Illinois basketball and UConn have recent history: Here's why the Final Four won't be the same
Dee Brown talks what Illinois basketball in the Final Four means for the Illini
Over 20 years ago, Dee Brown helped lift Illinois to a Final Four. He reflects on what that means for the Illini fans, athletics and former players.
Brad Underwood was nearing the end of his Thursday press conference talking about how far his team has come, and how much this Final Four appearance means to Illinois basketball.
That's when he was asked about the Elite Eight in 2024.
"Thanks for the reminder," Underwood said.
In that game, UConn used a 30-0 run to take control of the game and beat the Illini 77-52 to advance to the Final Four. The two met earlier this season, too, with the Huskies beating Illinois 74-61 on Black Friday.
But that was then.
Those two games featured massively different Illini basketball teams. Even the game on Nov. 28, just five months ago, featured two different teams than the ones that will play on Saturday.
Here's why the latest Illini vs. UConn game won't have the same outcome in Indianapolis:
The backstory:
Turn the clock back to Mar 30, 2024.
UConn dispatched the Illini by 25 to advance to the Final Four. The Huskies were up by five at halftime before scoring 49 points in the second half.
"That sucks," Underwood said walking out of the locker room after the loss, while UConn was on its way to another national title.
Stephon Castle and Donovan Clingan started for that team and were eventual top-10 NBA Draft picks. Cam Spencer and Tristen Newton were also NBA Draft picks. The only starter on that 2024 UConn team who wasn't drafted in the NBA was Alex Karaban, and that's because he's still playing for the Huskies.
Meanwhile, the Illini had Terrence Shannon Jr. selected in the first round of the NBA Draft. UConn outgunned Illnois that night. It wasn't that Illinois lost the game; UConn was thoroughly better.
"We learned a lot from that game," Underwood said. "I thought that team was a Final Four team that just happened to play a damn good basketball team in the Elite Eight, so we didn't get there."
Illinois has had two years to build a roster that can compete with a team like that UConn squad. The loss resonated that offseason, and this past offseason, too.
"I don't think we've rebuilt, I think we just reload," Underwood said. "It's looked different. I've said all along, you just have to keep knocking on the door and our opportunities were going to come."
In the two years since, Illinois has utilized NIL, the transfer portal and international recruiting. The present-day team is one of the tallest teams in the nation.
The Illini have another opportunity on Saturday against UConn, this time against a team that's as different as it is familiar. The good news is that Illinois isn't playing the 2024 UConn Huskies on Saturday. But, the Illini know the 2026 Final Four UConn team is one of the most talented teams in the nation.
The 2024 Elite Eight was a lesson for Underwood in just how difficult it is to win the biggest games in the Tournament.
"I think we grew from that from the standpoint of understanding how hard it is, what that looks like," Underwood said.
What's next:
On Nov. 28, 2025, UConn beat Illinois by 13. It might be one of the most significant one-off games this season.
In that game, Illini star Keaton Wagler played 14 minutes and scored three points. Andrej Stojakovic scored just three points, too.
Mihailo Petrovic played more than Wagler and NCAA Tournament starter Jake Davis, as Davis was recovering from an injury. In fact, the Illinois' starting lineup that led them to the Final Four did not play a single minute together.
On the flip side, the UConn starting five that piloted the Huskies to the Final Four played just one minute together. Star forward Tarris Reed Jr. played just 15 minutes due to foul trouble.
Since then, the two teams have found the right lineups. UConn knows this, too.
"Illinois is one of the best teams in the country and they're as big a threat to winning this tournament as any of the four teams," UConn head coach Dan Hurley said.
In the Illini's case, Stojakovic has found a role coming off the bench. His scoring has remained an integral part of Illinois' success, but his defensive improvement has been a revelation.
Illinois has mastered when and how to use the brotherly duo of Tomislav Ivisic and Zvonimir Ivisic. Jake Davis and Ben Humrichous have become efficient players who can stretch the floor with their shooting while also providing dependable defense.
Also, the Illini developed a star in Wagler who is one of the most explosive offensive playmakers in America who has also found ways to impact the game in different ways.
Whatever happens on Saturday, it won't be history repeating itself. This Illini team is much different than the ones we've seen two years ago and just five months ago.
It's all in an effort to keep up with the best in the nation.
"It's hard to argue with what Danny has done throughout his time there and the consistency," Underwood said. "That's the one thing we've tried to match is the consistency and not ever look at it as a rebuild but just a reload.