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  "path": "/college-sports/2026/04/01/illinois-final-four-bobblehead-ncaa-tournament",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-01T10:00:00.000Z",
  "site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
  "textContent": "<p>A <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://store.bobbleheadhall.com/products/illinoisindianapolis\" target=\"_blank\" ><u>new bobblehead</u></a> will commemorate Illinois’ appearance in the NCAA Tournament Final Four.</p><p>The <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/college-sports/2026/03/28/illinois-iowa-final-four-wagler-stirtz-underwood-mccollum-ncaa-tournament-elite-eight-march-madness\" target=\"_blank\" ><u>Illini will play Connecticut </u></a>in Indianapolis on Saturday. Illinois defeated Big Ten rival Iowa in the Elite Eight.</p><p>This will be Illinois’ second game against UConn this season. The Illini lost to the Huskies 74-61 at Madison Square Garden the day after Thanksgiving.</p><div class=\"RelatedList Enhancement\" data-module data-align-center> <div class=\"RelatedList-title\">Related</div> <ul class=\"RelatedList-items\"> <li class=\"RelatedList-items-item\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/small-business/2026/03/31/march-madness-fans-alumni-big-ten-ncaa-chicago-sports-bars\" >March Madness gets fans, alumni packing the room at Chicago’s sports bars</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p>‘‘They’re very good,’’ coach Brad Underwood said after that game. ‘‘I hope we see them later down the road again because I think they have an opportunity to make a very deep run.’’</p><p>\"We’re excited to unveil this limited-edition bobblehead celebrating the Illinois Fighting Illini and their fans’ trip to Indianapolis with the goal of bringing a National Championship trophy back to Illinois for the first time,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said in a statement.</p><p>The bobbleheads cost $40 with an $8 shipping fee and are expected to ship in October. Each bobblehead will be individually numbered to 2,026.<br></p>",
  "title": "New bobblehead commemorates Illinois' trip to the NCAA Tournament Final Four",
  "updatedAt": "2026-04-01T10:00:07.530Z"
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