Illinois and Iowa have advanced to the South Regional championship, securing a spot in the Final Four. The matchup marks the 17th time since 1979 that two teams from the same conference have made it to the Elite Eight. This intra-conference rivalry highlights the Big Ten's strong year, with the conference looking to end its 26-year drought without a national championship in men's college basketball.
The last Big Ten team to win a national title was Michigan State in 2000. That same year, Wisconsin beat Purdue in the Elite Eight before losing to the Spartans in the national semifinals. The Illinois-Iowa matchup will be the third Elite Eight showdown between Big Ten teams, with the other being Michigan's win over Ohio State in 1992.
In the 26 years since the last all-Big Ten Elite Eight, there have been eight regional finals between conference foes. The ACC has been responsible for three of those meetings, followed by the SEC and Big East with two each, and the Big 12 with one.
The Big Ten's strong tournament success is reflective of a strong season across the board. Illinois coach Brad Underwood praised the league's performance, saying it was as good as it's ever been from top to bottom.
The Illinois-Iowa matchup is a testament to the Big Ten's resurgence in college basketball. With two teams from the conference making it to the Final Four, the stage is set for a historic moment. The spotlight is now on the Big Ten to deliver a national championship, ending the 26-year drought.
