- Matchup: Iowa Hawkeyes vs Illinois Fighting Illini
- Date: Saturday, March 28, 2026
- Venue: Toyota Center, Houston, TX
- Broadcast: TBS
- Betting Odds: Iowa (+6)
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The Iowa Hawkeyes (24-12) are set to face off against the Illinois Fighting Illini (27-8) in the Elite 8 at the Toyota Center this Saturday. Iowa enters the game as 6-point underdogs, with an over/under total set at 138 points.
In their latest outing, the Iowa Hawkeyes secured a victory against Nebraska, winning 77-71. Iowa committed 7 fouls, while Nebraska was called for 14. The Hawkeyes successfully made 13 of their 38 attempts from beyond the arc. Nebraska shot an impressive 90.9% from the free-throw line, converting 10 of 11 attempts. On the boards, Nebraska recorded 31 rebounds (10 offensive, 21 defensive) but failed to register a block. They also distributed 19 assists and tallied 3 steals. Defensively, Iowa allowed their opponents to shoot 41.4% from the field, permitting 24 baskets from 58 attempts. The Hawkeyes assisted on 18 buckets, forced 8 turnovers, and recorded 6 steals. On the glass, Iowa had 21 rebounds, including 3 offensive, and shot 83.3% from the free-throw line, making 10 of 12 attempts. They finished with an impressive 51.9% field goal percentage, hitting 27 of 52 attempts, and made 13 out of 30 three-point shots.
Bennett Stirtz was a key contributor in this match, shooting 46.7% from the field while racking up 4 assists. He played the entire 40 minutes of the game, collecting 2 rebounds and finishing with 20 points on 7 of 15 shooting.
Iowa brings a record of 24-12 into this contest, averaging 9.5 turnovers and committing 17.3 personal fouls per game. The Hawkeyes pull down 29.6 rebounds per game and have accumulated 543 assists this season, ranking 62nd nationally. They hit 35.6% of their three-point attempts (291 of 818) and 76.7% from the charity stripe. On average, Iowa scores 75.0 points per game, placing them 202nd in the nation, while shooting 49.0% from the field.
Defensively, the Hawkeyes force their opponents into 12.9 turnovers per game while committing 17.5 personal fouls. They rank 159th in the nation in allowing assists, with 431 given up this season. Iowa’s defense permits a field goal percentage of 45.9% (818 of 1,783) while allowing 28.6 rebounds per game. Opponents hit 33.7% of their three-point attempts and average 66.1 points per game against them, ranking 18th in Division 1.
In their recent match, the Illinois Fighting Illini secured a 65-55 victory over Houston. Illinois limited Houston to 25 total rebounds, including 6 offensive. The Illini shot 28.1% from three-point range, making 9 of 32 attempts, and went a perfect 2-for-2 from the free-throw line. Houston converted 22 of 64 shots from the field, resulting in a 34.4% shooting performance. Illinois completed 22 of 51 field goal attempts, resulting in a shooting percentage of 43.1%, while successfully making 9 of 23 three-pointers (39.1%). They converted 12 out of 21 free throws, resulting in a 57.1% success rate. Houston committed 21 fouls, which led Illinois to 21 free-throw attempts. They recorded 8 turnovers and obtained 2 steals during the match, while grabbing a total of 37 rebounds (28 defensive, 9 offensive).
David Mirkovic played a pivotal role for the Fighting Illini, shooting 6 of 13 for a field goal percentage of 46.2%, securing 10 rebounds along the way. He finished the game with 14 points in 34 minutes of action, contributing 2 assists.
Illinois boasts a 27-8 record this season. They average 13.3 personal fouls per game while shooting 77.8% from the free-throw line. The Illini dish out 14.7 assists per game (ranking 124th nationally) and average only 8.8 turnovers per contest. Illinois has scored a total of 2,946 points this season (84.2 points per game) while pulling down 41.1 rebounds per game. Offensively, they shoot at a rate of 46.4%, ranking them 102nd in the country.
Illinois ranks 55th in the nation in points allowed per game at 69.0. They generate 7.8 turnovers per game and have allowed opponents to shoot 40.7% from the field (28th in the nation). The Illini’s defense permits a three-point shooting percentage of 30.9% (293 of 948), and their opponents boast a free-throw percentage of 72.8%. Furthermore, they yield 13.3 assists and 30.9 rebounds per game, ranking them 174th and 23rd in college basketball, respectively.
Who will emerge victorious in tonight’s NCAA action against the spread?
Prediction: Bet on Iowa (+6)
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