The ball is tipped. There you are…It’s time to prove who is the best of the best in the Elite 8. Winners will head to the Final Four.Here are today’s matchups.(3) Illinois 71, (9) Iowa 59Freshman Keaton Wagler scored 25 points and Illinois ended Iowa’s underdog March Madness run by dominating in the frontcourt, beating the Hawkeyes 71-59 to advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2005. This will be the sixth trip to the Final Four for Illinois, which has never won a national title. The much taller Illini outrebounded Iowa 38-21 in the South Region final. David Mirkovic led the way with 12 rebounds. Wagler was named MVP of the region.Bennett Stirtz scored 24 points for the Hawkeyes, who made an impressive run under first-year coach Ben McCollum.(1) Arizona 79, (2) Purdue 64Arizona is headed back to the Final Four for the first time in 25 years after the top-seeded Wildcats got 20 points from freshman Koa Peat to beat Purdue 79-64 in the NCAA Tournament’s West Region final on Saturday night.After years of disappointment in March, coach Tommy Lloyd has gotten Arizona back to being a championship contender thanks to a talented freshman class led by Peat, to go along with veterans like Big 12 Player of the Year Jaden Bradley.Arizona frustrated the NCAA record-holder in assists, Braden Smith, and prevented his fellow four-year seniors Trey Kaufman-Renn and Fletcher Loyer from getting into a rhythm. Purdue was held to its second-lowest point total of the season and shot just 38% from the field.Arizona used an 16-3 run early in the second half to erase a seven-point halftime deficit and take a six-point lead on a 3-pointer from Anthony Dell’Orso.
The ball is tipped. There you are…
It’s time to prove who is the best of the best in the Elite 8. Winners will head to the Final Four.
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Here are today’s matchups.
(3) Illinois 71, (9) Iowa 59
Freshman Keaton Wagler scored 25 points and Illinois ended Iowa’s underdog March Madness run by dominating in the frontcourt, beating the Hawkeyes 71-59 to advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2005. This will be the sixth trip to the Final Four for Illinois, which has never won a national title.
The much taller Illini outrebounded Iowa 38-21 in the South Region final. David Mirkovic led the way with 12 rebounds. Wagler was named MVP of the region.
Bennett Stirtz scored 24 points for the Hawkeyes, who made an impressive run under first-year coach Ben McCollum.
(1) Arizona 79, (2) Purdue 64
Arizona is headed back to the Final Four for the first time in 25 years after the top-seeded Wildcats got 20 points from freshman Koa Peat to beat Purdue 79-64 in the NCAA Tournament’s West Region final on Saturday night.
After years of disappointment in March, coach Tommy Lloyd has gotten Arizona back to being a championship contender thanks to a talented freshman class led by Peat, to go along with veterans like Big 12 Player of the Year Jaden Bradley.
Arizona frustrated the NCAA record-holder in assists, Braden Smith, and prevented his fellow four-year seniors Trey Kaufman-Renn and Fletcher Loyer from getting into a rhythm. Purdue was held to its second-lowest point total of the season and shot just 38% from the field.
Arizona used an 16-3 run early in the second half to erase a seven-point halftime deficit and take a six-point lead on a 3-pointer from Anthony Dell’Orso.
