Iowa will face a familiar opponent after surviving and advancing to the Elite 8

Iowa is getting hot at the perfect time.

Throughout this season, it was Bennett Stirtz and everyone else, but the Hawkeyes are now getting contributions from everywhere.

Excluding his performance against Nebraska, Stirtz had been in a shooting slump, but guys like Tavion Banks, Tate Sage, and Alvaro Folgeuiras have picked up the slack.

After doing the improbable by upsetting Nebraska in the Sweet 16, Iowa now knows who they will face and at what time.

Iowa is set to face Illinois on Saturday afternoon

Iowa will face Big Ten rival Illinois in its first trip to the Elite 8 since 1987, and they tip off around dinner time on March 28.

If there is one team that is hotter than Iowa, it is Illinois. The Illini have cruised through the NCAA Tournament, including knocking off the No. 2 seed, Houston, in the Sweet 16.

The two programs faced off in early January with Illinois earning a close 74-69 victory.

Iowa managed to overcome Illinois' size and strength to keep that game within striking distance, and they must do the same to continue advancing in the tournament.

Ben McCollum and company must cook up a similar strategy to the one they had against Florida, and hope the offense keeps clicking.

Both teams are coming in extremely hot and are looking to extend their tournament to the Final Four with one more victory, which is unfamiliar territory for the Hawkeyes.

Iowa's last trip to the Final Four was in 1980 under Lute Olsen, and they are one game away from making it back.

There is no doubt Iowa is extremely confident right now, but they must play a near-perfect game to upset Illinois.