While the win over Houston hasn’t worn off, Illinois basketball now sets course for the Elite 8 and a matchup with Iowa.
What is great about the Elite 8 matchup is that Iowa is a familiar foe. The Illini have played and beaten the Hawkeyes this season, so we know what it takes to get the victory.
This is an Iowa team that is playing at another level, though. Much like Illinois, they aren’t the same team we played nearly three months ago. This is going to be a great game.
Here is the Illinois basketball vs Iowa how to watch, series history, and players to watch in the Elite 8
- Illinois basketball vs Iowa – How to watch
We can’t celebrate the Sweet 16 win too long, as the Elite 8 is already here. Illinois will take on Iowa on Saturday, March 28, at 5:09 p.m. CT/6:09 p.m. ET. You can view this massive Big Ten tilt in the Elite 8 on TBS and TruTV.
- Illinois basketball vs Iowa – Series history
As an Illinois fan, you can’t feel any better about a matchup to advance to the Final 4. Illinois and Iowa have a very long history, with Illinois holding a decisive lead in the series, 95-77.
The Illini have also gotten the best of the Hawkeyes as of late. We have won five in a row over Iowa, with the last game coming this season. Illinois clipped Iowa in January by a score of 75-69 in Iowa City.
Iowa did win the first-ever matchup between the two teams, though. This was a 46-36 win for the Hawkeyes back in 1908. I think we all remember that barn burner.
- Illinois basketball vs Iowa – Players to watch
For key players, I think you need to look back at the last game in January. Illinois was able to hold the Hawkeyes’ offense in check, which is rare.
Bennett Stirtz is the key for Iowa. Some would say, he is the straw that stirtz the drink for the Hawkeyes.
Stirtz dropped 20 points on 7-of-15 shooting against Nebraska in the Sweet 16. Illinois kept him quiet in the first game, as he only had 12 points on 5-of-17 shooting. That was the big difference between winning and losing.
Iowa can bring in a solid rotation off the bench. They are much deeper than Houston, which is a bit scary. Illinois used that against the Cougars, but we can’t against the Hawkeyes.
Illinois’ key players are the freshmen. Keaton Wagler and David Mirkovic were the first freshmen duo in NCAA tournament history to have a double-double in the same game. Wagler looked good in the first game against Iowa, going for 19 points, but Mirkovic was only held to seven points in that game.
Getting those two freshmen going will be huge. I think Andrej Stojakovic is also going to be important. He has been great lately, and he looked good in the first game against Iowa.