HOUSTON — Illinois assistant coach Tyler Underwood continues to get frustrated with Keaton Wagler's slow starts.
The freshman superstar struggled to get going again early in Saturday's Elite Eight game against Iowa, turning it over on the Illini's first possession and missing a layup a few minutes later with Illinois down 12-2 to the No. 9 seed Hawkeyes, who were looking to continue a Cinderella run to the Final Four. Ten minutes later, Wagler had zero points.
But then Wagler did what Wagler normally does, turning a slow start into a fantastic finish. Wagler scored 23 of his game-high 25 points in the final 30 minutes of the game to lead Illinois to a 71-59 win over Iowa and the program's first Final Four appearance in 21 years.
Wagler went shot-for-shot with Bennett Stirtz, who had 24 points, to help negate the Iowa star and allow the Illini to win with their advantages elsewhere.
"I thought he was terrible the first five minutes of the game," Tyler Underwood said. "I would like him to get off to better starts, but if he's going to keep closing games like that, I guess I'll forgive him."
Wagler was named the Most Outstanding Player of the South Regional, adding to his long list of accolades in what is unquestionably the best freshman season in Illinois history. Wagler earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year and will have an individual jersey banner raised to State Farm Center after he earned consensus Second Team All-American honors.
He also was key to Illinois raising a Final Four banner to the rafters after he totaled 38 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, two blocks and two steals in two second-weekend wins in Houston.
