The NCAA Basketball Tournament's Elite Eight round will feature multiple Big Ten teams, with Illinois set to face Iowa in a matchup that guarantees at least one Big Ten program will advance to the Final Four.

Top-seeded Michigan secured its Elite Eight berth with a 90-77 victory over Alabama in Sweet 16 action. Yaxel Lendeborg led the Wolverines' offensive effort in the decisive win that sends Michigan deeper into the tournament.

In women's tournament action, Notre Dame advanced to the Elite Eight behind a standout performance from Hannah Hidalgo, who helped power the Fighting Irish past Vanderbilt. Hidalgo's performance was noted as one of the tournament's most impressive individual showings.

The Illinois-Iowa Elite Eight meeting represents a significant opportunity for the Big Ten Conference, which has not produced a national champion in men's basketball for 26 years. The conference's last national title came in 1998.

With multiple Big Ten teams still competing in both the men's and women's tournaments, the conference is positioning itself for its deepest March Madness runs in recent years. The Elite Eight round will determine which programs advance to their respective Final Four competitions.