Tomislav Ivisic saw the arena mic after the win over Iowa and decided to go for the I-L-L cheer.
“I thought, ‘Let’s try it. It’s my time.’”
After 21 years, it’s the Illini’s time again. They are headed to the Final Four. The story from the celebration:
www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/28/i...
@norlander.bsky.social @garyparrishcbs.bsky.social my first sports memory was the elite 8 Illini vs Arizona game in 2005 and, eventually, how my dad felt when we lost the national championship . Today, I surprised my Dad with Final Four tickets. Today is a good day. I L L I N I
David Mirkovic wearing a cowboy hat
Illini freshman David Mirkovic ordered this cowboy hat while on the plane ride from Champaign, IL to Houston, TX and it arrived yesterday so he could wear it during the celebration tonight.
What a day. #NoKings this afternoon, Illini win this evening, and Bob Dylan tonight. Pretty pretty good.
Student fans and others celebrate at the University of Illinois Alma Mater statue on the Champaign-Urbana campus after Illinois beats Iowa in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight game March 28, 2026. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
University of Illinois Alma Mater
Illini advance to NCAA Final Four
#illini solo
A large crowd gathered on the Univ. of Illinois campus following the men’s basketball win over Iowa to advance to the final four
FINAL FOUR
Pinch me, I’m dreaming #Illini
A white T-shirt on a burnt orange background. The T-shirt reads FLIGHT #25
The #Illini are in the Final Four... Might need to break out the oldest T-shirt I own...
Is 1989 considered vintage?
🧡💙
Throughout all of sports, my dad's biggest passion was Illinois basketball. Some of my earliest memories are winter car rides with the announcers on the radio. He used to joke that if he succumbed to dementia, just set him in front of a VHS tape of the Illini on repeat and he'd be fine.
Going to Illinois for my Ph.D. was the best professional decision I ever made. It changed my life. So happy right now. & so proud of that Political Science Department. We had a small grad program & so many of my Illini contemporaries from then have gone on to be leaders in our discipline!
I would like to formally apologize to the #Illini for doubting them after their early exit from the Big 10 tournament. I'm sorry I was so negative. I'll never doubt again.
FINAL FUCKING FOUR #ILLINI
It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that tonight’s Illini win has clinched the family NCAA pool for my wife, who does not follow the sport at all. Please respect my privacy at this difficult time.
#Huskers #Nebrasketball only lost one game all year to teams not in the Great Eight! (@UCLA)
#Huskers beat Final Four finalist #Illinois in December on the Illini home court. They also beat Iowa and Michigan State (made it to Sweet Sixteen).
Just an incredible season!! #GBR
Illinois heads to its first Final Four since 2005. So many good teams the past several years, the Illini finally get the breakthrough.
And now Bruce Pearl has to talk nice about the Final Four-bound Illini. #schadenfreude
