Shockwaves at the Final Four: How UConn’s Unthinkable Strategy Toppled Illinois in 2026

Shockwaves at the Final Four: How UConn's Unthinkable Strategy Toppled Illinois in 2026

Granted, Illinois has dominated the glass in this tournament. But it also hasn’t seen a big as good as Reed. And if they aren’t getting second-chance points while Reed is bullying them in the paint, the Fighting Illini are cooked. 

Reed’s interior presence will also force Illinois to collapse defensively, creating clean looks for UConn’s shooters and floor spacers like stretch-4 Alex Karaban, SG Silas Demary, and SF Braylon Mullins. At that point, it turns into shooting practice.

The market is telling us Illinois should be favored. Yet, UConn’s resume, the coaching battle, the matchup, and the first meeting definitely say otherwise. That said, unless you believe the Big Ten turned Illinois into some radically different animal over the last few months, this is a Wrong Team Favored situation. 

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