Take a look inside the Toyota Center as Iowa men's basketball takes on Illinois in the 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 in Houston.
Iowa's Tavion Banks (6) and Illinois' Andrej Stojakovic (2) dive for the loose ball during the first half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Iowa players huddle before the first half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game against Illinois at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois' Tomislav Ivisic (13) and Iowa's Cam Manyawu (3) go up for the tipoff for the first half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Iowa's Cam Manyawu (3) dunks the ball during the first half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game against Illinois at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Iowa's Cam Manyawu (3) celebrates after dunking the ball during the first half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game against Illinois at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois' David Mirkovic (0) goes up for a shot above Iowa's Bennett Stirtz (14) during the first half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Iowa's Cam Manyawu (3), Illinois' Keaton Wagler (23) and Illinois' Tomislav Ivisic (13) go up for the rebound during the first half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Iowa head coach Ben McCollum reacts during the first half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game against Illinois at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois head coach Brad Underwood watches on during the first half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game against Iowa at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Iowa's Tavion Banks (6) boxes out Illinois' David Mirkovic (0) from the rebound during the first half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois' David Mirkovic (0) goes up for a shot against Iowa's Kael Combs (11) during the first half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois fans cheer on after a basket against Iowa during the first half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Iowa's Bennett Stirtz (14) passes the ball as he is guarded by Illinois' Kylan Boswell (4) during the first half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois' Keaton Wagler (23) goes up for a 3-pointer against Iowa's Tavion Banks (6) during the first half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois' Kylan Boswell (4) reacts after being called for fouling Iowa's Bennett Stirtz (14) during the first half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Iowa head coach Ben McCollum exchanges words with Iowa's Alvaro Folgueiras (7) during the first half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game against Illinois at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois' Kylan Boswell (4) dribbles the ball during the first half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game against Iowa at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois' Keaton Wagler (23) goes up for a 3-pointer during the first half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game against Iowa at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois' Zvonimir Ivisic (44) and Iowa's Alvaro Folgueiras (7) reach out for the rebound during the first half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
A look inside the Toyota Center as Iowa takes on Illinois during the first half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
A look inside the Toyota Center as Iowa takes on Illinois during the first half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Fans cheer on after a Iowa basket during the first half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game against Illinois at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois' Keaton Wagler (23) dribbles against Iowa's Isaia Howard (23) during the first half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois head coach Brad Underwood and Andrej Stojakovic (2) celebrate after defeating Iowa, 71-59, to advance to the NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four, at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois' Tomislav Ivisic (13) goes up for a shot against Iowa's Tavion Banks (6) during the second half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois' David Mirkovic (0) goes up for a shot between Iowa's Cooper Koch (8) and Cam Manyawu (3) during the second half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Iowa's Tavion Banks (6) goes up for a shot during the second half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game against Illinois at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Iowa's Tavion Banks (6) goes up for a 3-pointer against Illinois' Tomislav Ivisic (13) during the second half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois' Keaton Wagler (23) goes up for a layup against Iowa's Kael Combs (11) during the second half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois' Keaton Wagler (23) celebrates after a basket against Iowa during the second half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois' Andrej Stojakovic (2) and Iowa's Tate Sage (24) go up for the rebound during the second half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois' Zvonimir Ivisic (44) goes up for a shot against Iowa's Cam Manyawu (3) during the second half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois' David Mirkovic (0) pulls down the rebound above Iowa's Tate Sage (24) and Tavion Banks (6) during the second half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois' David Mirkovic (0) loses control of the rebound between Iowa's Tate Sage (24) and Tavion Banks (6) during the second half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Iowa fans react as Illinois pulls ahead during the second half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois' Andrej Stojakovic (2) goes up for a shot between Iowa's Cooper Koch (8) and Kael Combs (11) during the second half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Iowa's Bennett Stirtz (14) goes up for a layup during the second half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game against Illinois at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois' David Mirkovic (0) and Ben Humrichous (3) boxes out Iowa's Tavion Banks (6) from the rebound during the second half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Iowa head coach Ben McCollum reacts during the second half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game against Illinois at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois' Ben Humrichous (3) goes up for a 3-pointer against Iowa's Cam Manyawu (3) during the second half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois head coach Brad Underwood watches on during the second half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game against Iowa at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Iowa head coach Ben McCollum talks with Cam Manyawu (3) during the second half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game against Illinois at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Iowa's Bennett Stirtz (14) goes up for a shot against Illinois' David Mirkovic (0) during the second half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 game at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois' Tomislav Ivisic (13) celebrates with fans after defeating Iowa, 71-59, to advance to the NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four, at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois' Andrej Stojakovic (2) celebrates with fans after defeating Iowa, 71-59, to advance to the NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four, at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois players dump confetti on head coach Brad Underwood after defeating Iowa, 71-59, to advance to the NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four, at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois head coach Brad Underwood lifts the South Regional Championship trophy after defeating Iowa, 71-59, to advance to the NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four, at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois' Kylan Boswell (4) and teammates celebrate after defeating Iowa, 71-59, to advance to the NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four, at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois' Tomislav Ivisic (13) celebrates after defeating Iowa, 71-59, to advance to the NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four, at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois players celebrate after defeating Iowa, 71-59, to advance to the NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four, at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois' Kylan Boswell (4) cuts down the net after defeating Iowa, 71-59, to advance to the NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four, at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Iowa's Tavion Banks (6) and Alvaro Folgueiras (7) react as the Hawkeyes fall to Illinois in the NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Iowa's Isaia Howard (23) celebrates after defeating Iowa, 71-59, to advance to the NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four, at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman and head coach Brad Underwood embrace after defeating Iowa, 71-59, to advance to the NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four, at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois fans celebrate after the Fighting Illini defeated Iowa, 71-59, to advance to the NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four, at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois head coach Brad Underwood celebrates after defeating Iowa, 71-59, to advance to the NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four, at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Illinois head coach Brad Underwood celebrates after defeating Iowa, 71-59, to advance to the NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four, at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Iowa's Tate Sage (24) reacts after falling to Illinois, 71-59, in the NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite 8 at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Free to read: The Illinois men's basketball team advanced to the Final Four for the first time in more than 20 years with a win over Iowa in Houston on Saturday.
Despite leading for more than 25 minutes, the Iowa men's basketball fell to Illinois in the Elite 8 on Saturday in Houston.
From Bennett Stirtz’s rise to roster questions ahead, three takeaways from Iowa’s season-ending loss to Illinois as year one of the Ben McCollum era ends in the Elite 8.
