to at the least six straight NCAA Tournaments, becoming a member of Lou Henson (eight straight from 1983-90).
• Illinois has compiled a 49-36 (.576) report all-time in NCAA Tournament video games. 
• Illinois’ 49 NCAA Tournament wins rank tied for 18th amongst all faculties.
• Illinois’ 49 NCAA Tournament wins are second-most amongst groups but to win a nationwide championship, trailing solely Purdue (53).
• Since 1975, when the sphere was elevated to 32 groups, Illinois has superior to the Sweet 16 10 occasions, the Elite Eight six occasions, and the Final Four twice. 
• Head Coach Brad Underwood has introduced Illinois again among the many nation’s elite faculty basketball packages. 
  
  » His rebuild in Champaign introduced success throughout Year 3 of his tenure, main the Illini to a top-25 end and what would have been an NCAA Tournament bid earlier than the 2020 postseason was canceled attributable to COVID-19.
  
  » Underwood directed Illinois to a Big Ten Tournament title and #1 seed in 2021, as Illinois performed within the NCAA Tournament for the primary time since 2013. 
  
  » Underwood guided the Illini to a Big Ten Regular Season Championship and #4 seed in 2022, advancing to the Round of 32 for the second straight season. 
  
  » In 2023, Underwood guided the Illini to the NCAA match for a 3rd straight season as a #9 seed.
  
  » Illinois earned its fourth straight NCAA Tournament bid in 2024 after capturing the Big Ten Tournament title. As a #3 seed, Illinois superior to the NCAA Elite Eight for the primary time since 2005 behind star Terrence Shannon Jr., who averaged 23.3 factors, the best NCAA Tournament scoring common in class historical past. 
  
  » Underwood’s NCAA streak prolonged to 5 in a row in 2025. As a #6 seed, the Illini earned an 86-73 win in Round 1 vs. #11 seed Xavier. It marked the fourth season within the earlier 5 years with an NCAA Tournament win for the Fighting Illini.  
  
  » In his sixth-straight look, Underwood has led the Illini to the Elite Eight for the second time in three seasons. After dominant wins over Penn (105-70) and VCU (76-55) within the first and second rounds, respectively, the Illini defeated 2 seed Houston (65-55) within the Sweet 16 on Thursday
• Underwood is making his tenth journey to the NCAA Tournament along with his third program in 13 seasons as a Div. I head coach. He beforehand led Stephen F. Austin to 3 consecutive appearances from 2014-2016, advancing to the Round of 32 in 2014 and 2016. He then took Oklahoma State to the Tournament in his lone season in Stillwater in 2017. Underwood owns an 1-9 profession report within the NCAA Tournament, with a 9-5 mark on the helm of the Fighting Illini. 
• Underwood has led the Illini to a 7-2 report during the last three NCAA Tournaments.
• Underwood is tied for second amongst Illinois all-time head coaches for many NCAA Tournament wins:
  
  » Lou Henson-12   » Brad Underwood, Bruce Weber & Harry Combes-9
• Illinois has earned a No. 3 seed within the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in class historical past, final coming in as a No. 3 seed in the course of the Elite Eight run in 2024. The Illini at the moment are 9-4 all-time as a No. 3 seed:
  
  » 2026 First Round (Greenville, S.C.) – #3 Illinois 105, #14 Penn 70
  
  » 2026 Second Round (Greenville, S.C.) – #3 Illinois 76, #11 VCU 55
  
  » 2026 Regional Semifinal (Houston, Texas) – #3 Illinois 65, #2 Houston 55
  
  » 2024 First Round (Omaha, Neb.) – #3 Illinois 85, #14 Morehead State 69
  
  » 2024 Second Round (Omaha, Neb.) – #3 Illinois 89, #11 Duquesne 63
  
  » 2024 Regional Semifinal (Boston, Mass.) – #3 Illinois 72, #2 Iowa State 69
  
  » 2024 Regional Final (Boston, Mass.) – #1 Connecticut 77, #3 Illinois 52
  
  » 1988 First Round (Cincinnati, Ohio) – #3 Illinois 81, #14 UTSA 72
  
  » 1988 Second Round (Cincinnati, Ohio) – #6 Villanova 66, #3 Illinois 63
  
  » 1987 First Round (Birmingham, Ala.) – #14 Austin Peay 68, #3 Illinois 67
  
  » 1985 First Round (Atlanta, Ga.) – #3 Illinois 76, #14 Northeastern 57
  
  » 1985 Second Round (Atlanta, Ga.) – #3 Illinois 74, #6 Georgia 58
  
  » 1985 Regional Semifinal (Providence, R.I.) – #2 Georgia Tech 61, #3 Illinois 53
• Illinois is 36-16 as the next (higher) seed within the NCAA Tournament and is now 4-13 because the decrease (worse) seed.
• Illinois earned its third win all-time over the No. 2 seeds within the NCAA Tournament. Two of these have come within the final three years within the Brad Underwood period:
  
  » 2026 Regional Semifinal (Houston, Texas) – #3 Illinois 65, #2 Houston 55
  
  » 2024 Regional Semifinal (Boston, Mass) – #3 Illinois 72, #2 Iowa State 69
  
  » 1989 Regional Final (Minneapolis, Minn.) – #1 Illinois 89, #2 Syracuse 77
• Illinois is 5-5 all-time in Elite Eight video games within the NCAA Tournament:
  
  » 1942 Regional Semifinal (New Orleans, La.) – Kentucky 46, Illinois 44
  
  » 1949 Regional Semifinal (New York, N.Y.) – Illinois 71, Yale 67
  
  » 1951 Regional Semifinal (New York, N.Y.) – Illinois 84, NC State 70
  
  » 1952 Sweet 16 (Chicago, Ill.) – Illinois 74, Duquesne 68
  
  » 1963 Sweet 16 (East Lansing, Mich.) – Loyola Chicago 79, Illinois 64
  
  » 1984 Elite 8 (Lexington, Ky.) – #1 Kentucky 54, #2 Illinois 51
  
  » 1989 Elite 8 (Minneapolis, Minn.) – #1 Illinois 89, #2 Syracuse 86
  
  » 2001 Elite 8 (San Antonio, Texas) – #2 Arizona 87, #1 Illinois 81
  
  » 2005 Elite 8 (Rosemont, Ill.) – #1 Illinois 90, #3 Arizona 89 (OT)
  
  » 2024 Elite 8 (Boston, Mass.) – #1 UConn 77, #3 Illinois 52
• Illinois faces acquainted foe in Big Ten rival Iowa within the Elite Eight. This is just the second time in NCAA Tournament historical past that the Illini will face a Big Ten workforce. In 1989, Michigan defeated the Illini within the Final Four.
  
  » 9 seed Iowa: Illinois is 95-77 all-time vs. Iowa, with a 10-6 mark within the Brad Underwood period. The Fighting Illini are 3-3 all-time vs. the Hawkeyes in neutral-site matchups. In the lone matchup this season, Illinois picked up a 79-68 highway win at Iowa on Jan. 19.

Illini Single-Game Bests in NCAA Tournament Play 

• Points 31, Deron Williams vs. Cincinnati, 3/21/2004
• Rebounds 17, David Mirkovic vs. Penn, 3/19/2026
• Field Goals 12, Kenny Battle vs. Syracuse, 3/26/89
  
                      12, Nick Anderson vs. Louisville, 3/24/89
• Field Goal Pct. 1.000 (9-9), Dain Dainja vs. Morehead State, 3/21/2024
• 3-Pt FGs 6, Cory Bradford vs. Arizona, 3/23/2001
• 6, Deron Williams vs. Cincinnati, 3/21/2004
• 6, Luther Head vs. Louisville, 4/2/2005
• 6, Jamar Smith vs. Air Force, 3/16/2006
• 3-Pt. FG Pct. .833 (5-6), Frank Williams vs. San Diego State, 3/15/2002
• Free Throw Pct: 1.000 (8-8), Mark Smith vs. Wyoming, 3/14/81
  
                             1.000 (8-8), Kenny Battle vs. McNeese State, 3/16/89
  
                             1.000 (8-8), Terrence Shannon Jr. vs. Duquesne, 3/23/2024
  
                             1.000 (7-7), Ken Norman vs. Northeastern, 3/15/85
  
                             1.000 (7-7), Efrem Winters vs. Georgia, 3/17/85
  
                             1.000 (7-7), Kofi Cockburn vs. Houston, 3/20/2022
• Free Throws 16, Kiwane Garris vs. Southern Cal, 3/14/97
• Assists 12, Kiwane Garris vs. Southern Cal, 3/14/97
• Steals 6, Bruce Douglas vs. Georgia, 3/17/85
• Blocked Shots 4, Tomislav Ivisic vs. Kentucky, 3/23/25
• Minutes 44, Deron Williams vs. Arizona, 3/26/2005
• Triple-Double 12 pts/11 reb/10 ast, Marcus Domask vs. Morehead St., 3/21/2024

THE B1G’S BEST

• Illinois leads the Big Ten lead in convention wins during the last seven seasons: 
  
  Big Ten Wins (Since 2019-20)
  
  1. Illinois 96
  
  2. Purdue 94
  
  3. Michigan State 87
  
  4. Wisconsin 86
  
  5. Michigan 82
• Illinois’ 42 Big Ten highway wins since 2019-20 additionally lead the convention:
  
  Big Ten Road Wins (Since 2019-20)
  
  1. Illinois 42
  
  2. Purdue 38
  
  T3. Michigan 36
  
  T3. Wisconsin 36
  
  5. Michigan State 33
• The Illini gained the 2024 Big Ten Tournament championship because the #2 seed, captured the common season championship in 2022, and led the convention in wins whereas including a B1G Tournament crown in 2021. Illinois’ three convention championships since 2020-21 are the tied for second within the league during the last seven seasons:
• Big Ten Titles (Since 2019-20) 
  
  1. Purdue 4 complete (2 common season, 2 match)
  
  T2.  Illinois 3 complete* (1 common season, 2 match)
  
  T2. Michigan 3 complete (2 common season*, 1 match)   
  
  T4. Michigan State 2 complete (2 common season)
  
  T4.Wisconsin 2 complete (2 common season)
  
  * Illinois (16-4) performed the total B1G schedule in the course of the 2021 season, profitable two extra video games than Michigan (14-3), however U-M was awarded the league’s regular-season championship by advantage of an edge in win proportion of .024.