ILLINOIS VS. UCONN GAME NOTES

(ILLINOIS NOTES)

HEAD COACH BRAD UNDERWOOD Career Record: 302-136 (.689), 13th season At Illinois: 193-109 (.639), 9th season Big Ten: 107-71 (.601) NCAA Tournament at Illinois / All-Time: 10-5 (.667), 6th appearance / 12-9 (.571), 10th appearance ILLINOIS NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY Appearances / Streak: 36th / 6 Record: 50-36 (.581) Final Four Appearances: 6 (2026, 2005, 1989, 1952, 1951, 1949) NCAA TOURNAMENT FINAL FOUR OPPONENT – 2 SEED UCONN Series Record / Streak: UConn leads 4-1 / UConn W-4 Last Meeting: #5 UConn 74, #13 Illinois 61 (11/28/25 at Madison Square Garden, New York) Record at Neutral Sites: UConn leads 2-0 Record in NCAA Tournament: UConn leads 1-0 Last NCAA Tournament Meeting: #1 UConn 77, #10 Illinois 52 (3/30/24 at TD Garden, Boston / Elite 8) Underwood vs. UConn at Illinois / All-Time: 0-2 / 1-2

FIGHTING ILLINI BASKETBALL UNDER HEAD COACH BRAD UNDERWOOD • 2026 Final Four; UI’s first since 2005 NCAA Runner-Up • Two NCAA Elite Eights in the last three years • 8-2 over last three NCAA Tournaments • Big Ten’s winningest team in conference play over the last seven seasons • One of four schools nationally with seven straight 20-win regular seasons • Six straight NCAA Tournament appearances (seventh precluded by COVID-19 cancelation in 2020) • One of 10 schools in the last six NCAA Tournaments • One of 12 schools with NCAA Tournament wins in at least five of the last six years • Top-two Big Ten finishes in four of the last six years • 96 B1G wins since 2019-20, the most in school history over a seven-year period • Five AP Top-25 finishes in last seven years, including two in the Top 10 • Five All-Americans (four consensus) • 22 All-Big Ten selections (eight first team) • 2024 NCAA Elite Eight • 2024 Big Ten Tournament Champions • 2022 Big Ten Regular Season Champions • 2021 NCAA Tourney No. 1 seed (fourth in school history) • 2021 Big Ten Tournament Champions

FIGHTING ILLINI NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTES • The No. 3-seeded Illinois Fighting Illini – 2026 NCAA Tournament South Regional Champions – travel to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., to compete in the program’s sixth Final Four and its first since 2005. • Illinois faces East Regional Champion and No. 2-seeded UConn in the first National Semifinal matchup, slated to tip off on Saturday at 5:09 p.m. CT (6:09 p.m. ET). The Final Four matchup between the Fighting Illini and the Huskies will be televised on TBS, TNT, and truTV. • The winner of Saturday’s National Semifinal between Illinois and UConn will advance to National Championship game to face either No. 1 seed and West Regional Champion Arizona or No. 1 seed and Midwest Regional Champion Michigan, Monday, April 6, at 7:50 p.m. CT (8:50 p.m. ET) on TBS, TNT, and truTV. • Illinois’ run to the Final Four began with opening weekend victories over 14 seed Penn (105-70) and 11 seed VCU (76-55) in Rounds 1 and 2, respectively, in Greenville, S.C. The Illini then defeated 2 seed and No. 5-ranked Houston (65-55) in the Sweet 16, followed by an Elite Eight victory over Big Ten rival and 9 seed Iowa (71-59) at Toyota Center in Houston. • Illinois is making its 36th all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and sixth* straight (*seventh precluded by cancellation of 2020 Tournament due to COVID-19). » Illinois is tied for 18th among all schools, fifth among B1G schools, for most NCAA Tournament appearances. • Illinois’ Elite Eight victory over Iowa marked its 28th win of the season, the fourth-most in program history. Brad Underwood is the first head coach in Illinois program history to win 28+ games in multiple seasons. 1. 2005 – Bruce Weber, 37-2 – National Runner-Up 2. 1989 – Lou Henson, 31-5 – Final Four 3. 2024 – Brad Underwood, 29-9 – Elite Eight 4. 2026 – Brad Underwood, 28-8 – Final Four • Illinois is making its sixth trip to the Final Four, and first since finishing as national runner-up in 2005: » 2026 Final Four – Brad Underwood » 1952 Third Place – Harry Combes » 2005 Runner-Up – Bruce Weber » 1951 Third Place – Harry Combes » 1989 Final Four – Lou Henson » 1949 Third Place – Harry Combes • Illinois’ six Final Four appearances are second-most among teams yet to win a national title, trailing only Houston (7), which Illinois defeated in this year’s Sweet 16.

• Illinois is No. 4 in kenpom with a net rating of +34.41, third among the teams competing at the Final Four behind No. 1 Michigan (+39.02) and No. 2 Arizona (+38.76), and ahead of No. 9 UConn (+29.11). • Illinois is one of only three Big Ten teams – and one of just 10 teams nationally – to earn a bid in each of the last six NCAA Tournaments. Illinois’ six-year streak is tied for the nation’s seventh-longest active streak. • Illinois’ active streak of six straight NCAA Tournament appearances is its longest since participating eight years in a row from 2000 through 2007. • Illinois is one of three B1G teams (MSU & UCLA) to advance in the NCAA Tournament five of the last six years.

• The Fighting Illini will compete in the sixth Final Four in program history, and the program’s third since the field expanded to 32 teams in 1975. Illinois is 1-4 in its five previous National Semifinal matchups: » 2026 National Semifinal (Indianapolis, Ind.) – #3 Illinois vs. #2 UConn » 2005 National Semifinal (St. Louis, Mo.) – #1 Illinois 72, #4 Louisville 57 » 1989 National Semifinal (Seattle, Wash.) – #3 Michigan 83, #1 Illinois 81 » 1952 National Semifinal (Seattle, Wash.) – St. John’s 61, Illinois 59 » 1951 East Regional Final/National Semifinal (New York, N.Y.) – Kentucky 76, Illinois 74 » 1949 East Regional Final/National Semifinal (New York, N.Y.) – Kentucky 76, Illinois 47 • With Illinois and Michigan both advancing to the National Semifinal, it marks the ninth time since 1976 that the Big Ten Conference has produced two of the Final Four participants. It is the second time that the National Semifinal round has featured both the Fighting Illini and Wolverines, who also matched up in the 1989 Final Four. » 2026 – #1 Michigan and #3 Illinois » 2015 – #1 Wisconsin (runner-up) and #7 Michigan State » 2005 – #1 Illinois (runner-up) and #5 Michigan State » 2000 – #1 Michigan State (champion) and #8 Wisconsin » 1999 – #1 Michigan State and #4 Ohio State » 1992 – #6 Michigan (runner-up) and #2 Indiana » 1989 – #3 Michigan (champion) and #1 Illinois » 1980 – #6 Purdue (third place) and #5 Iowa » 1976 – Indiana (champion) and Michigan (runner-up) • Brad Underwood is just the second head coach in school history to lead Illinois to at least six straight NCAA Tournaments, joining Lou Henson (eight straight from 1983-90). • Brad Underwood joins Lou Henson as the only Illinois head coaches in the modern era to twice lead the Fighting Illini to the Elite Eight or beyond: » 2026 Final Four – Brad Underwood » 2001 Elite Eight – Bill Self » 2024 Elite Eight – Brad Underwood » 1989 Final Four – Lou Henson » 2005 Runner-Up – Bruce Weber » 1984 Elite Eight – Lou Henson

• Illinois has compiled a 50-36 (.581) record all-time in NCAA Tournament games. • Illinois’ 50 NCAA Tournament wins rank 18th among all schools, and fourth among the Final Four participants: » UConn – 76 wins (8th) » Michigan – 72 wins (9th) » Arizona – 66 wins (13th) » Illinois – 50 wins (18th)

Illinois’ 50 NCAA Tournament wins are second among teams yet to win a national title, trailing only Purdue (53). • Since 1975, when the field was increased to 32 teams, Illinois has advanced to the Sweet Sixteen 10 times, the Elite Eight six times, and the Final Four three times. • Head Coach Brad Underwood has brought Illinois back among the nation’s elite college basketball programs. » His rebuild in Champaign brought success during Year 3 of his tenure, leading the Illini to a top-25 finish and what would have been an NCAA Tournament bid before the 2020 postseason was canceled due to COVID-19. » Underwood directed Illinois to a Big Ten Tournament title and No. 1 seed in 2021, as Illinois played in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013. » Underwood guided the Illini to a Big Ten Regular Season Championship and 4 seed in 2022, advancing to the Round of 32 for the second straight season. » In 2023, Underwood guided the Illini to the NCAA tournament for a third straight season as a 9 seed. » Illinois earned its fourth straight NCAA Tournament bid in 2024 after capturing the Big Ten Tournament title. As a 3 seed, Illinois advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time since 2005 behind star Terrence Shannon Jr., who averaged 23.3 points, the highest NCAA Tournament scoring average in school history. » Underwood’s NCAA streak extended to five in 2025. The 6 seed Illini earned an 86-73 win in Round 1 vs. 11 seed Xavier. It marked the fourth season in the previous five with an NCAA Tourney win for the Fighting Illini. » In his sixth-straight appearance, Underwood has led the Illini to the program’s first Final Four in 21 seasons since the 2005 national runner-up team. After dominant wins over Penn (105-70) and VCU (76-55) in the first and second rounds, respectively, the Illini defeated 2 seed Houston (65-55) in the Sweet 16, then rallied from a 10-point first-half deficit to beat Big Ten rival Iowa (71-59) to claim the program’s sixth Final Four berth. • Underwood is making his 10th trip to the NCAA Tournament with his third program in 13 seasons as a Div. I head coach. He previously led Stephen F. Austin to three consecutive appearances from 2014-2016, advancing to the Round of 32 in 2014 and 2016. He then took Oklahoma State to the Tournament in his lone season in Stillwater in 2017. Underwood owns a 12-9 career record in the NCAA Tournament, with a 10-5 mark at the helm of the Fighting Illini. • Underwood has led the Illini to an 8-2 record over the last three NCAA Tournaments.

COMPLETE NOTES: https://fightingillini.com/documents/2026/4/1/37_-_ILLINI_MBB_Notes-NCAA_Final_Four_4-4-26.pdf

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(UCONN NOTES)

Six-Time NCAA Champions – 1999, 2004, 2011, 2014, 2023 and 2024 UConn has now reached six-straight NCAA Tournaments, a program record. In the span it has amassed a 17-3 March Madness record, won the 2023 and 2024 NCAA titles and advanced to the 2026 Final Four. The Huskies are the first team in over a decade to reach three Final Fours in a four-year span. Dan Hurley is in his eighth season as the 19th head coach in the history of UConn men’s basketball and his 16th season overall as a Division I head coach. Hurley owns a collegiate coaching record of 349-179 (.661) in his 16 seasons — two at Wagner College, six at the University of Rhode Island and eight at UConn (198-74, .728). Connecticut is playing in the Final Four for the eighth time – reaching college basketball’s ultimate destination in 1999, 2004, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2023, 2024 and 2026. The Huskies are 12-1 on the Final Four stage, with that .923 winning percentage by far the best in the history of the Big Dance.

SETTING THE SCENE: UConn continues play in its sixth-straight NCAA Tournament, a new program record for consecutive trips. Playing as the two-seed in the East Region the Huskies advanced to the Final Four for the eighth time, all since 1999, with a dramatic instant classic Elite Eight triumph over top overall seed Duke on Sunday. It sets up UConn’s fifth all-time meeting with the South Regional champion, Illinois, including one earlier this season.

HOW WE GOT HERE On March 20 in First Round, the Huskies held off 15-seed Furman in an 82-71 win in First Round action. Tarris Reed Jr. turned in one of the most dominant performances in the history of the big dance in the win, scoring a career-high 31 points and pulling down a ridiculous 27 rebounds, also a new personal-best. Alex Karaban added 22 points while Braylon Mullins scored 12 with a career-high six assists. Reed Jr. out-rebounded Furman by his lonesome as UConn finished +21 on the glass and out-scored the Paladins 46-24 in the paint.

On March 22 in the Second Round, UConn trailed early but took a five-point lead to the break and then used a decisive 14-0 second half run to take down seven-seed UCLA by a score 73-57 in Second Round play. Karaban poured in a career-high 27 points, shooting 9-of16 from the floor, 4-of-8 from three and 5-for-5 from the free throw line. Reed Jr. posted his eighth double-double in his last 12 games with 10 points and 13 rebounds along with three blocks, while Mullins scored 17 and grabbed four rebounds. Malachi Smith dished out six assists in a season-high 33 minutes. On March 27 in the Sweet 16, UConn ripped off a 25-6 start and took an eight-point lead to the half against three-seed Michigan State. The Spartans pulled back ahead briefly midway through the second half, but the Huskies immediately re-took the edge and held it the rest of the way thanks to clutch late shooting and free throws. Reed Jr. led all players with 20 points and added five rebounds with four assists, while Karaban scored 17 with seven caroms along with hitting the biggest shot of the game, a 3-pointer to push a one-point lead to four with 1:39 to play and lead to the eventual 67-63 final.

THIS IS MARCH: The Huskies play in the 2026 NCAA Tournament with an all-time record of 76-33 in the Big Dance. UConn’s first bid came in 1951 and it has made 39 total appearances, reaching the Round of 16 a total of 20 times, the Elite Eight on 14 occasions, eight Final Fours and six national titles (1999, 2004, 2011, 2014, 2023, 2024). UConn is playing as a two-seed for the seventh time – its most common seed, also earned in 1994, 1995, 1998, 2002, 2004 and 2005. Connecticut has been a top-four ‘protected’ seed in 14 of its 27 appearances since seeding began in 1979. UConn is now 13-4 in the Sweet 16 and 8-5 in the Elite Eight since 1979. The Huskies have won a staggering 18 games in a row in the second weekend or later, a streak dating back to 2011. Connecticut is 6-1 in its prior seven National Semifinal trips. UConn’s 12-1 record on the Final Four stage (semifinals and title game) is by far the best in March Madness history.

DAN DOMINATING THE DANCE: Under Dan Hurley, UConn has made the last six March Madness fields and compiled a 17-3 record with titles in 2023 and 2024. Hurley is 19-5 over his eight all-time trips to the NCAA Tournament, with his .792 winning percentage in the dance the BEST among active coaches and the third best in the history of the NCAA Tournament amongst coaches with at least 15 games coached in the tournament. He is also tops among active coaches with no minimums and is off to one of the best 24-game starts to his March Madness career in history.

CXOMPLETE NOTES: https://fightingillini.com/documents/2026/4/2/37_-_UConn_-_NCAA_Final_Four.pdf

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