Illinois Page 2 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
Huskies bark, bite as 'underdog,' bury Illinois again
INDIANAPOLIS -- A gift, and not one UConn coach Dan Hurley saw coming, became fuel for the Huskies long before the team bus pulled up to Lucas Oil Stadium early Saturday afternoon. ,From Hurley's vantage point, the overall national narrative wrote UConn into the Final Four as the underdog against an...
UConn muscles through Illini, set for title shot at Final Four
INDIANAPOLIS -- UConn acted like the team that belonged and the Huskies are headed back to the national championship game after controlling Illinois start to finish in a 71-62 win Saturday at the Final Four.,Tarris Reed Jr. had 17 points and 11 rebounds and freshman Braylon Mullins had a huge first ...
Illinois vs. History: Illini Fans Brace for Another March Madness Heartbreak
Illinois enters the Final Four carrying decades of March Madness heartbreak and hope....
Illinois basks in Final Four moment, intent on clipping UConn
INDIANAPOLIS -- Forgive Brad Underwood if he takes an extra beat to appreciate the novelty of his weekend surroundings as Illinois returns to the Final Four for the first time since 2005.,Ready and waiting, perhaps unimpressed by the pomp and circumstance on the periphery of a third trip to the Fina...
Final Four a reality thanks to 'International Illini'
INDIANAPOLIS -- Illinois head coach Brad Underwood signed All-American Keaton Wagler without seeing him play. He trusted assistant Geoff Alexander to assemble the "Balkan Bloc" of international talent. And a hometown guard who left for Arizona came back to help complete the puzzle. ,That's the Cliff...
Why Illinois Is the Most Dangerous Team in the Final Four
Illinois reaches its first Final Four in 21 years behind rebounding, defense and quiet confidence. Can the Illini win it all?...
Michigan, Illinois open as Final Four favorites, but Arizona for title
UConn's dramatic last-second upset of Duke on Sunday played right into the hands of Arizona and Michigan, at least in the eyes of oddsmakers.,The two remaining No. 1 seeds will do battle in Saturday night's second Final Four matchup in Indianapolis, and the winner is expected to be heavily favored t...
No. 3 Illinois outlasts conference rival Iowa to head back to Final Four
HOUSTON -- Freshman Keaton Wagler scored a game-high 25 points, Andrej Stojakovic added 17 off the bench, and third-seeded Illinois secured its first Final Four berth in 21 years with a 71-59 victory over Big Ten rival Iowa on Saturday in the South Region final of the NCAA Tournament.,Illinois (28-8...
Iowa-Illinois interrupted for 11 minutes due to horn
HOUSTON -- The NCAA Tournament South Region final between ninth-seeded Iowa and third-seeded Illinois on Saturday experienced an extended delay when the horn stuck with 7:43 remaining in the first half and the Hawkeyes leading 22-20.,The delay lasted more than 10 minutes, and when the game resumed, ...
Iowa looks to continue historic run vs. another Big Ten foe in Illinois
HOUSTON -- From the outside looking in, Iowa coach Ben McCollum had an impression of Big Ten basketball that could only be confirmed through the experience he gleaned coaching the Hawkeyes for the first time this season.,The Hawkeyes (24-12) are on the precipice of their first Final Four appearance ...
Second-half explosion sends Illinois past Houston into South final
HOUSTON -- David Mirkovic and Keaton Wagler produced double-doubles as third-seeded Illinois parlayed a 17-0 second-half run into a 65-55 victory over second-seeded Houston on Thursday in the South Regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament.,The Fighting Illini (27-8) advanced to the Elite Eight for...
Home Sweet 16 Home: Illinois downplays Houston's hometown advantage
HOUSTON -- Illinois is the road team in more ways than one on Thursday night when the Fighting Illini play in the South Region semifinal against the Houston Cougars. ,The University of Houston campus is less than three miles from the Toyota Center, where Illinois and Houston play in a purported "neu...
Freshmen take center stage when Illinois meets Houston in Sweet 16
HOUSTON -- Both Illinois and Houston have been forged by tradition and buoyed by veterans. Yet the Illini and Cougars owe a noteworthy measure of their success this season to freshmen.,Guards Keaton Wagler of Illinois and Kingston Flemings of Houston will serve as the showcase young stars for the th...
Andrej Stojakovic, No. 3 Illinois blow past No. 11 VCU
GREENVILLE, S.C. - Andrej Stojakovic scored 16 of his 21 points in the first half to help No. 3 Illinois breeze past No. 11 VCU for a 76-55 win in a second-round South Region matchup on Saturday night.,Tomislav Ivisic added 14 points and 11 rebounds for Illinois (26-8), which advanced to its second ...
No. 11 seed VCU embraces underdog role, eyes upset of third-seeded Illinois
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- VCU has been comfortable in this uncomfortable position for weeks. The Rams had to win the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament just to clinch a spot in the NCAA Tournament.,VCU (28-7) then had to dig out of a 19-point hole against North Carolina on Thursday, rallying for an 82-78 o...
No. 3 Illinois overwhelms Penn with 65-point second half
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- David Mirkovic had 29 points and 17 rebounds to help No. 3 Illinois breeze past No. 14 Penn in a 105-70 victory in a first-round South Region matchup on Thursday.,Keaton Wagler added 18 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for Illinois (25-8), which advances to face No. 11 VC...
Illinois overwhelms Penn with 65-point second half
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- David Mirkovic had 29 points and 17 rebounds to help No. 3 seed Illinois breeze past No. 14 seed Penn in a 105-70 victory in a first-round East Region matchup on Thursday.,Keaton Wagler added 17 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for Illinois (25-8), which advances to face ...
No. 3 seed Illinois opens title pursuit with familiar feel vs. Penn
Illinois team leaders called a players-only meeting last weekend after an early exit from the Big Ten tournament.,It allowed the Fighting Illini to regroup as they await the chance to reset for the NCAA Tournament.,Third-seeded Illinois meets No. 14 Penn in a South Region first-round game on Thursda...
NCAA Tournament: Names to know before the Dance begins
While filling out your NCAA Tournament bracket, it's valuable to know the names most likely to deliver in big games ahead. ,From Duke's Boozers, to Purdue's Kaufman-Renn all the way to Uzan in Houston, we're helping you identify the difference makers setting the tone in the Big Dance. ,Darius Acuff,...
Guards drive Wisconsin past Illinois in OT
Overtime was too much for Illinois for the fourth time this season, as the No. 9 Fighting Illini fell 91-88 to No. 23 Wisconsin in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals on Friday afternoon in Chicago.,Wisconsin guards Nick Boyd and John Blackwell combined for 69 points and made 21 of 22 foul shots to...