Chaos carries into the NCAA Tournament’s second weekend. A first round that was relatively devoid of upsets gave way to several second-round shockers, and while most of the top seeds remain, no one feels safe.
Saturday’s slate showcases a classic Big Ten rivalry, as well as a heavyweight showdown between two of the decade’s most consistent programs. The winners advance to the Final Four — an achievement that would be historic for all four teams — while the losers go home just a few steps shy of the finish line.
All times ET. All efficiency stats via KenPom.
Men’s March Madness Elite Eight schedule, Day 1
GameLocationTime (ET)TVStream
Illinois vs. Iowa
Houston
6:09 p.m.
TBS/truTV
Max
Arizona vs. Purdue
San Jose
8:49 p.m.
TBS/truTV
Max
Streaming is also available on the March Madness Live app.
No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 9 Iowa
South Region
Following the elimination of No. 11 Texas, Iowa is now the lowest remaining side in the NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes have returned to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1987, and they’ve accomplished the feat in their first year under Ben McCollum, who previously served as head coach of the Drake Bulldogs.
What makes them so difficult to stop (and what’s pushed them to victories over Florida and Nebraska) is their ability to finish long, drawn-out possessions. The Hawkeyes rank 19th in offensive efficiency and 363rd in average possession length. If Iowa isn’t scoring in transition, it’s working the clock, prioritizing movement and seeking a high-percentage look. As such, this team rarely turns the ball over.
Senior guard (and Drake transfer) Bennett Stirtz is the orchestrator, leading the Hawkeyes in points, assists and steals per game. However, it’s Alvaro Folgueiras who’s played hero throughout their run. He made the game-winning triple that sank the Gators, and he also came up clutch in the win over the Cornhuskers, recognizing Iowa’s five-on-four advantage and getting down the court for a contested bucket at the rim.
Illinois came into the tournament with one of the top-ranked offenses in the nation, but it’s the defense that’s sent it through to the Elite Eight. The Fighting Illini have limited opponents to 60 points per game through the first three rounds, including just 55 from No. 2 Houston.
This group’s depth is a big part of its sustained success. Illinois has five players averaging at least 10 points per game, including star freshman and likely NBA lottery pick Keaton Wagler. He headlines an offense that ranks second in efficiency, 10th in turnover percentage and third in offensive rebound percentage, meaning if their first shot attempt doesn’t go down, the Illini tend to get another good look.
Illinois hasn’t made the Final Four since 2005, while it’s been even longer — not since 1980 — for Iowa. The Illini defeated the Hawkeyes 75-69 in their lone meeting earlier this season at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 2 Purdue
West Region
Arizona continues to look like one of the nation’s most complete teams. Freshmen Brayden Burries and Koa Peat get a lot of the attention, but senior Jaden Bradley is the Big 12 Player of the Year and a big reason why the Wildcats are still standing.
Offensively, Arizona does just about everything well, ranking fourth in efficiency and offensive rebound percentage and seventh in free-throw rate. The Wildcats’ 3-point rate is among the lowest in college basketball, but that’s no excuse to leave them open: They sink nearly 37 percent of their attempts from downtown. On the glass, they’re paced by Tobe Awaka and Motiejus Krivas, both of whom average at least eight boards a game.
Defense is where Arizona really earns its edge. The Wildcats swarm under Tommy Lloyd, with the defense placing third in efficiency, first in effective field goal percentage and second in 2-point percentage. With its two-way strength, this team is built to survive cold shooting nights or go toe-to-toe with the best offenses.
What Purdue lacks on defense, it makes up for on the other end of the floor. The Boilermakers overtook Illinois for the top-ranked offense in college basketball, and they do so by scoring with immense accuracy. Braden Smith, Trey Kaufman-Renn and Fletcher Loyer — all of whom are playing together for the fourth consecutive year — have come together at the perfect time, propelling a Purdue offense that’s averaging over 87 points per game during March Madness.
Those three all started in the Boilermakers’ loss to the UConn Huskies in the 2024 national championship game. For Purdue, this is an opportunity for redemption, and to solidify an all-time great run for this year’s class of seniors.
For Arizona, it’s an opportunity to bring a storied program back to the grand stage — the Wildcats haven’t been to the Final Four since 2001.
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