Illinois Basketball Advances to Elite Eight

0:00On March 27th, Illinois basketball advanced to the Elite 8 with a solid 65-55 victory over Houston. The fighting Illinois put on a clinic defensively, limiting the Cougars to just 22 points in the first half and 33 in the second. Key players stepped up big time for Illinois. David Merkovich tally 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Keaton Wagler added 13 points and 12 boards. Off the bench, Andrej Stodzakowicz delivered 13 points and 28 minutes to help seal the win. Coach Brad Underwood praised the team's poise, patience, and smarts on the court. He expressed real pride in their effort, noting they came ready to advance and now have one more game to push further. This marks the second Elite 8 trip for Illinois in three seasons. The program last reached the national championship game in 2005 as runners up and the current roster carries a strong mindset aimed at. Finally claiming a title. Up next, the Elini face Iowa on Saturday night with the spot in the final four on the line their first since 2005.