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Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts after a play against the UConn Huskies during the first half of a semifinal of the Final Four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Former top recruit could be excellent transfer portal fit for Illinois basketball

Pleas Honeywood

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5:01 AM CDT

Illinois basketball says goodbye to another transfer portal departure

Kellen Sherman

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4:47 AM CDT

Illinois fans cannot help but give Brad Underwood his flowers for an amazing season

John Buhler

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Apr 5, 2026

Brad Underwood fighting tears after Final Four loss makes things even more heartbreaking

Sam Fariss

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Apr 5, 2026

UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley gets after his team with Illinois guard Keaton Wagler in the foreground during a Final Four game against the Fighting Illini.

Illinois was up against these impossible odds, and nearly pulled it off

Sam Fariss

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Apr 5, 2026

Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Tomislav Ivisic (13) reacts after losing to the Connecticut Huskies during a semifinal of the Final Four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

Dave Portnoy both left-handed congratulated and trolled Illinois at the same time

Ericka Brockish

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Apr 5, 2026

Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini Keaton Wagler (23) dribbles the ball against UConn Huskies Silas Demary Jr. (2) during the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Despite heartbreaking loss, Keaton Wagler still managed to make history vs. UConn

Sam Fariss

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Apr 5, 2026

Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andrej Stojakovic (2)

Brad Underwood's toughest offseason recruiting effort may have started in the postgame presser

Josh Yourish

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Apr 5, 2026

Feb 24, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Jasper Johnson (2) drives around South Carolina Gamecocks guard Meechie Johnson (5) during the second half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

Illinois basketball has the perfect transfer portal option to replace Keaton Wagler

Rees Woodcock

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Apr 5, 2026

Apr 2, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois head coach Brad Underwood during a press conference ahead of the Final Four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

5 interesting Brad Underwood quotes from the Illinois basketball loss to UConn

Rees Woodcock

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Apr 5, 2026

Fans cheer for Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood as he leaves the court following practice ahead of a Final Four game on Friday, April 3, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Illinois basketball has proof of concept despite tough loss to UConn

Rees Woodcock

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Apr 5, 2026

Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini players react from the bench against the Connecticut Huskies in the second half during a semifinal of the Final Four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

Illinois's final trip to the locker room is heartbreaking for Illini fans

Ericka Brockish

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Apr 4, 2026

Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts after a play against the UConn Huskies during the first half of a semifinal of the Final Four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

UConn curse on Illinois basketball looks to be deeper than first thought

Rees Woodcock

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Apr 4, 2026

Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood

Brad Underwood sent the perfect postgame Final four message to Illini fans

Josh Yourish

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Apr 4, 2026

Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) goes to the basket against UConn Huskies guard Silas Demary Jr. (2) in the second half during a semifinal of the Final Four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Illinois basketball fell to Dan Hurley's UConn squad due to one crucial stat

Rees Woodcock

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Apr 4, 2026

Dan Hurley used Illinois’s biggest advantage against Brad Underwood in the Final Four

Josh Yourish

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Apr 4, 2026

Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Tomislav Ivisic (13) reacts after losing to the Connecticut Huskies during a semifinal of the Final Four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

5 sad observations from the Illinois basketball loss to UConn in the Final Four

Rees Woodcock

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Apr 4, 2026

Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley celebrates after defeating the Illinois Fighting Illini in a semifinal of the Final Four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Dan Hurley trolls Illinois fans in weak move right after UConn's Final Four win

Braulio Perez

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Apr 4, 2026

Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts after a play against the UConn Huskies during the first half of a semifinal of the Final Four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Remarkable stats proves Dan Hurley is officially a thorn in Brad Underwood's side

Ericka Brockish

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Apr 4, 2026

Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) loses his footing against UConn Huskies guard Silas Demary Jr. (2) in the second half during a semifinal of the Final Four.

Illinois fans fume as viral clip from official March Madness account shows blatant foul

Sam Fariss

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Apr 4, 2026

Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts after a play against the UConn Huskies during the first half of a semifinal of the Final Four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Illinois fans are losing faith with Dan Hurley coaching circles around Brad Underwood

Ericka Brockish

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Apr 4, 2026

Mar 29, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer looks on against the UConn Huskies in the first half during the Elite Eight.

A Jon Scheyer recruitment photo proves Duke didn't belong in Final Four with Illinois

Sam Fariss

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Apr 4, 2026

Charles Barkley’s bold Illinois/UConn Final Four prediction will have Illini fans oozing confidence

Josh Yourish

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Apr 4, 2026

Mar 28, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) speaks in a press conference after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes in an Elite Eight game of the South Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Brad Underwood reveals the difference in Illinois's UConn rematch, and it's not Keaton Wagler

Ericka Brockish

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Apr 4, 2026

Nov 28, 2025; New York, New York, USA; UConn Huskies guard Solo Ball (1) and Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) fight for the ball in the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

3 numbers that could expose Illinois basketball against UConn in the Final Four

Rees Woodcock

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Apr 4, 2026

Nov 28, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward David Mirkovic (0) collides with UConn Huskies guard Malachi Smith (0) in the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

3 numbers that could expose UConn against Illinois basketball in the Final Four

Rees Woodcock

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Apr 4, 2026

Apr 3, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) shoots the ball against Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kylan Boswell (4) during a practice session ahead of the Final Four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Illinois basketball vs UConn betting lines show a nail-biting Final Four

Rees Woodcock

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Apr 4, 2026

Apr 3, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood directs players during a practice session ahead of the Final Four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

Projected Illinois basketball lineup with the addition of Quentin Coleman

Rees Woodcock

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Apr 3, 2026

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© 2026 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Minute Media or its affiliates and related brands. All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.