NCAA tournament Elite 8: What you need to know for Saturday's matchups
· Yahoo Sports
The biggest college basketball tournament is here, bringing plenty of excitement and storylines. Will we see Cinderellas pull upsets, or will the bluebloods keep their grip on the tournament? With the power of a reliable connection always important during a successful tournament run, we’re keeping you connected to the can’t-miss headlines and standout moments from every round.
The first two spots in the Final Four will be booked on Saturday. And there are three schools vying to break droughts that span at least 20 years.
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Only Purdue, which made the national title game in 2024, has gotten to the Final Four in the last two decades. Will the Boilermakers get back for the second time in the past three seasons and give the Big Ten two teams in the national semifinals?
Here’s what you need to know for Saturday’s Elite Eight games.
No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 9 Iowa
Illinois’ last Final Four appearance: 2005
Iowa’s last Final Four appearance: 1980
We’re guaranteed to have at least one Big Ten team in the Final Four and it’s through a matchup only the most die-hard fans of the conference would have predicted before the NCAA tournament.
Iowa overcame a hot start from Nebraska to take down the Cornhuskers on Thursday night and Illinois beat Houston at its own game in a low-scoring slugfest. The Hawkeyes would probably like to take their chances that Illinois can’t duplicate a performance like that in a game where possessions are at a premium.
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The Hawkeyes dictated the slow tempo against Nebraska and shot 52% from the field and nearly 64% from inside the arc. Of course, Nebraska’s four-men-on-the-court blunder is the play that will be relived for years, but Iowa already led before that happened.
Iowa probably can’t give up 10 offensive rebounds again, however. Illinois had nine in its win over Houston, though the Illini shot just 43% from the field against Houston’s tough defense. The Cougars, meanwhile, were an abysmal 34% from the field and made just 28% of their 3-point attempts.
The two teams met once during the regular season; Illinois got a 75-69 road win.
No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 2 Purdue
Arizona’s last Final Four appearance: 2001
Purdue’s last Final Four appearance: 2024
This could be the highest-scoring game of the Elite Eight. Both teams have topped 100 points once in the NCAA tournament and Arizona’s 78 points in the second round against Utah State is the lowest total of either team through the first three rounds.
The Wildcats were simply unstoppable on offense in the Sweet 16. They shot 64% from the field and had 19 assists on 37 baskets in a 109-88 rout over Arkansas. Purdue will have to provide more resistance at the rim — and they’re a team much better equipped to do so with center Oscar Cluff and forward Trey Kaufman-Renn.
The latter got the game-winning basket against Texas on Thursday night after he tipped in Braden Smith’s missed layup with 0.7 seconds to go. Purdue again got nearly all of its scoring production from its starting lineup; bench players scored just two baskets.
Arizona can get more scoring power off the bench. Tobe Awaka had 14 points and seven rebounds against Arkansas and Anthony Dell’Orso has had 20 or more points four times this season.
How the Wildcats keep Fletcher Loyer from wriggling away for open 3-pointers will be a big key. Arizona’s opponents shoot less than 31% from behind the arc. Loyer is 5-of-9 from 3-point range through three NCAA tournament games and is averaging nearly 20 points per game.