Illini Fall to Top-Ranked Connecticut in Elite Eight

BOSTON – Illinois fell in its NCAA Tournament Elite Eight contest to top-ranked Connecticut, 77-52, at TD Garden on Saturday evening.

The No. 3-seeded Fighting Illini tied the game at 23 with two minutes remaining in the first half and trailed by five at halftime, but a strong second half from the Huskies sent No. 1-seeded UConn through to the next round.

Marcus Domask scored in double figures for the fifth time in his last six games and for the 29th time overall this season, tallying a team-high 17 points. Making two 3-pointers, Domask became just the second player in program history to reach 1,300 minutes played in a single season, joining Deron Williams. He also added three rebounds, two steals, and one assist.

After advancing to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2005 and for the 10th time in program history, Big Ten Tournament champion Illinois finished the 2023-24 season with a 29-9 record, its third-most wins in program history.

PRESS CONFERENCE

POSTGAME NOTES

• Illinois appeared in the Elite Eight for the 10th time in program history.
• Illinois appeared in the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time since advancing to the 2005 national title game.
• Illinois is 5-5 all-time in Elite Eight games in the NCAA Tournament.
• Illinois finished the season with a 29-9 record, the third-most wins in program history and the most in 19 years, since the 2004-05 team went 37-2 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament championship game.
  • 1. 2005 – 37 wins
  • 2. 1989 – 31 wins
  • 3. 2024 – 29 wins
  • 4. 2001 – 27 wins 
• Illinois made its 34th all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and its fourth straight.
• Illinois has compiled a 45-35 (.563) record all-time in NCAA Tournament games.
• Illinois was a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in school history.
  • Illinois holds an all-time record of 6-4 as a No. 3 seed.
• Illinois is one of only three Big Ten teams – and one of just 14 teams nationally – to earn a bid in each of the last four NCAA Tournaments. The Illini are one of only five schools with five straight 20-win regular seasons.