Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball
Encyclopedia
The Illinois Fighting Illini
men's basketball team is an NCAA Division I college basketball
team competing in the Big Ten Conference
. Home games are played at Assembly Hall
, located on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
's campus in Champaign
.
The team's head coach is currently Bruce Weber. Weber's assistant coaches are Wayne McClain, Jay Price and Jerrance Howard.
Source for all statistical leaders
began seeding the tournament with the 1979 edition
.
, the Illini tied for 9th in the Big Ten. They reached the finals of the Big Ten tournament
despite their 10-seed, where they lost to Wisconsin. The Illini failed to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 1998–99 season.
, the Illini finished tied for 4th place in the Big Ten, earning the 6th seed in the Big Ten tournament
, and losing in the seminfinals to . The Illini were selected as a 12-seed in the NCAA tournament
; losing their opening-round game to Virginia Tech
by a score of 54–52. This was the first time the Illini failed to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament since 2003.
, Luther Head
, Dee Brown, James Augustine
, and Roger Powell, Jr.; eventually play in the NBA. Deron Williams and Dee Brown both joined the Utah Jazz
roster where Williams played until February 2011 and Luther Head plays for the Sacramento Kings
. Coach Bruce Weber also won many Coach of the Year awards.
's Departure, Illinois hired Lon Kruger
to fill the vacancy for the 1996 season. Kruger inherited players such as Victor Chukwudebe, Jerry Hester, Kevin Turner, Jerry Gee, Matt Heldman, Brian Johnson, Kiwane Garris
and Cleotis Brown. During his four seasons at Illinois, three of which resulted in NCAA Tournament berths, (all three of which saw the Illini eliminated in the 2nd round) Kruger became the only Big Ten coach to successfully sign three consecutive Illinois Mr. Basketball
winners, inking Sergio McClain
, Frankie Williams
, and Brian Cook
between 1997 and 1999.
The University of Illinois picked Tulsa coach Bill Self
from a list of numerous candidates, including popular assistant Jimmy Collins
to succeed Kruger, who moved on to the NBA to coach the Atlanta Hawks
. In 2001, his first season at Illinois, Self took over an immensely talented team, and coached his new Fighting Illini squad to a 27-8 record, a share of the Big Ten title, and a number 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament. McClain, Cook and preseason Big Ten player of the year Cory Bradford led the Illini to the Elite Eight where they met and fell to eventual finalists Arizona
in a much disputed contest. The Illini were accused of being overly physical most of the season, especially McClain and pesky guards Sean Harrington and Lucas Johnson (younger brother of former Illini forward Brian Johnson) and the Illini were the clear target of questionable officiating. The '01 Illini team also included Robert Archibald
, Damir Krupalija
and Marcus Griffin. With mostly the same core, Illinois followed up the seaon with impressive 2002 and 2003 campaigns, but fell in the sweet 16 in 2002 and the second round in 2003. In addition, Self was largely responsible for the recruitment of the 2005 Fighting Illini team which won the Big Ten title; the team finished with a 37–2 record after falling to the Roy Williams-coached Tar Heels 75–70 in the NCAA championship game under Bruce Weber, who replaced Self prior to the 2004 season. Self's recruits on that team included four eventual NBA draft picks, Utah Jazz guard Deron Williams, Dee Brown, Luther Head and James Augustine
assistant coach Bruce Pearl
, who alleged that Thomas had been offered cash to attend Illinois. The Illini were suspended from postseason play for one season for violations uncovered during the investigation.
on a last second basket by Michigan's
Sean Higgins
, ending the school's deepest run in the tournament at that time. Illinois had beaten the Wolverines by 12 and 16 points in two previous meetings that season. The 1988–89 Illinois Fighting Illini team gained the moniker "Flyin' Illini" by Dick Vitale
during an ESPN
broadcast that season. The team also gained national prominence for its athletic players, such as NCAA slam dunk champions Kenny Battle
and Kendall Gill
, as well as Lowell Hamilton
, Nick Anderson
, Marcus Liberty
, and Stephen Bardo
.
Illinois Fighting Illini
The Fighting Illini are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The University offers 10 men's and 11 women's varsity sports....
men's basketball team is an NCAA Division I college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
team competing in the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
. Home games are played at Assembly Hall
Assembly Hall (Champaign)
Assembly Hall is a large dome-shaped indoor arena, located in Champaign, Illinois, and is part of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign....
, located on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
's campus in Champaign
Champaign, Illinois
Champaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. The city is located south of Chicago, west of Indianapolis, Indiana, and 178 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. Though surrounded by farm communities, Champaign is notable for sharing the campus of the University of...
.
The team's head coach is currently Bruce Weber. Weber's assistant coaches are Wayne McClain, Jay Price and Jerrance Howard.
Career leaders
- Points: Deon ThomasDeon ThomasDeon La velle Thomas is an American former basketball player.-High school:Thomas was a star basketball player at Chicago's Neal F. Simeon Vocational High School , graduating in 1989. As a junior in 1988, he led the Wolverines to the Chicago Public League title. As a senior, he was named Illinois Mr...
(2,129) - Assists: Bruce DouglasBruce Douglas (basketball)Bruce Douglas is a retired American professional basketball player. A 6'3" guard, he played varsity basketball for Quincy Senior High School four years, and was a four-year starter at the University of Illinois...
(765) - Rebounds: James AugustineJames Augustine (basketball)James Augustine is an American professional basketball player. He was born in Midlothian, Illinois, but eventually moved to Mokena, Illinois where he attended Lincoln-Way Central High School in New Lenox, Illinois where he graduated in 2002...
(1,023) - Steals: Bruce DouglasBruce Douglas (basketball)Bruce Douglas is a retired American professional basketball player. A 6'3" guard, he played varsity basketball for Quincy Senior High School four years, and was a four-year starter at the University of Illinois...
(324)
Season leaders
- Points: Don FreemanDon FreemanDon Freeman was a painter, printmaker, cartoonist, children's book author, and illustrator.-Early life:Freeman was born in San Diego, California, attended high school in Missouri, attended Principia College and later moved to New York City, where he studied etching at the Art Students League with...
(668, 1966) - Assists: Deron WilliamsDeron WilliamsDeron Michael Williams , nicknamed D-Will, is an American basketball player currently with the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association . Williams has also played for the Utah Jazz of the NBA and Beşiktaş of the Turkish Basketball League...
(264, 2005) - Rebounds: Skip ThorenSkip ThorenDuane W. "Skip" Thoren is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'10" center from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Thoren played three seasons in the American Basketball Association as a member of the Minnesota Muskies and Miami Floridians...
(349, 1965) - Steals: Kenny BattleKenny BattleKenneth R. "Kenny" Battle is an American retired professional basketball player.-High school career:...
(89, 1989)
Game leaders
- Points: Dave DowneyDave DowneyDavid J. "Dave" Downey is a former collegiate basketball player for the University of Illinois Fighting Illini basketball team. He is most famous for setting the Illinois single-game scoring record with 53 points at Indiana on Feb. 16, 1963...
(53, 1963) - Assists: Demetri McCameyDemetri McCameyDemetri McCamey, Jr. is an American professional basketball player for Mersin Büyükşehir Belediyesi S.K. of the Turkish Basketball League. Previously he played with the University of Illinois basketball team where he completed his senior season for the 2010–11 team...
(16, 2010), Tony Wysinger (16, 1986) - Rebounds: Skip ThorenSkip ThorenDuane W. "Skip" Thoren is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'10" center from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Thoren played three seasons in the American Basketball Association as a member of the Minnesota Muskies and Miami Floridians...
(24, 1963) - Steals: Bruce DouglasBruce Douglas (basketball)Bruce Douglas is a retired American professional basketball player. A 6'3" guard, he played varsity basketball for Quincy Senior High School four years, and was a four-year starter at the University of Illinois...
(8, 1984)
Source for all statistical leaders
Individual honors
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- Henry Porter - 1960
- Andy Phillip - 1961
- Abe SapersteinAbe SapersteinAbraham M. Saperstein was an owner and coach of the Savoy Big Five, which later became the Harlem Globetrotters...
- 1971 - Jerry ColangeloJerry ColangeloJerry Colangelo , is an American businessman and sports executive.He formerly owned the Phoenix Suns of the NBA, the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA, the Arizona Sandsharks of the Continental Indoor Soccer League, the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League and the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major...
- 2004- National Player of the Year
- Ray WoodsRay WoodsRay James Woods was an American college basketball standout for Illinois in the 1910s. A guard, Woods helped lead the Fighting Illini to two Big Ten Conference championships in 1915 and 1917, with the former being an undefeated 16–0 season that resulted in a retroactive national championship...
- 1917 - Chuck CarneyChuck CarneyCharles "Chuck" Carney was an American football and basketball player. As an end and receiver, he played football for the University of Illinois from 1918-1921. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1966...
- 1922 - Andy Phillip - 1943
- Dee Brown - 2005
- NCAA All-Decade Team
- Dwight "Dike" EddlemanDwight EddlemanThomas Dwight "Dike" Eddleman is generally considered the greatest athlete in the history of athletics at the University of Illinois. Eddleman participated on the University's basketball, track and field, and football teams between the years of 1947 and 1949...
- 1940s- Bob Cousy AwardBob Cousy AwardThe Bob Cousy Award presented by The Hartford is an annual basketball award given by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to the top men's collegiate point guard. It is named after six-time National Basketball Association champion Bob Cousy, who played point guard for the Boston Celtics...
- Bob Cousy Award
- Dee Brown - 2006
- Frances Pomeroy Naismith AwardFrances Pomeroy Naismith AwardThe Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award is an annual college basketball award in the United States intended to honor shorter–than–average players who excel on the court despite their size. The award, named in honor of James Naismith's daughter–in–law, was established for men in 1969 and for women in 1984...
- Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award
- Dee Brown - 2006
- Consensus All-AmericanNCAA Men's Basketball All-AmericansThe NCAA Men's Basketball All-American teams are honorary teams made up of those NCAA basketball players voted the best in the country by a variety of organizations.-History:...
- Consensus All-American
- Bill HapacBill HapacWilliam J. "Wild Bill" Hapac was the first Consensus All-American to play for the University of Illinois men's basketball team when he garnered the recognition during his senior season of 1939–40. A native of Chicago, Illinois, Hapac was an all-state player for J...
- 19401940 NCAA Men's Basketball All-AmericansThe Consensus 1940 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of four major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Helms Athletic Foundation, Converse, and Madison Square Garden.-1940... - Andy Phillip - 19421942 NCAA Men's Basketball All-AmericansThe Consensus 1942 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of four major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Helms Athletic Foundation, Converse, Madison Square Garden, and Pic...
& 19431943 NCAA Men's Basketball All-AmericansThe Consensus 1943 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of four major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Helms Athletic Foundation, Converse, The Sporting News, and Pic... - Walt KirkWalt KirkWalton "Walt" Kirk, Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player. In four NBL/BAA/NBA seasons, Kirk played for five different teams: the Fort Wayne Pistons, Indianapolis Jets, Anderson Packers, Tri-Cities Blackhawks and Milwaukee Hawks...
- 19451945 NCAA Men's Basketball All-AmericansThe Consensus 1945 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of four major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Helms Athletic Foundation, Converse, The Sporting News, and Argosy... - Rod FletcherRod FletcherJames Rodney "Rod" Fletcher is an English former professional footballer who scored 60 goals from 201 games in the Football League playing as a centre forward for Crewe Alexandra, Lincoln City, Scunthorpe United and Grimsby Town....
- 19521952 NCAA Men's Basketball All-AmericansThe Consensus 1952 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of five major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Associated Press, Look Magazine, The United Press International,... - Dee Brown - 20052005 NCAA Men's Basketball All-AmericansThe Consensus 2005 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of four major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Associated Press, the USBWA, The Sporting News and the National...
- NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team
- Jim Bredar - 19521952 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament-External links:* on Shrp Sports * , source for much of the information on this page....
- Johnny "Red" Kerr - 19521952 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament-External links:* on Shrp Sports * , source for much of the information on this page....
- Luther HeadLuther HeadLuther Dale Head is an American professional basketball player. Standing 6'3" and weighing 185 lb , Head plays primarily shooting guard but played small forward as a college basketball star at the University of Illinois.-High school:Head attended Manley Academy in Chicago where he averaged over...
- 20052005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball TournamentThe 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 15, 2005, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at the Edward Jones Dome in St... - Deron WilliamsDeron WilliamsDeron Michael Williams , nicknamed D-Will, is an American basketball player currently with the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association . Williams has also played for the Utah Jazz of the NBA and Beşiktaş of the Turkish Basketball League...
- 20052005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball TournamentThe 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 15, 2005, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at the Edward Jones Dome in St...
- NCAA Tournament Regional Most Outstanding Player
- Nick AndersonNick AndersonNelison "Nick" Anderson is a former American professional basketball player. He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for two years, playing on the team that reached the NCAA Final Four in 1989. That Fighting Illini team gained the moniker "Flyin' Illini" by Dick Vitale while...
- 1989 - Deron WilliamsDeron WilliamsDeron Michael Williams , nicknamed D-Will, is an American basketball player currently with the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association . Williams has also played for the Utah Jazz of the NBA and Beşiktaş of the Turkish Basketball League...
- 2005- Big Ten Player of the YearBig Ten Conference Men's Basketball Player of the YearThe Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year is a basketball award given to the Big Ten Conference's most outstanding player. The award was first given following the 1984–85 season even though the conference itself was established in 1899...
- Big Ten Player of the Year
- Andy Phillip - 1943
- Dwight "Dike" EddlemanDwight EddlemanThomas Dwight "Dike" Eddleman is generally considered the greatest athlete in the history of athletics at the University of Illinois. Eddleman participated on the University's basketball, track and field, and football teams between the years of 1947 and 1949...
- 1949 - Don SunderlageDon SunderlageDon J. Sunderlage was an American basketball player.A 6'1" guard from Roselle, Illinois, Sunderlage played collegiately at the University of Illinois, earning the Chicago Tribune Silver Basketball award in 1951. From 1953 to 1955, he played in the National Basketball Association as a member of...
- 1951 - Johnny "Red" Kerr - 1954
- Jim DawsonJim DawsonJim Dawson is a Hollywood, California-based author and self-proclaimed "fartologist" who has written three books about farting, including the best-selling 'Who Cut the Cheese?'-Biography:...
- 1967 - Bruce DouglasBruce Douglas (basketball)Bruce Douglas is a retired American professional basketball player. A 6'3" guard, he played varsity basketball for Quincy Senior High School four years, and was a four-year starter at the University of Illinois...
- 1984 - Frank WilliamsFrank Williams (basketball)Frank Lowell Williams is a former American professional basketball player. As a point guard, Williams starred at both the high school and collegiate levels, and played briefly in the NBA....
- 2001 - Brian CookBrian CookBrian Joshua Cook is an American professional basketball player. Cook was drafted out of the University of Illinois with the 24th pick of the first round of the 2003 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers...
- 2003 - Dee Brown - 2005
- Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year
- Bruce DouglasBruce Douglas (basketball)Bruce Douglas is a retired American professional basketball player. A 6'3" guard, he played varsity basketball for Quincy Senior High School four years, and was a four-year starter at the University of Illinois...
- 1985 & 1986 - Stephen BardoStephen BardoStephen Dean "Steve" Bardo is a retired American professional basketball player, in the shooting guard position.-Basketball career:...
- 1989 - Dee Brown - 2005
- Big Ten Freshman of the Year
- Cory Bradford - 1999
- Brian CookBrian CookBrian Joshua Cook is an American professional basketball player. Cook was drafted out of the University of Illinois with the 24th pick of the first round of the 2003 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers...
- 2000 - D.J. Richardson - 2010
- Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player
- Brian CookBrian CookBrian Joshua Cook is an American professional basketball player. Cook was drafted out of the University of Illinois with the 24th pick of the first round of the 2003 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers...
- 2003 - James Augustine - 2005
- OlympianOlympic GamesThe Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
- Olympian
- Avery BrundageAvery BrundageAvery Brundage was an American amateur athlete, sports official, art collector, and philanthropist. Brundage competed in the 1912 Olympics and was the US national all-around athlete in 1914, 1916 and 1918...
- 1912 - Dike EddlemanDwight EddlemanThomas Dwight "Dike" Eddleman is generally considered the greatest athlete in the history of athletics at the University of Illinois. Eddleman participated on the University's basketball, track and field, and football teams between the years of 1947 and 1949...
- 1948 - Ron BontempsRon BontempsRonald "Ron" Yngve Bontemps was an American basketball player who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics. He attended Beloit College....
- 1952 - Deron WilliamsDeron WilliamsDeron Michael Williams , nicknamed D-Will, is an American basketball player currently with the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association . Williams has also played for the Utah Jazz of the NBA and Beşiktaş of the Turkish Basketball League...
- 2008- National Coach of the Year
- Bruce Weber - 2005
- Big Ten Coach of the Year
- Lou HensonLou HensonLou Henson is a former college basketball coach. He retired as the all time leader in victories at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with 423 victories and New Mexico State with 289 victories...
- 1993 - Bruce Weber - 2005
All-Century Team
During the celebration of the program's 100th year of basketball as a varsity sport, the University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics announced its All-Century Team. The 20-man team was selected after voting by fans on www.fightingillini.com and the Illinois Basketball Centennial Committee. The honorees were feted during the Illinois Basketball Centennial Reunion Weekend, Jan. 28-30, 2005.- Ray WoodsRay WoodsRay James Woods was an American college basketball standout for Illinois in the 1910s. A guard, Woods helped lead the Fighting Illini to two Big Ten Conference championships in 1915 and 1917, with the former being an undefeated 16–0 season that resulted in a retroactive national championship...
(1915–17) - Chuck CarneyChuck CarneyCharles "Chuck" Carney was an American football and basketball player. As an end and receiver, he played football for the University of Illinois from 1918-1921. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1966...
(1920–22) - Andy Phillip (1942–43, 1947)
- Gene VanceGene VanceEllis Eugene "Gene" Vance is an American former professional basketball player for the NBA's Chicago Stags and a former collegiate athlete for the University of Illinois Fighting Illini basketball team. He is most famous for leading Illinois as a member of the famed "Whiz Kids" of the 1940s...
(1942–43, 1947) - Dwight "Dike" EddlemanDwight EddlemanThomas Dwight "Dike" Eddleman is generally considered the greatest athlete in the history of athletics at the University of Illinois. Eddleman participated on the University's basketball, track and field, and football teams between the years of 1947 and 1949...
(1947–49) - Johnny "Red" Kerr (1952–54)
- Dave DowneyDave DowneyDavid J. "Dave" Downey is a former collegiate basketball player for the University of Illinois Fighting Illini basketball team. He is most famous for setting the Illinois single-game scoring record with 53 points at Indiana on Feb. 16, 1963...
(1961–63) - Duane "Skip" ThorenSkip ThorenDuane W. "Skip" Thoren is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'10" center from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Thoren played three seasons in the American Basketball Association as a member of the Minnesota Muskies and Miami Floridians...
(1963–65) - Don FreemanDonnie FreemanDonald E. Freeman is an American former professional basketball player. He spent eight seasons in the American Basketball Association and, after the ABA-NBA merger, one season in the National Basketball Association...
(1964–66) - Nick WeatherspoonNick WeatherspoonNick Levoter Weatherspoon was an American professional basketball player. He was a 6' 7" small forward....
(1971–73) - Eddie Johnson (1978–81)
- Derek HarperDerek HarperDerek Ricardo Harper is a retired American professional basketball player from the University of Illinois, who spent 16 seasons as a point guard in the National Basketball Association with the Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers.-College:After graduating from...
(1981–83) - Bruce DouglasBruce Douglas (basketball)Bruce Douglas is a retired American professional basketball player. A 6'3" guard, he played varsity basketball for Quincy Senior High School four years, and was a four-year starter at the University of Illinois...
(1983–86) - Ken NormanKen NormanKenneth Darnel Norman is an American former professional basketball player. Kenny was a standout forward for the Illinois Fighting Illini who was selected 19th overall by the Los Angeles Clippers of the 1987 NBA Draft...
(1985–87) - Kenny BattleKenny BattleKenneth R. "Kenny" Battle is an American retired professional basketball player.-High school career:...
(1988–89) - Nick AndersonNick AndersonNelison "Nick" Anderson is a former American professional basketball player. He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for two years, playing on the team that reached the NCAA Final Four in 1989. That Fighting Illini team gained the moniker "Flyin' Illini" by Dick Vitale while...
(1988–89) - Kendall GillKendall GillKendall Cedric Gill is a retired American professional basketball player, now a sports analyst for Comcast Sports Net and the Big Ten Network.-Early life:...
(1987–90) - Deon ThomasDeon ThomasDeon La velle Thomas is an American former basketball player.-High school:Thomas was a star basketball player at Chicago's Neal F. Simeon Vocational High School , graduating in 1989. As a junior in 1988, he led the Wolverines to the Chicago Public League title. As a senior, he was named Illinois Mr...
(1991–94) - Frank WilliamsFrank Williams (basketball)Frank Lowell Williams is a former American professional basketball player. As a point guard, Williams starred at both the high school and collegiate levels, and played briefly in the NBA....
(2000–02) - Brian CookBrian CookBrian Joshua Cook is an American professional basketball player. Cook was drafted out of the University of Illinois with the 24th pick of the first round of the 2003 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers...
(2000–03)
Season-by-season records
NCAA Tournament seeding history
The NCAANational Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
began seeding the tournament with the 1979 edition
1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 40 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 9, 1979, and ended with the championship game on March 26 in Salt Lake City, Utah...
.
| Years → | '79 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 40 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 9, 1979, and ended with the championship game on March 26 in Salt Lake City, Utah... |
'80 1980 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1980 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 48 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 6, 1980, and ended with the championship game on March 24 in Indianapolis, Indiana... |
'81 1981 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1981 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 48 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1981, and ended with the championship game on March 30 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania... |
'82 1982 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1982 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 48 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 11, 1982, and ended with the championship game on March 29 in New Orleans, Louisiana... |
'83 1983 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1983 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 52 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 2, 1983, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at The Pit, then officially known... |
'84 1984 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1984 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 53 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 1984, and ended with the championship game on April 2 in Seattle, Washington. A total of... |
'85 1985 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1985 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. This was the first year the field was expanded to 64 teams, from 53 in the previous year's tournament. It began... |
'86 1986 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1986 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 1986, and ended with the championship game on March 31 in Dallas, Texas... |
'87 1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1987, and ended with the championship game on March 30 in New Orleans, Louisiana... |
'88 1988 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1988 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 17, 1988, and ended with the championship game on April 4 returning to Kansas City, Missouri... |
'89 1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 1989, and ended with the championship game on April 3 in Seattle, Washington... |
'90 1990 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1990 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 15, 1990, and ended with the championship game on April 2 in Denver, Colorado... |
'91 1991 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1991 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 14, 1991, and ended with the championship game on April 1 in Indianapolis, Indiana... |
'92 1992 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1992 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 19, 1992, and ended with the championship game on April 6 in Minneapolis, Minnesota... |
'93 1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 18, 1993, and ended with the championship game on April 5 in New Orleans, Louisiana... |
'94 1994 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1994 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 17, 1994, and ended with the championship game on April 4 in Charlotte, North Carolina... |
'95 1995 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1995 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 1995, and ended with the championship game on April 3 at the Kingdome in Seattle,... |
'96 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 14, 1996, and ended with the championship game on April 1 at Continental Airlines Arena in... |
'97 1997 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1997 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 1997, and ended with the championship game on March 31 in Indianapolis, Indiana... |
'98 1998 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1998 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1998, and ended with the championship game on March 30 at the Alamodome in San Antonio,... |
'99 1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 11, 1999, and ended with the championship game on March 29 at Tropicana Field in St.... |
'00 2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 2000, and ended with the championship game on April 3 in Indianapolis, Indiana... |
'01 2001 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2001 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 2001 with the play-in game, and ended with the championship game on April 2 in... |
'02 2002 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2002 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 2002, and ended with the championship game on April 1 in Atlanta, Georgia... |
'03 2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 18, 2003, and ended with the championship game on April 7 in New Orleans, Louisiana... |
'04 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 2004, and ended with the championship game on April 5 at the Alamodome in San Antonio,... |
'05 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 15, 2005, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at the Edward Jones Dome in St... |
'06 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2005–06 basketball season... |
'07 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 NCAA schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2006–07 basketball season... |
'08 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2007–08 basketball season... |
'09 2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The first and second round games were played at the following sites:First and Second Rounds: Thursday and Saturday, March 19 and 21, 2009-Qualifying teams:-Brackets:Results to date * – Denotes overtime periodAll times in U.S. EDT.... |
'10 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The first and second round games were played at the following sites:*March 18 / 20*March 25 / 27*March 26 / 28Each regional winner advanced to the Final Four, held on April 3 and 5 in Indianapolis, Indiana at Lucas Oil Stadium, hosted by the Horizon League and Butler University, as per the NCAA's... |
'11 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The first and second round games were played at the following sites:*March 18 / 20*March 25 / 27*March 26 / 28Each regional winner advanced to the Final Four, held on April 3 and 5 in Indianapolis, Indiana at Lucas Oil Stadium, hosted by the Horizon League and Butler University, as per the NCAA's... |
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| 6 | 8 | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 |
Coaching history
| Coach | Years | Record | Conference Record |
Conference Titles |
NCAA Appearances |
| Elwood Brown | 1906–1907 | 6-8 | 3-6 | ||
| F. L. Pinckney | 1907–1908 | 1-10 | 0-8 | ||
| Fletcher Lane | 1908–1909 | 20-6 | 6-5 | ||
| Herb V. Juul | 1909–1910 | 12-10 | 10-10 | ||
| T. E. Thompson | 1910–1912 | 14-14 | 10-13 | ||
| Ralph R. Jones Ralph Jones Ralph Robert Jones was an American football and basketball coach in the United States. He served as the head coach for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League from 1930 to 1932.-Indiana:... |
1912–1920 | 85-34 | 64-31 | 2 | |
| Frank J. Winters Frank Winters (basketball coach) Frank Winters was a former high school and college basketball and football coach in the state of Illinois.-Rockford Central High School:Winters began coaching in 1915 at Rockford Central High School. While at Rockford, Winters' basketball teams compiled 95 wins while suffering only 12 losses. ... |
1920–1922 | 25-12 | 14-10 | ||
| J. Craig Ruby J. Craig Ruby J. Craig Ruby, a former college basketball player and coach, had a successful career both on and off the court. Ruby, a two-time All-American and All-Missouri Valley Conference forward for the University of Missouri Tigers, took over the head coaching position of his alma-mater in 1920... |
1922–1936 | 148-95 | 94-74 | 2 | |
| Douglas R. Mills Douglas R. Mills Douglas R. Mills a native of Elgin, Illinois, was a high school and college basketball player and coach in the state of Illinois. During high school, Mills was the first player in the state to lead his team to back-to-back titles in 1924 and 1925. He totaled 32 points in four state tournament... |
1936–1947 | 151-66 | 88-47 | 3 | 1 |
| Harry Combes Harry Combes Harry Combes , a native of Monticello, Illinois, served as head men's basketball coach at University of Illinois between 1947 and 1967.... |
1947–1967 | 316-150 | 174-104 | 4 | 4 |
| Harv Schmidt Harv Schmidt Harv Schmidt is a former American professional basketball player and coach. A 6'6", 195 pound small forward from Kankakee, Illinois. Schmidt attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he played from 1954-1957 for the men's basketball team... |
1967–1974 | 89-77 | 43-55 | ||
| Gene Bartow Gene Bartow Gene Bartow is a former men's college basketball coach. The Browning, Missouri, native coached 36 years at six universities after coaching two high schools in Missouri for six years.-High school:... |
1974–1975 | 8-18 | 4-14 | ||
| Lou Henson Lou Henson Lou Henson is a former college basketball coach. He retired as the all time leader in victories at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with 423 victories and New Mexico State with 289 victories... |
1975–1996 | 423-224 | 214-164 | 1 | 12 |
| Lon Kruger Lon Kruger Lon Kruger is an American college and professional basketball coach who is currently the men's basketball head coach of the University of Oklahoma. Kruger played college basketball for Kansas State University... |
1996–2000 | 81-48 | 38-28 | 1 | 3 |
| Bill Self Bill Self Bill Self is an American college men's basketball coach at the University of Kansas, where he led the Jayhawks to the 2008 NCAA national championship.... |
2000–2003 | 78-24 | 35-13 | 2 | 3 |
| Bruce Weber | 2003–Present | 186-75 | 77-44 | 2 | 6 |
| Totals | 1632-868 | 871-626 | 17 | 27 |
Head-to-head Big Ten records
| Team | Overall Record | Home Record | Road Record | Neutral Record |
| Indiana Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball The Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing Indiana University . The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the NCAA. The Hoosiers play on Branch McCracken Court at the Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana on the IU... |
82-83 | 48-31 | 29-50 | 5-1 |
| Iowa Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball The Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team represents the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, as a member of the Big Ten Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. They currently play in 15,500-seat Carver-Hawkeye Arena, along with the school's women's basketball, wrestling, and... |
78-66 | 59-14 | 19-52 | 0-0 |
| Michigan Michigan Wolverines men's basketball The Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Michigan. The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Wolverines play home basketball games at the... |
84-71 | 53-23 | 29-47 | 2-1 |
| Michigan State Michigan State Spartans men's basketball The Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team represents Michigan State University and competes in the Big Ten Conference of NCAA Division I. The team currently plays at the Breslin Student Events Center... |
55-54 | 35-17 | 18-34 | 1-3 |
| Minnesota Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball The Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball team represents the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Golden Gophers have played in the Big Ten since the conference began sponsoring basketball in 1905... |
114-62 | 69-17 | 41-44 | 4-1 |
| Nebraska Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college basketball. The program saw its first game in 1896 playing 7-on-7 basketball. The first collegiate game was against Nebraska Wesleyan University... |
0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Northwestern Northwestern Wildcats men's basketball The Northwestern Wildcats men's basketball team is an NCAA Division I college basketball team representing Northwestern University in the Big Ten Conference. Men's basketball was first introduced at Northwestern in 1901... |
127-35 | 63-13 | 61-22 | 3-0 |
| Ohio State Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball The Lucas Sapp men's basketball team represents The Ohio State University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. The Buckeyes are a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Buckeyes won their only National Championship in 1960 and have made a total of 21 NCAA Tournament appearances... |
102-67 | 60-24 | 40-41 | 2-2 |
| Penn State Penn State Nittany Lions men's basketball The Penn State Nittany Lions basketball team is a NCAA Division I college basketball team representing the Pennsylvania State University. They are a member of the Big Ten Conference and play home games at the 15,261-seat Bryce Jordan Center, moving there from boisterous Rec Hall during the 1995–96... |
23-11 | 10-5 | 10-5 | 3-1 |
| Purdue Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball The Purdue Boilermakers basketball team is a college basketball program that competes in NCAA Division I and is a member of the Big Ten Conference. Purdue basketball holds the record for most Big Ten Championships with 22, along with being the only program in the conference to boast winning records... |
84-91 | 54-32 | 28-57 | 2-2 |
| Wisconsin Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball The Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team is a NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Big Ten Conference. Home games are played at the Kohl Center, located on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus in Madison, Wisconsin.... |
109-75 | 67-20 | 39-52 | 3-3 |
Fighting Illini home courts
- Kenney GymKenney GymKenney Gym is a 5,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Urbana, Illinois, on the campus of the University of Illinois and is named after Harold E. Kenney. The arena opened in 1890 and was originally known as the Men's Gym Annex....
(1905–1925) located on the campus of the University of Illinois and is named after Harold E. (Hek) Kenney. The arena opened in 1890 and was originally known as the Men's Gym Annex - Huff HallHuff HallHuff Hall is a 4,500-seat multi-purpose arena in Champaign, Illinois, United States. The arena opened in 1925 and was known as Huff Gymnasium until the 1990s. It is named after George Huff, who was the school's athletic director from 1895 to 1935....
(1925–1963) opened in 1925 and was known as Huff Gymnasium until the 1990s. It is named after George Huff, who was the school's athletic director from 1895 to 1935. - Assembly HallAssembly Hall (Champaign)Assembly Hall is a large dome-shaped indoor arena, located in Champaign, Illinois, and is part of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign....
(1967–present) Assembly Hall opened on March 2, 1963 and continues to attract attention for its design and construction. Four hundred feet across, it at one time was one of only two edge-supported domes in the world.
2007–2008
In the 2007-08 season2007-08 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 2007–08 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 5, 2007 ended with the 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament's championship game on April 7, 2008 in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.-Season headlines:...
, the Illini tied for 9th in the Big Ten. They reached the finals of the Big Ten tournament
2008 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
-External links:**...
despite their 10-seed, where they lost to Wisconsin. The Illini failed to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 1998–99 season.
2006–2007
In the 2006-07 season2006-07 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 2006–07 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 7, 2006, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on April 2, 2007 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia...
, the Illini finished tied for 4th place in the Big Ten, earning the 6th seed in the Big Ten tournament
2007 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
-External links:*...
, and losing in the seminfinals to . The Illini were selected as a 12-seed in the NCAA tournament
2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 NCAA schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2006–07 basketball season...
; losing their opening-round game to Virginia Tech
2006-07 Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball team
The 2006–07 Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball team is an NCAA Division I college basketball team that competed in the Atlantic Coast Conference, finishing the regular season as the third place team in the conference....
by a score of 54–52. This was the first time the Illini failed to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament since 2003.
2004–2005
In 2004-2005 the Illini went 37–2, tying the NCAA record for most wins in a season. They lost in the National Championship to the North Carolina Tar Heels. The Illini won the Big Ten regular season and tournament which was held in Chicago. They gained a #1 seed in the "big dance" and posted one of the most memorable games in NCAA history against Arizona. Down 15 points with around 4 minutes left, the Illini sparked a run led by Luther Head and Deron Williams. The game was sent into overtime and the orange and blue pulled off the one point win to advance to the Final Four in St. Louis. Against the Louisville Cardinals in the Final Four they won their final game of the season. The Illini had all 5 starters; Deron WilliamsDeron Williams
Deron Michael Williams , nicknamed D-Will, is an American basketball player currently with the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association . Williams has also played for the Utah Jazz of the NBA and Beşiktaş of the Turkish Basketball League...
, Luther Head
Luther Head
Luther Dale Head is an American professional basketball player. Standing 6'3" and weighing 185 lb , Head plays primarily shooting guard but played small forward as a college basketball star at the University of Illinois.-High school:Head attended Manley Academy in Chicago where he averaged over...
, Dee Brown, James Augustine
James Augustine (basketball)
James Augustine is an American professional basketball player. He was born in Midlothian, Illinois, but eventually moved to Mokena, Illinois where he attended Lincoln-Way Central High School in New Lenox, Illinois where he graduated in 2002...
, and Roger Powell, Jr.; eventually play in the NBA. Deron Williams and Dee Brown both joined the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
roster where Williams played until February 2011 and Luther Head plays for the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
. Coach Bruce Weber also won many Coach of the Year awards.
When duty calls
Despite being ranked No. 1 in the nation, the 1943 Illinois men's basketball squad opted not to play in the NCAA Tournament when three of its five `Whiz Kids' were called to duty in World War IILon Kruger/Bill Self era
After longtime coach Lou HensonLou Henson
Lou Henson is a former college basketball coach. He retired as the all time leader in victories at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with 423 victories and New Mexico State with 289 victories...
's Departure, Illinois hired Lon Kruger
Lon Kruger
Lon Kruger is an American college and professional basketball coach who is currently the men's basketball head coach of the University of Oklahoma. Kruger played college basketball for Kansas State University...
to fill the vacancy for the 1996 season. Kruger inherited players such as Victor Chukwudebe, Jerry Hester, Kevin Turner, Jerry Gee, Matt Heldman, Brian Johnson, Kiwane Garris
Kiwane Garris
Kiwane Garris is an American former professional basketball player. He was listed as a 6'2" , 183 lb point guard....
and Cleotis Brown. During his four seasons at Illinois, three of which resulted in NCAA Tournament berths, (all three of which saw the Illini eliminated in the 2nd round) Kruger became the only Big Ten coach to successfully sign three consecutive Illinois Mr. Basketball
Illinois Mr. Basketball
Each year the Illinois Mr. Basketball award is given to the person chosen as the best high school boys basketball player in the U.S. state of Illinois....
winners, inking Sergio McClain
Sergio McClain
Sergio McClain is a former professional basketball player and NJCAA coach. He was the 1997 winner of the prestigious Illinois Mr...
, Frankie Williams
Frank Williams (basketball)
Frank Lowell Williams is a former American professional basketball player. As a point guard, Williams starred at both the high school and collegiate levels, and played briefly in the NBA....
, and Brian Cook
Brian Cook
Brian Joshua Cook is an American professional basketball player. Cook was drafted out of the University of Illinois with the 24th pick of the first round of the 2003 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers...
between 1997 and 1999.
The University of Illinois picked Tulsa coach Bill Self
Bill Self
Bill Self is an American college men's basketball coach at the University of Kansas, where he led the Jayhawks to the 2008 NCAA national championship....
from a list of numerous candidates, including popular assistant Jimmy Collins
Jimmy Collins
James Joseph Collins was a Major League Baseball player at the turn of the 20th century who was widely regarded as being the best third baseman prior to Brooks Robinson...
to succeed Kruger, who moved on to the NBA to coach the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
. In 2001, his first season at Illinois, Self took over an immensely talented team, and coached his new Fighting Illini squad to a 27-8 record, a share of the Big Ten title, and a number 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament. McClain, Cook and preseason Big Ten player of the year Cory Bradford led the Illini to the Elite Eight where they met and fell to eventual finalists Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
in a much disputed contest. The Illini were accused of being overly physical most of the season, especially McClain and pesky guards Sean Harrington and Lucas Johnson (younger brother of former Illini forward Brian Johnson) and the Illini were the clear target of questionable officiating. The '01 Illini team also included Robert Archibald
Robert Archibald
Robert Michael Archibald Jr. is a Scottish professional basketball player. A 6'11" power forward-center from the University of Illinois, he was selected by the NBA club the Memphis Grizzlies with the third pick of the second round of the 2002 NBA Draft...
, Damir Krupalija
Damir Krupalija
Damir Krupalija is a Bosnian professional basketball player. Krupalija played at the University of Illinois in the US from 1998 to 2002...
and Marcus Griffin. With mostly the same core, Illinois followed up the seaon with impressive 2002 and 2003 campaigns, but fell in the sweet 16 in 2002 and the second round in 2003. In addition, Self was largely responsible for the recruitment of the 2005 Fighting Illini team which won the Big Ten title; the team finished with a 37–2 record after falling to the Roy Williams-coached Tar Heels 75–70 in the NCAA championship game under Bruce Weber, who replaced Self prior to the 2004 season. Self's recruits on that team included four eventual NBA draft picks, Utah Jazz guard Deron Williams, Dee Brown, Luther Head and James Augustine
1990s
The early 1990s Illini were dominated by players such as guards Andy Kauffman, Richard Keene, and Kiwane Garris, as well as centers Shelly Clark and Deon Thomas. Thomas was at the center of a false report of misconduct by Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketballIowa Hawkeyes men's basketball
The Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team represents the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, as a member of the Big Ten Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. They currently play in 15,500-seat Carver-Hawkeye Arena, along with the school's women's basketball, wrestling, and...
assistant coach Bruce Pearl
Bruce Pearl
Bruce Dean-Fredrick Pearl is an American college basketball coach who most recently served as head coach of the University of Tennessee Volunteers men's team. He is a graduate of Boston College, where he obtained his first position as an assistant basketball coach. He was the first coach to lead...
, who alleged that Thomas had been offered cash to attend Illinois. The Illini were suspended from postseason play for one season for violations uncovered during the investigation.
Flyin' Illini
The top-seeded and top-ranked 1989 Illini were upset 83-81 in the Final FourFinal four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
on a last second basket by Michigan's
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
Sean Higgins
Sean Higgins
Sean Marielle Higgins is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for Michigan, whom he helped win the 1989 national championship....
, ending the school's deepest run in the tournament at that time. Illinois had beaten the Wolverines by 12 and 16 points in two previous meetings that season. The 1988–89 Illinois Fighting Illini team gained the moniker "Flyin' Illini" by Dick Vitale
Dick Vitale
Richard J. "Dick" Vitale , also known as "Dickie V", is an American basketball sportscaster. A former head coach in the college and professional ranks, he is well-known as a college basketball broadcaster and for the enthusiastic and colorful remarks he makes during games. He is known for his...
during an ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
broadcast that season. The team also gained national prominence for its athletic players, such as NCAA slam dunk champions Kenny Battle
Kenny Battle
Kenneth R. "Kenny" Battle is an American retired professional basketball player.-High school career:...
and Kendall Gill
Kendall Gill
Kendall Cedric Gill is a retired American professional basketball player, now a sports analyst for Comcast Sports Net and the Big Ten Network.-Early life:...
, as well as Lowell Hamilton
Lowell Hamilton
Lowell Hamilton was a former high school and college basketball player during the 1980s. Hamilton, a dominant high school center, led Chicago's Providence-St. Mel to a third-place finish in the I.H.S.A. 1984 high school playoffs, as well as a Class A state title in 1985...
, Nick Anderson
Nick Anderson
Nelison "Nick" Anderson is a former American professional basketball player. He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for two years, playing on the team that reached the NCAA Final Four in 1989. That Fighting Illini team gained the moniker "Flyin' Illini" by Dick Vitale while...
, Marcus Liberty
Marcus Liberty
Marcus Liberty is a retired American professional basketball player.-High School:Liberty attended Chicago King High School from 1983 to 1987. During his time at King, Liberty led his basketball teams to an IHSA State Championship in 1986 and a second-place finish in 1987...
, and Stephen Bardo
Stephen Bardo
Stephen Dean "Steve" Bardo is a retired American professional basketball player, in the shooting guard position.-Basketball career:...
.
Early 1980s
See also
- NCAA Men's Division I Final Four appearances by coachesNCAA Men's Division I Final Four appearances by coachesThis is a list of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Regional Championships by coach. The current names of the NCAA Tournament regions are the East, Southeast, Southwest, and West...
- ACC–Big Ten Challenge
- Deron William's Annual Illini Legends Charity Game