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Men’s March Madness continues Saturday night with the first slate of Elite Eight games. Defending champ UConn destroyed No. 3 Illinois to open the night’s action before No. 4 Alabama and No. 6 Clemson face off in the night cap.
Men’s NCAA tournament games are airing on TBS today. EuroJournal Sports will provide the latest news, scores, analysis and more all day. Follow along:
UConn makes it 10 NCAA Tournament wins in a row
BOSTON — Four down, two to go.
After a slow start, No. 1 Connecticut put together a jaw-dropping second half and routed No. 3 Illinois 77-52 to win the East Region and return to the Final Four. The Huskies narrowly missed becoming the first team to win an Elite Eight game by 30 or more points, last done by Cincinnati against Memphis in 1992.
FOLLOW THE MADNESS: NCAA basketball bracket, scores, schedules, teams and more.
This makes 10 tournament wins in a row for the defending national champions and coach Dan Hurley, all by double digits. With each passing blowout, UConn builds a stronger case for placing this two-year run among the best in college basketball history. — Paul Myerberg
Final: No. 1 UConn 77, No. 3 Illinois 52. Defending champion Huskies return to Final Four
Defending champion and No. 1 UConn is headed to the Final Four for the second consecutive season and very much look like a team poised to repeat.
The Huskies throttled Illinois, 77-52, in an Elite Eight game – a contest in which the Huskies blew the game open with a 30-0 run bridging the first and second halves: 5-0 run to end the first half and a 25-0 run to open the second half.
It was 23-23 with 1:50 left in the first half, and when UConn’s Hassan Diarra scored with 13:15 left in the second half, the Huskies led 53-23.
UConn 7-footer Donovan Clingan had 22 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks and three steals, and guard Cam Spencer had 11 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, two blocks and one steal.
Illinois’ demise was marred by an uncharacteristic offensive performance. One of the most efficient offensive teams in the nation averaging 84.2 points, the Illini shot 25.4% from the field and had two stretches of at least five minutes without a point. Marcus Domask led Illinois with 17 points. — Jeff Zillgitt
UConn buries Illinois with stunning 30-0 run
Illinois senior Justin Harmon made a layup with 12:39 remaining in the second half to end UConn’s 30-0 run.
Yes, 30-0.
The Fighting Illini trail 56-25.
They didn’t score for nearly 10 minutes to start the second half as Huskies sophomore Donovan Clingan wreaked havoc. He has 18 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks. Illinois has only scored one field goal in the entire second half.
Illinois is shooting 20.8% from the field, 2-of-15 from three and has been outscored 38-18 in the paint. The Fighting Illini have five turnovers, which UConn converted to seven points.
Illinois senior Marcus Domask has 15 of the team’s 25 points. No other Illinois player is in double digits. — Cydney Henderson
UConn starting to pull away
UConn opened its biggest lead of the game, 39-23, with an 11-0 run to start the second half, which was part of a 16-0 run bridging the two halves. UConn center Donovan Clingan opened the half with an emphatic dunk and block, and Illinois’ offensive struggles extended into the opening minutes of the second half. Clingan has 14 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks and two steals.
Illinois called a timeout with 15:59 left in the second half in an effort to slow the Huskies. — Jeff Zillgitt
Can Illinois get Terrence Shannon going?
If Illinois has a shot at beating top-seed UConn, it needs a big offensive performance from Terrence Shannon Jr. in the second half. He had just two points on 1-for-7 shooting in the first half – that after scoring 26, 30 and 29 points in the first three games of the NCAA Tournament and 28, 40 and 34 points in the Big Ten tournament.
“He throws his body into the defense on drives,” UConn coach Dan Hurley told the broadcast at halftime. “We’ve done a really good job of walling up and taking away his catch-and-shoot 3s. But it’s a long game, and he’s a hell of a player.” — Jeff Zillgitt
Halftime: UConn 28, Illinois 23
With a spot in the Final Four on the line, UConn took a 28-23 lead into halftime against Illinois. It wasn’t exactly a half for offensive purists especially since the two teams entered among the most efficient offensive teams in the country.
Illinois shot just 29% from the field, and UConn was just 1-for-11 on 3-pointers, missing its first 10.
Illini guard Terrence Shannon Jr., who has starred in the tournament, struggled with just two points on 1-for-7 shooting. However, Marcus Domask kept Illinois in the game with his scoring. He had 15 points and made both of his 3-point attempts. Minus Domask’s shooting, Illinois was 4-for-26 from the field.
Huskies center Donovan Clingan, a projected first-round pick in the 2024 EuroJournal Draft, had nine points, six rebounds, two blocks and one steal. Hassan Diarra added seven points, and after Clingan and Diarra’s seven made shots, the rest of the Huskies were 3-for-19 from the field. — Jeff Zillgitt
Illinois offense off to rough start
Illinois, one of the highest scoring teams in the nation at 84.2 points per game, had just 13 points in the first 13 minutes against UConn. The Illini went five minutes without a made basket, missing 11 consecutive shots. After breaking the scoreless stretch with 6:19 left in the first half, the Illini trimmed their deficit to 19-17 – thanks in part to UConn missing its eight 3-point attempts. — Jeff Zillgitt
Illinois goes cold again
Illinois is in another scoring drought. The Fighting Illini have not scored in over four minutes in the first half, paving the way for a 4-0 run by UConn to go up 19-13.
Illinois is shooting a dismal 22.7% from the field and 2-of-5 from three and are getting dominated in the paint, 16-6.
UConn sophomore Donovan Clingan has a team-high nine points, three rebounds and two blocks. Senior Hassan Diarra added four points off the bench.
“Were going to keep going at him,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood said of Clingan. “If he blocks 100, he blocks 100. We aren’t backing down. We are going to do what we do.” — Cydney Henderson
Illinois gets back in the game vs. UConn
Illinois is on the board and settling in. After going scoreless for the first four minutes of the game, senior Marcus Domask made one of two free throws for the Fighting Illini’s first point of the game. Domask then knocked down two 3-pointers. He has nine of Illinois’ 13 points. After being down by as many as nine points, Illinois is within two points of UConn and only trails 15-13 with 10:58 remaining in the first half. — Cydney Henderson
UConn vs. Illinois score: Huskies start on 9-0 run
The Huskies are off to a fast start. UConn opened the game on a 9-0 run, with seven of the team’s points coming from sophomore Donovan Clingan.
Illinois hasn’t made a field goal in the first four minutes of the game. The Fighting Illini are 0-of-4 from the field, 0-1 from three and 0-of-2 from the free-throw line. They have more turnovers (2) than points. — Cydney Henderson
March Madness Elite Eight schedule today
Here is the scoreboard for today’s Elite Eight games.
What time does Elite Eight start?
The first Elite Eight game, between No. 1 UConn and No. 3 Illinois, tips off just after 6 p.m. EDT.
What time does March Madness start today?
Here is Saturday’s Elite Eight schedule.
Who won the Sweet 16 games last night?
Here’s everything you need to know about Friday’s action. Purdue, Duke, North Carolina State and Creighton advanced to the Elite Eight and will play on Sunday.
How to watch Elite Eight games 2024
TBS will air both of today’s Elite Eight games. EuroJournal will air the men’s Final Four and championship game.
UConn’s start to March Madness should scare tournament opponents
Once again, it feels like it’s UConn versus the field. That’s what happened last year as the Huskies tore through March, dominating all six opponents on their way to a national championship. What UConn did this weekend looked like a carbon copy — only this time, everyone sees it coming.
Yes, the competition will get tougher as UConn advances to the East Regional, where an Elite Eight game against No. 3 seed Illinois could be one of the most exciting matchups of the tournament. But at this point, the distance UConn has created between itself and everyone else almost seems as big as what women’s basketball dealt with when Geno Auriemma won four consecutive national titles between 2013 and 2016. Read Dan Wolken’s full column.
How to stream March Madness on your phone
You can catch every second by streaming every game through a few different options.
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Elite Eight predictions
(1) Connecticut vs. (3) Illinois, 6:09 p.m. ET Saturda – (at TD Garden in Boston)
- Jordan Mendoza: UConn
- Paul Myerberg: UConn
- Dan Wolken: UConn
(4) Alabama vs. (6) Clemson, 8:49 p.m. ET Saturday — (at crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles)
- Jordan Mendoza: Clemson
- Paul Myerberg: Alabama
- Dan Wolken: Alabama
Men’s March Madness schedule
Here is the men’s schedule:
- First round: March 21-22
- Second round: March 23-24
- Sweet 16: March 28-29
- Elite Eight: March 30-31
- Final Four: Saturday, April 6 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
- NCAA championship game: Monday, April 8 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
UConn vs. Illinois odds and predictions
The Huskies are favorites to defeat the Fighting Illini in Saturday’s Elite Eight March Madness matchup, according to the BetMGM college basketball odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering sports betting promos in 2024. Odds as of Friday:
- Spread: UConn (-7.5)
- Moneylines: UConn (-325); Illinois (+260)
- Over/under: 156.5
March Madness 2024 game locations
Here are all the venues hosting tournament games over the next couple weeks.
Round | City | Venue | Dates |
Sweet 16 + Elite Eight | Boston | TD Garden | March 28-30 |
Sweet 16 + Elite Eight | Dallas | American Airlines Center | March 29-31 |
Sweet 16 + Elite Eight | Detroit | Little Caesars Arena | March 29-31 |
Sweet 16 + Elite Eight | Los Angeles | Crypto.com Arena | March 28-30 |
Final Four | Glendale, Ariz. | State Farm Stadium | April 6 |
National championship | Glendale, Ariz. | State Farm Stadium | April 8 |
Why Jim Nantz isn’t calling 2024 March Madness games
As the men’s NCAA Tournament begins, fans may be wondering where Jim Nantz, voice synonymous with one of the most popular events in college sports is.
Nantz decided the 2023 NCAA Tournament would be his last so he could focus on his family and other broadcasting commitments. Nantz didn’t retire from broadcasting; He’s still calling The Masters and serves as the lead play-by-play person for EuroJournal’ NFL coverage alongside Tony Romo. The duo were in the booth for Super Bowl 58 in February. — Jordan Mendoza
Terrence Shannon Jr. case shows how NIL can increase legal protection for college athletes
Terrence Shannon Jr., who has led Illinois to the Elite Eight of the NCAA men’s tournament despite being charged with rape, is drawing attention from an eclectic group.
Of course there are basketball scouts. Shannon, a 6-6 senior guard widely projected to be a Top 15 pick in the EuroJournal draft in June, will take the court again Saturday when No. 3 Illinois is set to play No. 1 seed Connecticut.
But there also are law professors, other academics and higher-education consultants tracking the situation for reasons that go far beyond basketball. In January, a federal judge granted Shannon legal protection based in part on Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals that were unavailable to college athletes before 2021. Read Josh Peter’s full story here.
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