Keaton Wagler leads Illinois to first Final Four in 21 years

Coverage

• Keaton Wagler leads Illinois to first Final Four in 21 years

  Keaton Wagler scored 25 points in Illinois' 71-59 win over Iowa on Saturday, sending the program to the Final Four for the first time in 21 years.

  Publisher:ESPN GeneralArticle published: 2026-03-29 00:57:04.765Z

  Primary

• Keaton Wagler drops 25 points to send Illinois to first Final Four since 2005

  Freshman Keaton Wagler led the way in Illinois' Elite Eight victory over Iowa, scoring 25 points to send the Fighting Illini to their first Final Four in over twenty years. Watch his full game highlights in the 2026 NCAA tournament here.

  Publisher:NCAA Official MensArticle published: 2026-03-29 01:01:23 UTC

• Keaton Wagler Scores 25 As Illinois Beats Iowa To Reach First Final Four Since 2005

  Illinois erased a 12-2 early deficit Saturday to defeat Iowa 71-59 in the Elite Eight at Toyota Center in Houston, advancing to the program's first Final Four since 2005 when they eventually lost to North Carolina in the national championship. Freshman Keaton Wagler led the Illini with 25 points, and a suffocating second-half defense held the Hawkeyes to 23.1% shooting after halftime. Illinois shot just 3-of-17 from three-point range but dominated inside, outscoring Iowa 40-12 in the paint an...

  Publisher:RealGMArticle published: 2026-03-29 10:51:12 UTC

• Illinois' Underwood fulfills 'dream' of reaching Final Four

  Keaton Wagler scored 25 points as Illinois beat Iowa on Saturday, sending the program to the Final Four for the first time in 21 years.

  Publisher:ESPN College BasketballArticle published: 2026-03-29 03:31:05.586Z

• From overlooked to overjoyed, Keaton Wagler leads Illinois to Final Four

  Keaton Wagler burst onto scene, helped lead Illinois to first Final Four since 2001. "Everybody underestimated him. He’s a special player.”

  Publisher:Yahoo Sports NBAArticle published: 2026-03-29 03:57:40 UTC