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Final Score: UCONN 71, Illinois 62.
UCONN advances to its third title game in four seasons, getting a big three from Braylon Mullins in the last minute to hold off Illinois, which just could not get over the hump in the second half after trailing by eight points at the break. While limiting the Huskies in the second half, Illinois did not pick up the tempo, especially off of defensive rebounds, and played too slow of a pace. A great season ends in disappointment for the Illini, which had a golden opportunity to beat the Huskies. Illinois just didn't play with the urgency or belief that was necessary to win a game that was there for the taking, even with the recently cold-shooting Huskies hitting twelve threes. It's sad to see the season end this way for Illinois and its star freshman Keaton Wagler, but that is life as an Illinois fan, unfortunately. Illinois felt like it was so close yet so far away on a night when several shots hung on the rim to fall out while UCONN seemingly got all of the bounces. Ultimately, Connecticut ran much better offense that got the Huskies open shots while the Illinois offense was too much isolation and dribbling, with the Illini struggling yet again from three. Assists told the story of this game, with Connecticut dishing out 14 and Illinois having just three. Illinois outrebounded UCONN 42 to 33 and still lost! Make the jump to review the final stats of a game Connecticut hung onto and Illinois did not seize, thus leaving Indianapolis with a "woulda, coulda, shoulda" feeling that is far worse and more disappointing than losing by 25 points to the Huskies during the Elite Eight two tourneys ago.
Halftime Score and Updates: UCONN 37, Illinois 29.
Illinois is incredibly tight on offense. Neither team is playing great. UCONN has hit 7/18 from three, Illinois is 3/14. The Illini need to relax and let it all hang out this half. UCONN looks like a program that has been in the Final Four regularly; Illinois does not. UCONN has 9 assists on its 14 made field goals. Illinois has 1 assist on 10 field goals, showing that the Illini offense is too much dribbling and not enough passing. Illinois had a great stretch where it kept UCONN scoreless and got back into the game, even taking a 22-21 lead. UCONN finished on an 18-8 run to end the half. Illinois has been a second-half team all tournament; the Illini need to take a deep breath and just play its game. UCONN has cooled from three after a hot start. Illinois has a 20-16 advantage on the boards. UCONN freshman Braylon Mullins and senior Tarris Reed Jr. have been the best players on the court, with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Illinois is led by Keaton Wagler (10 points), Tomislav Ivisic (8 points) and Andrej Stojakovic (5 points). Here are the halftime stats.
Prediction: Illinois
My heart says Illinois while my head says UCONN. With that in mind, I am following my heart, like I did against Iowa in the Elite Eight after failing to do so against Houston in the Sweet Sixteen. Ultimately, Illinois has never been more equipped to defeat Connecticut, which is a great but nowhere as dominant team as it was two seasons ago, when the Huskies punked the Illini during the Elite Eight prior to winning its second straight national title.
After limping into the NCAA Tournament, UCONN has had a very impressive run through the incredibly difficult East Region, with the dogged Huskies needing a miracle three from freshman Braylon Mullins to beat Duke and reach this Final Four. While Head Coach Dan Hurley is the hardest coach to eliminate during the NCAA Tournament, his UCONN team has really struggled with its shooting. Conversely, Illinois has found ways to adjust and score the ball inside when its outside shots have not been falling. Illinois must make post touches and points in the paint a high priority.
As the tallest team in the country, Illinois has enough size and physicality to make things more challenging on UCONN star center Tarris Reed Jr., who has been dominant down low. Illinois must continue to bring the defensive intensity it has been playing with the past three games and make the Huskies take contested jump shots. That is much easier said than done as UCONN runs beautiful offensive sets that consistently free up shooters. Will the cold Huskies hit those outside shots? If UCONN is hitting from three, the Illini are in trouble. If not, the Illini will be in good shape. Rebounding, specifically which team can extend offensive possessions and control the defensive glass, will be a huge tell as to whether Illinois or UCONN wins this game. Illinois needs to make sure Connecticut does not get off to a fast start as was the case for Michigan State against the Huskies in the Sweet Sixteen. Hurley is always looking for an edge, and considering that Illinois is somehow favorites, don't be surprised if his Huskies come out in attack mode with a chip on their shoulders.
While Keaton Wagler can expect to see many different Connecticut defenders in Silas Demary, Solo Ball, Malachi Smith and even Jayden Ross, the star Illinois freshman will step up as he has done all tournament, as will his teammates David Mirkovic, Andrej Stojakovic and Tomislav Ivicic. The matchup between Mirkovic and UCONN senior Alex Karaban could very well determine which team wins, including which of the two is able to hit a few threes. Mirkovic should have plenty of opportunities to facilitate offense out of the post, and Illinois should be able to penetrate on the Huskies, especially Stojakovic. The Illini must limit turnovers that lead to transition buckets and secondary threes for the Huskies, which can be quickly sparked by such easy baskets when scoring is more difficult in the half court.
Make no mistake, this game is going to be tight and back and forth. For Illinois to reach the title game, it is only fitting the Illini must beat Connecticut, which under Hurley is the gold standard in college basketball. By no means is winning going to be easy but Illinois will have enough scoring diversity and continue to crank up its defense to fend off the Huskies and advance to the school's first title game since 2005.
After limping into the NCAA Tournament, UCONN has had a very impressive run through the incredibly difficult East Region, with the dogged Huskies needing a miracle three from freshman Braylon Mullins to beat Duke and reach this Final Four. While Head Coach Dan Hurley is the hardest coach to eliminate during the NCAA Tournament, his UCONN team has really struggled with its shooting. Conversely, Illinois has found ways to adjust and score the ball inside when its outside shots have not been falling. Illinois must make post touches and points in the paint a high priority.
As the tallest team in the country, Illinois has enough size and physicality to make things more challenging on UCONN star center Tarris Reed Jr., who has been dominant down low. Illinois must continue to bring the defensive intensity it has been playing with the past three games and make the Huskies take contested jump shots. That is much easier said than done as UCONN runs beautiful offensive sets that consistently free up shooters. Will the cold Huskies hit those outside shots? If UCONN is hitting from three, the Illini are in trouble. If not, the Illini will be in good shape. Rebounding, specifically which team can extend offensive possessions and control the defensive glass, will be a huge tell as to whether Illinois or UCONN wins this game. Illinois needs to make sure Connecticut does not get off to a fast start as was the case for Michigan State against the Huskies in the Sweet Sixteen. Hurley is always looking for an edge, and considering that Illinois is somehow favorites, don't be surprised if his Huskies come out in attack mode with a chip on their shoulders.
While Keaton Wagler can expect to see many different Connecticut defenders in Silas Demary, Solo Ball, Malachi Smith and even Jayden Ross, the star Illinois freshman will step up as he has done all tournament, as will his teammates David Mirkovic, Andrej Stojakovic and Tomislav Ivicic. The matchup between Mirkovic and UCONN senior Alex Karaban could very well determine which team wins, including which of the two is able to hit a few threes. Mirkovic should have plenty of opportunities to facilitate offense out of the post, and Illinois should be able to penetrate on the Huskies, especially Stojakovic. The Illini must limit turnovers that lead to transition buckets and secondary threes for the Huskies, which can be quickly sparked by such easy baskets when scoring is more difficult in the half court.
Make no mistake, this game is going to be tight and back and forth. For Illinois to reach the title game, it is only fitting the Illini must beat Connecticut, which under Hurley is the gold standard in college basketball. By no means is winning going to be easy but Illinois will have enough scoring diversity and continue to crank up its defense to fend off the Huskies and advance to the school's first title game since 2005.
National Semifinal #1 (Game 61): #3 Illinois Fighting Illini vs. #2 UCONN Huskies - 5:09 p.m. CT (TBS)
- Tourney profile of the #3 seed Illinois Fighting Illini.
- Tourney profile of the #2 seed Connecticut Huskies.
- Position-by-position breakdown and early prediction for Illinois versus Connecticut.
- Tale of the Tape review of this season's Illinois-Connecticut game from November 28, 2025.
- Personal reflections on the Illinois Fighting Illini's long road back to the Final Four.
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