Arizona, Iowa, Illinois, Purdue reach Elite Eight
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- Purdue survived a 79-77 thriller over Texas when Trey Kaufman-Renn's tip-in capped a closing stretch in which Braden Smith's clutch layup and C.J. Cox's free throws put the Boilermakers in position; Kaufman-Renn led with 20 points despite the team going just 4-for-20 from three.
- Iowa rallied from a deficit it trailed for 81% of the game to beat Nebraska 77-71, making its first Elite Eight since 1987 behind Bennett Stirtz's go-ahead three with 2:10 left and Alvaro Folgueiras's three-point play — which came after Nebraska was caught with only four players on the court.
- Arizona dismantled Arkansas 109-88 with six players in double figures, led by Brayden Burries's 23 points on 7-for-11 shooting, marking the Wildcats' deepest NCAA tournament run since their 2015 Elite Eight.
- Illinois upset No. 2 seed Houston 65-55 behind a 20-4 second-half run sparked by a Keaton Wagler three, the Illini's second consecutive game holding an opponent to 55 points.
- Saturday's Elite Eight slate: Iowa faces Illinois at 6:09 p.m. ET, and Purdue meets Arizona at 8:49 p.m. ET, with Iowa controlling tempo in all three of its tournament games (each the slowest its opponent has played all season).
- Purdue's path to the Final Four is complicated by its 2-point defense (14th in the Big Ten) and the 1.27 points per possession it allowed Texas, while Arizona's identity — offensive rebounding, paint scoring, free throws — directly attacks those weaknesses.
Why it matters: The Final Four bracket is now half-set with the Big Ten guaranteed at least one representative (Iowa or Illinois) and a credible title contender in Arizona, which has looked like the tournament's most complete team through three rounds. Iowa's 38-year Elite Eight drought ending is the round's biggest human-interest story, while Purdue's narrow escape raises real questions about whether its shaky 3-point shooting and interior defense can survive another elite frontcourt.
