UConn forward Jayden Ross (23) guards Illinois guard Andrej Stojaković (2) during the second half of the Final Four semifinal match against UConn April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois forward Tomislav Ivišić bows his head on the court after a 71-62 loss to UConn in the Final Four on April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois coach Brad Underwood acknowledges the fans after the Illini's 71-62 loss to UConn in a Final Four semifinal on April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois center Tomislav Ivišić (13) puts a towel over his head in the locker room after losing, 62-71, in the Final Four semifinal match against UConn April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois guard Keaton Wagler (23) drives to the basket during the first half of the Final Four semifinal match against UConn April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)UConn guard Solo Ball (1) goes up for a dunk during the second half of the Final Four semifinal match against Illinois April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)UConn head coach Dan Hurley yells near the bench during the second half of the Final Four semifinal match against Illinois April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois guard AJ Redd (5) and Illinois guard Brandon Lee (1) watch from the bench during the second half of the Final Four semifinal match against UConn April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)UConn fans watch during the second half of the Final Four semifinal match against Illinois April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)UConn players celebrate after defeating Illinois, 62-71, in the Final Four semifinal match April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois center Tomislav Ivišić (13) walks off the court after losing, 62-71, in the Final Four semifinal match against UConn April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois guard Keaton Wagler (23) misses a 3-point shot in the final seconds of the second half of the Final Four semifinal match against UConn April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)UConn guard Braylon Mullins (24) goes up fora shot over Illinois forward Ben Humrichous (3) during the second half of the Final Four semifinal match against UConn April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois fans cheer during the second half of the Final Four semifinal against UConn on April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)UConn guard Silas Demary Jr. (2) guards Illinois forward David Mirković (0) during the second half of the Final Four semifinal match against UConn April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)UConn guard Braylon Mullins (24) makes a 3-point basket during the second half of the Final Four semifinal match against Illinois April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois head coach Brad Underwood watches during the second half of the Final Four semifinal match against UConn April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois center Tomislav Ivišić (13) blocks UConn guard Silas Demary Jr. (2) from making a shot during the second half of the Final Four semifinal match against UConn April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)UConn forward Jayden Ross (23) guards Illinois guard Andrej Stojaković (2) during the second half of the Final Four semifinal match against UConn April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)UConn guard Solo Ball (1) reacts after fouling Illinois forward Jake Davis (15) during the second half of the Final Four semifinal match against UConn April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)UConn guard Solo Ball (1) takes a 3-point shot over UConn forward Jayden Ross (23) during the second half of the Final Four semifinal match against UConn April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois guard Andrej Stojaković (2) falls into UConn guard Solo Ball (1) during the second half of the Final Four semifinal match against UConn April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois forward David Mirković (0) drives into UConn guard Silas Demary Jr. (2) during the second half of the Final Four semifinal match against UConn April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois head coach Brad Underwood walks near the bench during the second half of the Final Four semifinal match against UConn April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)UConn players celebrate on the bench during the second half of the Final Four semifinal match against Illinois April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)UConn guard Silas Demary Jr. (2) and Illinois guard Keaton Wagler (23) fight for possession of the ball during the second half of a Final Four semifinal on April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois forward David Mirković (0) grabs his face during the second half of a Final Four semifinal against UConn on April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)UConn forward Alex Karaban (11) and Illinois guard Kylan Boswell (4) fall on the court while chasing the ball during the first half of the Final Four semifinal match against UConn April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)UConn guard Braylon Mullins (24) sticks out his tongue after making a shot during the first half of the Final Four semifinal match against Illinois April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois head coach Brad Underwood yells near the bench during the first half of the Final Four semifinal match against UConn April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)UConn head coach Dan Hurley yells near the bench during the first half of the Final Four semifinal match against Illinois April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)UConn forward Tarris Reed Jr. (5) makes a basket past Illinois center Zvonimir Ivišić (44) and Illinois forward David Mirković (0) during the first half of the Final Four semifinal match against against UConn April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois forward Ben Humrichous (3) and Illinois forward David Mirković (0) guard UConn guard Braylon Mullins (24) during the first half of the Final Four semifinal match against against UConn April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)UConn guard Braylon Mullins (24) takes a 3-point shot during the first half of the Final Four semifinal match against against Illinois April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois forward David Mirković (0) grabs a rebound past UConn forward Tarris Reed Jr. (5) during the first half of the Final Four semifinal match against against UConn April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois fans cheer before a Final Four semifinal against against UConn on April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)UConn guard Braylon Mullins (24) guards Illinois forward Jake Davis (15) while he takes a shot during the first half of the Final Four semifinal match against against UConn April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini players watch as they loose to UConn, 71-62, in the Final Four semifinal match on April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)UConn Huskies guard Braylon Mullins (24) hits a 3-point shot in the final minute as Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) during the second half of the Final Four semifinal match on April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois guard Andrej Stojaković drives to the basket during the second half of the Final Four on April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini head to the bench for a time out during the second half of the Final Four semifinal match on April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois center Tomislav Ivišić (13) blocks a shot from UConn guard Silas Demary Jr. during the second half of the Final Four on April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois center Tomislav Ivišić (13) drives to the basket against UConn forwards Jayden Ross (23) and Tarris Reed Jr. during the second half of the Final Four on April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) makes a basket to draw the Illinois Fighting Illini closer 59-63 during the second half of the Final Four semifinal match on April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini forward Ben Humrichous (3) hits a 3-point basket during the second half of the Final Four semifinal match on April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)UConn guard Solo Ball (1) fouls Illinois guard Andrej Stojaković early in the second half during the Final Four on April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois forward Jake Davis (15) is fouled by UConn guard Solo Ball during the second half of the Final Four on April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini center Tomislav Ivišić (13) walks to the bench in the first half during Final Four semifinal match on April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois forward Ben Humrichous (3) and guard Andrej Stojaković defend UConn guard Braylon Mullins during the first in the Final Four on April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) works against UConn center Eric Reibe in the first half of the Final Four on April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois guard Andrej Stojaković (2) shoots over UConn forward Alex Karaban in the Final Four on April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois fans cheer before the game between Illinois and UConn in the Final Four semifinal match on April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois fans before the Final Four semifinal match with UConnon April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood is driven to the locker room before the Final Four semifinal match between the Illinois and UConn on April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
