Illinois' Brad Underwood gets choked up after snapping 21-year Final Four drought

When Illinois coach Brad Underwood first arrived in Champaign over a decade ago, his main objective was ambitious, but attainable: win a national championship.

Now, Underwood’s Fighting Illini are two wins away from doing exactly that. Saturday night’s 71-59 win against the Iowa Hawkeyes (24-13) clinched their first Final Four berth since 2005.

For Underwood, the jubilation of his cutting down the nets in front of a sea of orange-clad fans who packed in the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, meant a little bit more as his nearly 40-year dream of getting to the brink of a national title was realized.

“One of the most fulfilling moments personally that I just had was standing on the ladder with the net and then seeing our fans and being able to just -- that wasn't about me,” Underwood told reporters. “That was about our fans, and that was about what's probably going on in Champaign right now, because that's what you believe this to be, and you know it is. And I've said it many times. Coaches win games. I've got a great, great staff that makes me look good. We've been able to assemble a group of players that I love coaching.”

MORE: Keaton Wagler's journey to Illinois

Champaign was able to celebrate properly, as several videos from campus circulated of groups of students congregating in and around several establishments, with the centralized meeting spot eventually becoming Alma Mater into the early hours of Sunday morning.

For guard Keaton Wagler (25 points, 2 rebounds), getting to the pinnacle of college basketball as his NBA decision looms is bigger than just himself, he said.

“Yeah, it means a lot,” Wagler said. “This is what kids dream of. I know I dreamed of this when I was growing up, playing in the Final Four, competing for a National Championship. To be able to do it with the people around me, you know, teammates, coaches, fans, managers, everyone, it means a lot. Like he said, like, we got here, but we're not done yet.”

Illinois (28-8) will now await its Final Four test, as it will play the winner of the East Regional final between the Duke Blue Devils (35-2) and UConn Huskies (32-5), with tip set for 5:05 p.m. ET from Washington, D.C.

MORE: Iowa vs. Illinois box score

The Final Four festivities, meanwhile, will be showcased from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., with action tipping off next Saturday.

Should the Michigan Wolverines (34-3) maintain their 74-47 second-half lead against the Tennessee Volunteers (25-11) in the Midwest Regional final, the Big Ten will see two teams in the Final Four.

And from there, what comes next is anyone’s guess.