How a $34 cowboy hat, David Mirkovic and a lot of fun took Illinois to the Final Four INDIANAPOLIS — It was the best $34 David Mirkovic ever spent on Amazon. Shortly after Illinois touched down in Houston last week for the NCAA Tournament’s South Regional, teammate Keaton Wagler shared a social media post with Mirkovic. In it, a local television anchor wrote that if the Illini’s Montenegrin sensation showed up to a media availability wearing a cowboy hat, the anchor would buy his jersey and frame it on his living room wall. It took Mirkovic about two seconds to decide and three clicks to order a cowboy hat to be delivered to the team hotel. After Illinois punched a ticket to its first Final Four in 21 years, Mirkovic sat at his locker in Houston addressing the media while wearing the hat. “Why not? We in Texas,” he said with a Mirk smirk. Assistant coach Orlando Antigua added, “Mirk is 19, but he’s really 8.” The celebration leading up to the moment was just as chaotic. In the moments before the Final Four run, Mirkovic had been perched atop his locker with a pump-action water gun trained on his head coach, who’d just burst through the door with his own Super Soaker howling, “We’re going to the Final Four!” Before that liquid shootout, Mirkovic had nearly wrecked the longstanding tradition of cutting down the nets after a regional final. When it was his turn, he took one step up the ladder, grabbed the bottom of a still very attached net, and tried to rip it down with both hands. Teammate Kylan Boswell stepped in to stop him. “Holy s---, bro! What the f--- is wrong with you?” Boswell yelped. Then Mirkovic grabbed the ladder and shook it playfully — while Boswell stood atop it with scissors.#david_mirkovic #brad_underwood #keaton_wagler #orlando_antigua #tomaslav_ivisic
Illinois derrota a Iowa y se alza con su lugar en la Final Four La Universidad de Illinois se impuso al equipo de Iowa en un enfrentamiento de alto nivel, dejando al lado de la historia los sueños de llegar a la Final Four de Álvaro Folgueiras. La victoria de los Illini, con un marcador final de 71-59, cerró el camino del jugador español en el torneo, mientras que Arizona aseguró su lugar en la Final Four tras derrotar a Purdue. Los Hawkeyes, que habían sido una sorpresa en el torneo al derrotar a equipos de alto nivel como Florida, se quedaron a una victoria de alcanzar la Final Four. Sin embargo, ante la superioridad de Illinois, su camino terminó en el Elite Eight. Los Illini, liderados por Keaton Wagler (25 puntos) y Andrej Stojakovic (17 puntos), demostraron una consistencia que los Hawkeyes no pudieron igualar. Wagler fue clave en la segunda mitad, destacando con su habilidad para penetrar, crear espacios y finalizar con acierto. Stojakovic, por su parte, aportó un balance importante en el ataque, mientras que los hermanos Ivisic dominaron la pintura con 40 puntos combinados. Álvaro Folgueiras, uno de los principales referentes de Iowa, tuvo un rol limitado en el partido. Solo jugó 9 minutos debido a la superioridad interior de Illinois, lo que dejó al jugador español sin opciones de influir en el resultado. Su técnico, Ben McCollum, optó por priorizar la movilidad exterior y la defensa contra la pintura, prescindiendo del aporte de Folgueiras. Esta decisión marcó el fin de su participación en el torneo, aunque su nombre quedará en la historia del campeonato. Por otro lado, Arizona, la gran favorita al título, no falló en su enfrentamiento contra Purdue. Los Wildcats vencieron 79-64, consolidando su posición como uno de los principales candidatos a ganar el título.#alvaro_folgueiras #keaton_wagler #universidad_de_illinois #equipo_de_iowa #andrej_stojakovic
What the Mavericks Will Look For in Flemings vs Wagler in the Sweet 16 The Dallas Mavericks, focused on securing a top-10 draft pick, will closely analyze the matchup between Houston’s Kingston Flemings and Illinois’ Keaton Wagler in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. The game, set for Thursday night, pits two of the most anticipated guards in this year’s draft class against each other, offering a rare opportunity to evaluate their potential for the NBA. Both players have emerged as near locks for the top 10 in the upcoming draft, but their contrasting styles and developmental questions will be key for the Mavericks to assess. Flemings, a 6’4” freshman from San Antonio, has drawn attention for his explosive athleticism and ability to create his own shot. His blistering downhill speed allows him to attack defenses with ease, and his clutch performances this season—highlighted by 16.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game—demonstrate his versatility. However, his three-point and free-throw shooting rates remain concerns. While he shot 39% from deep, his volume and consistency under pressure will be scrutinized. Scouts will look for evidence that he can elevate his shooting in high-stakes situations, leveraging his speed to generate contact in the paint and create open looks for teammates. Wagler, a 6’6” sharpshooter from Kansas, has defied expectations with his unheralded rise to prominence. Despite initial recruiting rankings that overlooked him, his ability to process defenses, shoot from beyond the arc, and play both on and off the ball has made him a standout. His 40.8% three-point accuracy and 4.4 assists per game underscore his scoring and playmaking skills.#dallas_mavericks #houston #kingston_flemings #keaton_wagler #ncaa_tournament_sweet_16
