Illinois advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 21 years with a 71-59 victory over Iowa. The team overcame a 10-point first-half deficit and survived a five-minute stoppage due to an arena horn malfunction. This marks Illinois' sixth Final Four appearance; they also made it in 2005, 1989, 1952, 1951 and 1949. The victory ended Iowa's improbable NCAA Tournament run, which saw them lose six of their final eight regular-season games. Illinois will next face the winner of the Duke-Connecticut game in the East Region final.