By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
European talent took center stage in the NCAA Elite Eight as both Illinois and Arizona relied on an international core to end decades-long Final Four droughts.
In Houston, third-seeded Illinois secured a 71-59 victory over Iowa, fueled by a dominant frontcourt rotation featuring Montenegro’s David Mirkovic and Croatian twins Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic. Mirkovic, a starter, anchored the interior with a relentless 12 rebounds and nine points over 38 minutes, while 7-foot-1 Tomislav Ivisic added 13 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Reflecting on the team’s physical superiority, Tomislav noted, “We were dominant on the glass from the first minute.”
Adding a critical spark off the bench was Andrej Stojakovic, a dual citizen of Serbia and Greece and son of NBA legend Peja Stojakovic. He poured in 17 points on just nine shots, while Croatian reserve Zvonimir Ivisic contributed four points and a block in 11 minutes, including a crucial alley-oop dunk late in the game. Stojakovic made it clear that the Fighting Illini are not satisfied with just a trip to Indianapolis, stating, “I don’t want anybody to think this is it. We didn’t get to the Final Four just to get there. We’re coming to win two more games.” His father watched from the stands as the younger Stojakovic helped Illinois outscore the Hawkeyes 40-12 in the paint.
Peja Stojaković was courtside watching Illinois get their first Final Four appearance since 2005 after beating the Iowa Hawkeyes 71–59 🔥
His son Andrej delivered:
• 17 points
• 5 rebounds
• 7-9 FG pic.twitter.com/r0niH49wEy— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) March 29, 2026
The international influence was equally potent in San Jose, where top-seeded Arizona dismantled Purdue 79-64 to reach its first national semifinal in 25 years. German starter Ivan Kharchenkov delivered a clinical 18-point performance, shooting 7-of-11 from the field to stabilize the Wildcats’ offense during a decisive second-half surge. In the paint, Lithuanian center Motiejus Krivas provided a massive defensive presence, hauling in 12 rebounds and recording three assists in 35 minutes of play. While Dutch reserve Dwayne Aristode saw just one minute of action without recording a stat, the primary European rotation ensured head coach Tommy Lloyd his first Final Four appearance.
While the winning sides flourished, several European players saw their 2025-26 NCAA season end on Saturday. The Hawkeyes’ underdog run concluded with Spanish reserve Alvaro Folgueiras recording one block and one steal in nine minutes of play. Similarly, Purdue’s Israeli guard Omer Mayer for four points off the bench in 11 minutes, but it was not enough to stop the Arizona momentum.
The global reach of college basketball has never been more apparent than in this year’s road to Indianapolis. The Final Four will now feature a significant European contingent as Illinois and Arizona prepare for their semifinal matchups on April 4.