Jason Balcauski

Brad Underwood on making his first Final Four: "I'm gonna get emotional, but I've been doing this 39 years. You dream about this as a kid. I dreamt about doing it at Illinois, when my wife bought Tyler, who was maybe 2, a Brian Cook jersey. It's always been a special place. There's been no other thing for me. This is my dream job."

ARE YOU WITH US? For the first time since 2005, we're heading to the FINAL FOUR.

Got some Texas barbecue down here and, um, do ya'll have different grills and spices or something? Do ya'll have secret recipes you don't share with the other 49 states because you want all the good BBQ to stay here? Because I don't think I've ever had BBQ until now. Thank you.

@glenn_kinley Yeah that 1st half...woof

WATCH: Illinois head coach Brad Underwood's opening statement after the Illini beat Houston to advance to the Elite 8. (Video from NCAA

@CycloneLarry69 Could be?

Teams don’t do that to Houston. Illinois could be freaky good

@WUTangKids Not sure why you wouldn't? All we do is win. Underwood is on his 7th season in a row of 20+ victories, all with unique play styles.

@JasonBalcauski You think I’m watching 30 Illinois games? 🤣

Wait is that Peja Stojaković’s son on Illinois that’s killing Houston?

we're screwed

Second-half radio calls from Illinois’ 65-55 Sweet Sixteen victory over Houston! “Illini Nation, get on your feet! For the second time in three years, the Illini are going to the Elite Eight!” #illini

If you're not with the White Sox when they're 0-1 then don't come crawling back when they're 16-65 at the halfway point.

Illinois' Keaton Wagler and David Mirkovic are the first pair of freshman teammates to each have a double-double in the same NCAA tournament game since freshmen became fully eligible in 1972-73 🔥

Most importantly need to recognize the real real my manager Garth. He has stood up and fought for me and talked me off ledges my entire career 🤝

@tedcruz you can't define either, you troll

I prefer plumbers to woke & unfunny comedians.

BEAT HOUSTON

@BernieSanders stop talking about it and do it already

This is what oligarchy looks like. 50 billionaires have spent $433 million to buy the elections in November. 80% is going to candidates who supported a $1 trillion tax break for the top 1% & a $1 trillion cut to Medicaid & the Affordable Care Act. We must end Citizens United.

Okay:

Bluebonnet seas — Texas Hill Country, USA

🚨 THEY BUILT THE ESCAPE ROUTE BEFORE THE CRIME 🚨 WHO LET TRUMP JR., JARED KUSHNER, AND THE WHITE HOUSE PROFIT OFF THE IRAN WAR? Step 1. Donald Trump's DOJ dismantles the Public Integrity Section from 36 lawyers to 2. The unit created after Watergate to prosecute corrupt officials. Gone. Step 2. Trump's DOJ cancels 159 federal enforcement actions against 166 companies. 30+ of those companies donated to Trump's inauguration or White House ballroom. Gone. Step 3. Trump's DOJ drops its criminal investigation into Polymarket. The same Polymarket where Donald Trump Jr. sits on the advisory board and his venture capital firm 1789 Capital poured millions. Step 4. Trump's CFTC drops its investigation into Polymarket. The same CFTC now controlled by Trump appointee Chairman Brian Quintenz. Step 5. SEC Enforcement Division Director Margaret Ryan resigns after SEC Chair Paul Atkins and Republican political appointees block her from pursuing cases touching Trump, Elon Musk, and crypto mogul Justin Sun, a major backer of the Trump family's World Liberty Financial venture. Step 6. Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff fly to Vienna for public peace talks while the strike date is known to a tiny circle in Washington and Tel Aviv. Step 7. Pete Hegseth's Defense Department executes Operation Epic Fury on February 28, 2026. Step 8. Six brand new Polymarket wallets, all created within 24 hours of the strike, bet on the exact date and walk away with $1.2 million. Account Magamyman turns $87,000 into $553,000 in 71 minutes. Accounts Planktonbet, Dicedicedice, and nothingeverhappens911 all cash out. Step 9. Monday March 23, at exactly 6:49am New York time, $580 million in Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate oil futures trades in 60 seconds. $1.5 billion in S&P 500 E-mini futures moves simultaneously. 4 to 6 times larger than any other order at that moment. Fifteen minutes later Trump posts on Truth Social about productive conversations with Tehran. Step 10. Senator Chris Murphy calls it mind-blowing corruption. Nobel laureate Paul Krugman calls it treason. The White House calls it baseless. Every lock on the enforcement door, DOJ Public Integrity, CFTC oversight, SEC enforcement, was removed before the first bomb dropped. Before the first bet was placed. Before anyone with a badge could ask a single question. Is this the most sophisticated government corruption architecture in modern American history or are you still calling it a coincidence? Watch the full receipts breakdown 👇

Audit the surveillance

@WSJ really stepping out on the edge, WSJ. This story has already been written 2,000 times

Illinois has pummeled its opponents on its way to the Sweet 16. But college basketball’s newest superteam isn’t homegrown—it’s from Eastern Europe. on.wsj.com/3O0DZTN