2026 NCAA Tournament

Recap: March Madness, Elite Eight, Day 1 | Arizona, Illinois clinch Final Four

Catch the best highlights and observations from the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Basketball Tournament.

NBA.com Staff

Illinois celebrates advancing to the Final Four.

What we know about Saturday’s Elite Eight games:

  • No. 3 Illinois beat No. 9 Iowa 71-59 in the South regional final
  • No. 1 Arizona defeated No. 2 Purdue 79-64 in the West regional final
  • Today’s winners booked a spot in the Final Four in Indianapolis
  • Check out our recaps of every NCAA Tournament game here.

MARCH 28, 2026 / 11:28 ET

The second team in the Final Four

Koa Peat scored 20 points and the No. 1 seed Arizona Wildcats shrugged off a lethargic first half to beat Purdue and book a ticket in the Final Four.

MARCH 28, 2026 / 11:14 ET

A tip of the Cats

Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd salutes the Wildcat fanbase

MARCH 28, 2026 / 11:10 ET

Get hyped, Tucson

MARCH 28, 2026 / 11:06 ET

Final force

The top-seeded Arizona Wildcats are headed to the Final Four.

MARCH 28, 2026 / 10:45 ET

Cat scratch fever

The Wildcats are beginning to assert themselves down the stretch.

MARCH 28, 2026 / 10:33 ET

Raising Arizona

Anthony Dell’Orso nailed a huge 3 and the Wildcats are rolling.

MARCH 28, 2026 / 10:07 ET

Knotted up

Arizona went on a 7-0 run early in the second half to tie the game at 42-42.

MARCH 28, 2026 / 10:07 ET

Bear down

Arizona is looking to find another gear in the second half.

MARCH 28, 2026 / 9:50 ET

Boilermakers brewing upset?

Braden Smith has 11 points and Purdue is shooting 7-for-14 on 3s en route to a surprising 38-31 halftime lead over top seed Arizona.

MARCH 28, 2026 / 9:32 ET

Purdue pulls ahead

Gicarri Harris gives the Boilermakers a 23-21 lead over Arizona.

MARCH 28, 2026 / 9:16 ET

Arizona and Purdue are underway

MARCH 28, 2026 / 9:08 ET

It lived up to expectations

Illinois only hit three shots from 3-point land Saturday but took control down the stretch to end Iowa’s Cinderella run through the tournament.

MARCH 28, 2026 / 8:42 ET

Cutting down the nets

MARCH 28, 2026 / 8:39 ET

Illini heading on the trip of a lifetime

MARCH 28, 2026 / 8:30 ET

The first of the Final Four

Keaton Wagler scores 25 points and Illinois advances to the Final Four with a 71-59 victory over a tough Iowa squad.

MARCH 28, 2026 / 8:13 ET

Breaking away

Illinois takes control of the game with an 8-0 run.

MARCH 28, 2026 / 8:02 ET

Back and forth

Bennett Stirtz puts Iowa ahead 49-48.

MARCH 28, 2026 / 7:55 ET

Illinois keeps fighting

Keaton Wagler gives the Illini a lead.

MARCH 28, 2026 / 7:45 ET

It’s about as tight as can be

Tavion Banks nails a 3 with time winding down to push Iowa ahead 35-33.

MARCH 28, 2026 / 7:11 ET

Iowa leads Illinois 32-28 at halftime.

Bennett Stirtz has 15 points for the Hawkeyes.

MARCH 28, 2026 / 6:42 ET

Keeping it close

Keaton Wagler splashes from 3 to make it a 20-18 game.

MARCH 28, 2026 / 6:34 ET

Watch the footwork

Iowa sharpshooter Bennett Stirtz is doing his best to push forward to the Final Four.

MARCH 28, 2026 / 5:30 ET

Welcome to Day 1 of the Elite Eight!

Coming to you live from the Toyota Center in Houston and the SAP Center in San Jose, it’s night one of the Elite Eight, as the 2026 Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament rolls on towards the Final Four.

Here’s the complete schedule:

  • No. 9 Iowa vs. No. 3 Illinois, 6:09 p.m. ET (TBS / TruTV)
  • No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 1 Arizona, 8:49 ET (TBS / TruTV)

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