Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball | ||||
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University | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | |||
All-time record | 1,901β1,060 (.642) | |||
Athletic director | Josh Whitman | |||
Head coach | Brad Underwood (7th season) | |||
Conference | Big Ten | |||
Location | Champaign, Illinois | |||
Arena | State Farm Center (capacity: 15,544) | |||
Nickname | Fighting Illini | |||
Student section | Orange Krush | |||
Colors | Orange and blue | |||
Uniforms | ||||
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Pre-tournament Premo-Porretta champions | ||||
1915 | ||||
Pre-tournament Helms champions | ||||
1915 | ||||
NCAA tournament runner-up | ||||
2005 | ||||
NCAA tournament Final Four | ||||
1949, 1951, 1952, 1989, 2005 | ||||
NCAA tournament Elite Eight | ||||
1942, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1963, 1984, 1989, 2001, 2005, 2024 | ||||
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen | ||||
1951, 1952, 1963, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1989, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2024 | ||||
NCAA tournament round of 32 | ||||
1981, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2013, 2021, 2022, 2024 | ||||
NCAA tournament appearances | ||||
1942, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1963, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | ||||
Conference tournament champions | ||||
2003, 2005, 2021, 2024 | ||||
Conference regular season champions | ||||
1915, 1917, 1924, 1935, 1937, 1942, 1943, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1963, 1984, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2022 |
The Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team is an NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Big Ten Conference, that represent the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Home games are played at the State Farm Center, located on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's campus in Champaign. Illinois has one pre-tournament national championship and one non-NCAA tournament national championship in 1915 and 1943, awarded by the Premo-Porretta Power Poll. Illinois has appeared in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament 34 times, and has competed in 5 Final Fours, 10 Elite Eights, and has won 18 Big Ten regular season championships, and 4 Big Ten Tournament Championships.
The team is currently coached by Brad Underwood, who was hired on March 18, 2017. Through the end of the 2023β24 season, Illinois ranks 13th all-time in winning percentage and 13th all-time in wins among all NCAA Division I men's college basketball programs.
History
1906β12: Early years
The Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team began play during the 1905β06 season with Elwood Brown guiding the team to a 9β8 record as their first coach. Frank L. Pinckney took control of the team before the start of the 1906β07 season. The team would win their first game but would end up dropping the next 10 contests.
Another coaching change led to Fletcher Lane being in charge of the team for the 1907β08 season. After starting the season 14β1 in non-conference, Illinois would finish the season losing five of their 11 conference games, ending the year third in the Western Conference with a 20β6 (6β5) record.
Even though Lane led a successful season, his style of coaching was deemed subpar. Former Illini player Herb Juul was then hired as the head coach of the 1908β09 squad. The Illini would not see the same success as the season prior, finishing the season with a 7β6 (5β6) record. Despite the struggles, Juul became the first coach in Illinois history to return for more than one season. However, the 1909β10 season would be his last as the Illini finished with a 5β4 (5β4) record.
Thomas E. Thompson took the reigns before the 1910β11 season. The Illini would finish fourth in the Western Conference after earning a 6β6 (6β5) record. The 1911β12 season was Thompson's last year as head coach of the Illini after they finished with an 8β8 (4β8) record.
1912β20: Ralph Jones era
Before the start of the 1912β13 season, Illinois hired former Purdue head coach, Ralph Jones. During his three seasons in West Lafayette, Jones compiled a 32β9 record, while also winning the previous two Western Conference titles. During his first season with Illinois, Jones led the Illini to a 10β6 record which was Illinois' second 10-win season in school history.
During the 1914β15 season, Illinois won their first-ever Big Ten title, going 16β0 (12β0). They were retroactively declared champion of that season by the Helms Athletic Foundation and the Premo-Porretta Power Poll. They would earn another Big Ten title during the 1916β17 season, sharing it with Minnesota.
1936β47: Douglas Mills era
Before the start of the 1936β37 season, Douglas R. Mills began acting as the head coach and athletic director of the Illinois men's basketball team. In his first season, the Illini finished with a 14β4 (10β2) record, which was good enough to share the Big Ten title with Minnesota.
Before World War II broke out, the Fighting Illini men's basketball program had achieved a status that had never been seen prior. Mills grouped a team of players, all around 6-foot-3, into a nearly undefeatable lineup later known as the "Whiz Kids". The 1941β42 freshman and sophomore lineup of Arthur Smiley, Ken Menke, Andy Phillip, Gene Vance, Victor Wukovits, and Art Mathisen dominated the Big Ten by posting a 13β2 conference record and winning the conference title outright. It would be their first unanimous Big Ten championship since 1915.
The Illini finished 1942β43 season with a 17β1 (12β0) record, winning their second-straight Big Ten title. Despite being ranked No. 1 in the nation, they opted not to play in the 1943 NCAA tournament after three of their five starters were called to duty in World War II. At the end of the season, they were named Premo-Porretto Pre-Associated Press Poll national champions.
The 1946β47 season, would be Mills' last season as the head coach of the Illini. The team ended the season with a 14β6 (8β4) record, finishing one game behind Wisconsin in the Big Ten standings. Under Mills, the Illini compiled a record of 151 wins and 66 losses while winning three conference championships in the process.
1947β67: Harry Combes era
Champaign High School basketball coach Harry Combes was hired to succeed Doug Mills as Mills left the position to focus on his duties as the athletic director. Through his first five seasons as head coach, Combes led the Fighting Illini to three NCAA Final Four appearances in 1949, 1951, and 1952. During his tenure as coach, Combes increased the Fighting Illini's offensive output by changing their style of play. Combes implemented Full-court press defense, causing turnovers at a high rate which translated into Fast break points.
In 1951, Combes signed the first black player to don an Illinois uniform, 3x All-State point guard Walt Moore of Mount Vernon. Along with teammate and future Illinois standout Max Hooper, Moore led the Rams to back-to-back state championship titles, culminating with a perfect 33β0 record in 1950.
During the 1957β58 season, Mannie Jackson and Govoner Vaughn were inserted into the starting lineup as the first two African-Americans to start and letter in basketball at Illinois. Combes also oversaw the Illini's move from Huff Hall to Assembly Hall in 1963 and during that same season the Illini won a fourth Big Ten Conference championship under Combes. However, the Illini lost to eventual national champion Loyola (Chicago) in the Elite Eight of the 1963 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. The following 1964β65 season, saw several upset victories over defending national champion UCLA Bruins and national powerhouse Kentucky Wildcats at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Kentucky.
Combes' tenure came to an end as a result of the University of Illinois slush fund scandal. As head coach of the basketball team, he was primarily responsible for the basketball fund, and thus held a key role in the scandal. Assistant basketball coach Howie Braun also lost his job due to the scandal.
1967β74: Harv Schmidt era
Former Illini player Harv Schmidt was hired to fill the head coaching vacancy ten days after Combes' forced resignation. During his tenure, the Illini compiled an 89-77 overall record but went 43-55 in conference play. The team did not have any postseason appearances during his tenure.
1974β75: Gene Bartow years
Gene Bartow would later sign a five-year contract to replace Schmidt in 1974, but he left after one season in which the Illini finished last place in the conference to replace John Wooden at UCLA.
1975β96: Lou Henson era
In 1975, after having taken New Mexico State (and future Illinois assistant coach Jimmy Collins) to the 1970 Final Four, Lou Henson moved to the University of Illinois to replace Gene Bartow, after Bartow left Illinois to replace the legendary John Wooden at UCLA. Henson would lead the Fighting Illini back to their glory after having a number of difficult years following the Illinois slush fund scandal (where Illinois was hit with severe penalties for infractions that other Big 10 schools had in years prior been punished much more leniently (according to Sports Illustrated) at the time). In 21 years at Illinois, Henson garnered 423 wins and 224 losses (.654 winning percentage), and with a record of 214 wins and 164 losses (.567) in Big Ten Conference games. The 214 wins in Big Ten games were the third highest total ever at the time of his retirement. At Illinois, Henson coached many future NBA players, including Eddie Johnson, Derek Harper, Ken Norman, Nick Anderson, Kendall Gill, Kenny Battle, Marcus Liberty, Steve Bardo, and Kiwane Garris.
Early 1980s
In 1981, Illinois made strides in its return to the national spotlight with a 21β8 record, a third-place Big Ten finish and an invitation to the NCAA Tournament. The team received a first-round bye in the NCAA Tournament and beat Wyoming, 67β65, in Los Angeles to advance to the regionals in Salt Lake City, where Illinois lost to Kansas State, 57β52. During this season, the Fighting Illini led the Big Ten in scoring for the second consecutive season and were again led by Eddie Johnson and Mark Smith. Guards Craig Tucker and Derek Harper arrived to add backcourt punch, and Harper began his Illini career being named First-Team Freshman All-America by ESPN and ABC.
The top-seeded and top-ranked 1989 Illini were upset 83β81 in the Final Four 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 1988β89 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.
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 report of misconduct by Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball 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 unrelated violations uncovered during the investigation.
1996β00: Lon Kruger years
After longtime coach Lou Henson's departure, Illinois hired Lon Kruger to fill the vacancy for the 1996 season. Kruger was the 14th head basketball coach in program history. During his four-year tenure he compiled a 59β38 record. He immediately made an impact at Illinois leading them to a 22β10 record and a second round NCAA tournament appearance in his first year. This created excitement because of the ninth-place finish the Illini had taken just before his arrival. 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, Frank Williams, and Brian Cook between 1997 and 1999.Several times during his coaching tenure the Illini were predicted to be at the bottom of the Big Ten, however he overcame adversity each time performing far better than expected.
2000β03: Bill Self years
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. Bill Self was hired to the Illini coaching staff as the 15th head coach in the history of the program. He spent his previous seven years as the head coach of Oral Roberts University and Tulsa University where he compiled an overall record of 129β71. In 2001, his first season at Illinois, Self coached his new Fighting Illini squad to a 27β8 record, a share of the Big Ten title, and a number 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. That 27-game winning season in Self's first year was the second most winning season in school history at that time. McClain, Cook and preseason Big Ten player of the year Cory Bradford led the Illini to the Elite Eight, where they fell to eventual finalist 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). The '01 Illini team also included Robert Archibald, Damir Krupalija and Marcus Griffin. With mostly the same core, Illinois followed up the season with impressive 2002 and 2003 campaigns, but fell in the Sweet 16 in 2002. He was the first head coach in the Big Ten, since 1912, to lead his team to conference championships in each of his first two seasons. It was also the first time Illinois won back-to-back titles in 50 years. Self, also, had an overall record of 78β24 in his three years as Illinois head coach. Self left for Kansas after the 2003 season.
2003β12: Bruce Weber era
Bruce Weber served as the head coach of Illinois basketball for nine seasons from 2003 to 2012.
After Bill Self left, Illinois AD Ron Guenther hired Weber to coach the Fighting Illini on April 30, 2003. Weber came from Southern Illinois University (SIU) in Carbondale and was touted as a loyal coach, which was valued by the Illinois AD after both Kruger and Self left Champaign with relatively short tenures. In his five seasons as head coach at SIU, Weber took the Saluki program to the top of the Missouri Valley Conference, winning league titles in 2002 and 2003. He posted records of 28β8 and 24β7 in his last two seasons, leading the Salukis to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, including a run to the Sweet 16 in 2002 with wins over Texas Tech and Georgia at the United Center in Chicago. His .689 (62β28) winning percentage in MVC play ranked 12th in the long history of the league. Weber earned Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year honors following the 2003 season.
Illinois totaled 210 victories under Weber from 2004 to 2012. He ranks third on the Illinois career coaching wins list. He won 67.5 percent of his games while in charge of the Fighting Illini (210β101). Under Weber, the Illini had two Big Ten Championships (2004, 2005), two runner-up finishes (2006, 2009) and seven upper-division finishes.
Illinois had five players selected in the NBA draft under Weber, as Deron Williams (No. 3, Utah Jazz) and Luther Head (No. 24, Houston Rockets) were taken in the first round of the 2005 NBA draft, and James Augustine (No. 41, Orlando Magic) and Dee Brown (No. 46, Utah Jazz) were chosen in the second round of the 2006 NBA draft. Meyers Leonard was chosen 11th by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2012 NBA draft following Weber's final season. Utah's selection of Williams at No. 3 overall in the 2005 lottery made him the highest-drafted player in Illinois history.
It took just one season for Weber to etch his name in the Big Ten and Illinois record books after leading the Fighting Illini to its first outright Big Ten title in 52 years during the 2003β04 season. In leading his young team that featured just one senior on the roster, Weber became just the third coach in the history of the Big Ten to win an outright title in his first season. Illinois had to win 10 straight to end the regular season to claim the championship, including six-straight wins on the road. Illinois' 26 wins in 2003β04 tied the fourth-winningest season in school history. Weber also led the Illini to the Sweet 16 with NCAA Tournament victories over Murray State and Cincinnati.
Weber's second year at Illinois, the 2004β05 season, will be remembered as one of the greatest in Fighting Illini history, finishing 37β2 as the National Runner-Up in the NCAA tournament. In a remarkable year where Illinois celebrated its centennial season of basketball, the Illini reeled off 29 straight wins to start the year, tying the 12th-best start in NCAA Div. I history and the third-best start in Big Ten history. Illinois also secured its second-straight outright Big Ten championship with a 15β1 league record, as Weber became the first coach in Big Ten history to win consecutive outright titles in his first two seasons. Illinois then added a Big Ten tournament championship in addition to its regular season title. The Illini were ranked No. 1 in the nation for 15 straight weeks, including a first-ever No. 1 ranking in the final Associated Press poll.
They gained the #1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament and prevailed in one of the most memorable games in NCAA history against Arizona. Down 15 points with around 4 minutes left, the Illini rallied with a run led by Luther Head and Deron Williams. The game was sent into overtime and the Illini pulled off a one-point win to advance to the 2005 Final Four in St. Louis. It was the Fighting Illini's first Final Four Appearance since the 1988β89 season. Against the Louisville Cardinals in the national semifinal game, the Illini posted their final victory of the season. All of the five Illini startersβDeron Williams, Luther Head, Dee Brown, James Augustine, and Roger Powell, Jr.βwould eventually play in the NBA. Williams and Brown both joined the Utah Jazz roster, while Luther Head went on to play for the Sacramento Kings.
With all that Illinois accomplished during the season, Weber swept the 2005 National Coach of the Year awards, claiming the following: the Naismith Award, the most prestigious coaching award in college basketball; the Henry Iba Award, presented by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association; and, the Adolph F. Rupp Cup. Weber was also named National Coach of the Year by the NABC, Associated Press, The Sporting News, Basketball Times, CBS/Chevrolet, Victor Awards and Nike Championship Basketball Clinic.
Despite losing three starters and 63 percent of its scoring from the 2004β05 NCAA runner-up squad, Weber directed the 2005β06 Illini to a third-consecutive 4829-win season, a runner-up finish in the Big Ten, the second round of the NCAA Tournament, and a ranking among the nation's top 17 teams throughout the entire season. The Illini spent the majority of 2005β06 ranked in the Top 10 and recorded 26 wins on the year to tie the fourth-winningest season in school history. The Illini were given a number 4 seed in the NCAA tournament, where they beat Air Force in the opening round, before falling to the University of Washington in the second round.
The 2006β07 team finished with a record of 23β12 (9β7) and finished tied for fourth in the Big Ten. With a depleted roster that had six different players combine to miss a total of 58 games due to injury, the Illini still advanced to the NCAA Tournament. They were awarded a 12 seed and lost in the opening round to Virginia Tech.
The 2007β08 season was one of the worst seasons in Illinois history, highlighted by a string of close losses. The lone bright spot came as Illinois came on strong to win four of its last five and five of its final seven games, which culminated with a runner-up finish at the Big Ten tournament. Weber's Illini became the first No. 10 seed in the tournament's history to advance to the title game, winning three games in three days with victories over Penn State, No. 17 Purdue, and Minnesota to reach the championship game vs. No. 8 Wisconsin. However, with an overall record of 16β19 (5β13), the Illini were not selected to participate in postseason play.
Weber's 2008β09 UI squad was one of the most improved teams in the country finishing with a record of 24β10 (11β7). With 10 more regular season victories than it achieved the year before, Illinois posted the third-biggest turnaround in NCAA Division I and the second-biggest turnaround among BCS programs on the year. The Illini recorded 24 wins, ranking as the 10th winningest season in school history. Illinois was the Big Ten runner-up, earned a No. 5 seed in the 2009 NCAA Tournament, and finished the year ranked 24th in the Pomeroy rankings. The Illini lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament to the 12th-seeded Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.
During the 2009β10 season, the Illini finished 21β15 (10β8) and finished 5th in the Big Ten. The team was widely considered to be "on the bubble" for the NCAA tournament and missed the tournament field by a narrow margin. The Illini competed in the NIT, falling at home to the Dayton Flyers in the NIT Quarterfinals.
Illinois rebounded in 2010β11 to finish 20β14 (9β9) and tied for fourth in the Big Ten. The Illini were selected to join the NCAA tournament as a #9 seed, where they defeated the #8 seeded UNLV Rebels setting up a matchup with the #1 seeded Kansas Jayhawks and former coach Bill Self. Kansas proved to be too much for the Illini, and the season came to an end in the round of 32.
In 2011β12, Weber's last as coach of the Illini, the team finished 17β15 (6β12), good for 9th in the conference. The team did not compete in the postseason. Illinois' new AD Mike Thomas fired Weber after the 2011β12 season.
2012β17: John Groce era
John Groce was hired by the new athletic director Mike Thomas on March 28, 2012. During the 2012β13 season, the Illini were the Maui Invitational champions and later made the NCAA tournament, losing their second game to the Miami Hurricanes by a score of 63β59. The Illini spent eight weeks nationally ranked in the NCAA Division I rankings, and for two weeks were ranked as high as 10th in the country.
The 2013β14 season saw major roster turnover, with nine players leaving and nine players joining the program. This season was one to forget, as the Illini would ultimately miss the NCAA Tournament and lose in the second round of the NIT.
In 2014, Groce continued Illinois' success in November, improving to 21β0 under Groce and 32β0 overall during the past four seasons. Illinois is the only program in the nation with an undefeated November record dating back to 2011. The 2014β2015 season was once again disappointing for the Illini. Illinois finished with a record of 19β14, finishing tied for 7th place in the Big Ten with a record of 9β9. The Illini were then beaten in the first round of the NIT.
The 2015β16 season ended with the fewest total wins in almost 20 years since the 98β99 Lon Kruger crew won only 14 games. Groce's squad finished with a record of 15β19, taking 12th place in the Big Ten and receiving no post-season tournament invitations.
The 2016β17 season was another disappointing season for the Fighting Illini, as they finished the season at 18β14 and 8β10 in the conference, failing to make the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive year. On March 11, 2017, the university announced via press release that Groce had been relieved of his duties as head men's basketball coach. The next day, the team was put into the NIT as a 2-seed. The team was coached during the NIT by interim coach Jamall Walker, making it to the quarterfinals before being eliminated by the University of Central Florida.
2017β24: Brad Underwood era
On March 18, 2017, Brad Underwood was hired by athletic director Josh Whitman. Underwood previously coached at Stephen F. Austin from 2013 to 2016, before spending one year at Oklahoma State. In Underwood's first season at Illinois, the team won each of their first five contests. After beginning conference play 0β8, they ended the season with a record of 14β18.
While the 2018β19 season featured the debut of key pieces including Ayo Dosunmu, Giorgi Bezhanishvili, Andres Feliz, and Alan Griffin, the Illini posted one of the worst records in program history at 12β21 (7β13 in Big Ten). Despite the poor record, Illinois had many memorable moments such as upsetting #9 Michigan State at home and Bezhanishvili scoring 35 points against Rutgers, breaking the Illini record for most points by a freshman in a single game.
The 2019β20 season was the freshman year of highly ranked center Kofi Cockburn. The Illini started the season slow in the first game, barely beating Nicholls State 78β70 in overtime. During the ACCβBig Ten Challenge, Illinois played Miami where they lost 81β79 after they mounted a huge comeback before a charge was called against Dosunmu on the game's final play. The next game they traveled to College Park to play against #3 Maryland. The Illini led by 14 at the half, but Maryland outscored Illinois 34β19 in the second half and won the game by an Anthony Cowan free throw. The Illini next played #5 Michigan at the State Farm Center. They would beat the Wolverines 71β62 to improve to 7β3 on the season. Over the next 12 games, the Illini went 10β2, including Dosunmu's game-winning shot during their second matchup against Michigan to give Illinois a 64β62 lead with half a second left on the clock. Illinois would finish the season with a 21β10 (13β7) record which would be good enough for 4th in the Big Ten. They would also finish ranked 21st in the AP Poll and 22nd in the Coaches Poll.
The 2020β21 season that Underwood finally had mostly his recruits running the team and it certainly showed on the court. After much deliberation, Ayo Dosunmu returned to Illinois for his junior season instead of going to the NBA. He, along with Kofi Cockburn, helped make Illinois into a top-10 team. They went 16-4 (0.800) in the B1G conference but had a worse record than Michigan (14-3, 0.824), and therefore did not earn even a share of the title. This title was disputed as Michigan had failed to play three extra games because of COVID protocols, and only one loss in those three games would have given Illinois the title; Illinois had beaten Michigan by 23 without leading scorer Ayo Dosunmu in Ann Arbor. The team went on to win the Big Ten tournament title, however, after a hard-fought, overtime 91β88 win over OSU. Illinois became a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the 4th time in school history. They were upset by Loyola-Chicago in the 2nd round and finished the season 24β7. Dosunmu became the first player in Illini history to earn 1st-team All-America honors by the AP. Cockburn was named to the AP All-American 2nd-team.
Before the 2021β22 season, Ayo Dosunmu was drafted by the Chicago Bulls, and Adam Miller transferred to LSU, leading to AndrΓ© Curbelo being expected to serve as the primary ball handler. Unfortunately, Curbelo suffered a concussion prior to the season opener that would continue to affect him throughout the season. The team was led by fifth-year players Trent Frazier and Da'Monte Williams. Kofi Cockburn returned for his junior year but was suspended for the first three games for selling his team jerseys during the off-season. The team tied with Wisconsin for a share of the Big Ten regular season title, with a record of 15-5. Due to the tiebreaker rules, the team was seeded first in the Big Ten Tournament but lost its first game to ninth-seeded Indiana. The team was given the #4 seed in the South region of the NCAA tournament. After a 54-53 victory against Chattanooga, the team lost in the second round to Houston. Cockburn was named to the AP All-American 1st-team.
The roster suffered from some major turnover before the 2022β23 season, with five players transferring out of the program, four players graduating, and Kofi Cockburn electing to stay in the NBA draft (and ultimately going undrafted). Three players transferred into the program and six freshmen were recruited. As a result of the roster changes, the team would be led by Terrence Shannon Jr. and Coleman Hawkins. The Illini would secure two major wins in non-conference play, beating #8 UCLA in the Continental Tire Main Event semifinal and #2 Texas in the Jimmy V Classic. Both Zacharie Perrin and Skyy Clark left the program during the season. Ultimately the season was a step back for the program, as due to tiebreaker rules, the team received a seven seed and lost to Penn State in their first game of the Big Ten Tournament. The team then received the #9 seed in the West region and lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Arkansas. For the first time since Underwood's second season, the team finished the season unranked in the AP Poll.
The 2023-24 season would be one to remember. Three pivotal graduate transfers, Marcus Domask, Quincy Guerrier, and Justin Harmon joined the team, with Domask and Guerrier starting most games. The Illini went on an undefeated trip to Spain and then beat #1 ranked Kansas in a televised exhibition game. The team lost only two games to non-NCAA tournament teams, once to Penn State and once to Maryland. After finishing second in the Big Ten standings, the team ultimately won the Big Ten Tournament, prevailing over Wisconsin. The team was selected to the NCAA tournament as the #3 seed in the East region. For the first time in Underwood's tenure, the team made the Sweet Sixteen, where it beat the #2 seed, Iowa State. For the first time since the 2004β05 season, the team made the Elite Eight, where it lost to #1-overall and eventual national champion UConn.
Records by Coach
Coach | Years | Record | Conference
Record |
Conference
Champion |
NCAA
Bids |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thomas E. Thompson | 1910β1912 | 14β14 | 10β13 | ||
Ralph R. Jones | 1912β1920 | 85β34 | 64β31 | 2 | |
Frank J. Winters | 1920β1922 | 25β12 | 14β10 | ||
J. Craig Ruby | 1922β1936 | 148β95 | 94β74 | 2 | |
Douglas R. Mills | 1936β1947 | 151β66 | 88β47 | 3 | 1 |
Harry Combes | 1947β1967 | 316β150 | 174β104 | 4 | 4 |
Harv Schmidt | 1967β1974 | 89β77 | 43β55 | ||
Gene Bartow | 1974β1975 | 8β18 | 4β14 | ||
Lou Henson | 1975β1996 | 423β224 | 214β164 | 1 | 12 |
Lon Kruger | 1996β2000 | 81β48 | 38β28 | 1 | 3 |
Bill Self | 2000β2003 | 78β24 | 35β13 | 2 | 3 |
Bruce Weber | 2003β2012 | 210β101 | 89β65 | 2 | 6 |
John Groce | 2012β2017 | 95β74 | 37β53 | 1 | |
Jamall Walker (interim) | 2017 | 2β1 | |||
Brad Underwood | 2017β | 132-85 | 75-56 | 1 | 4 |
Totals | 1896β1058 | 998β756 | 18 | 34 |
Championships
National championships
Year | Coach | Selector | Record |
---|---|---|---|
1915 | Ralph Jones | Helms Athletic Foundation, Premo-Porretta Power Poll | 16β0 |
1943 | Douglas R. Mills | Premo-Porretta Power Poll | 17β1 |
Conference championships
Regular season
Season | Conference | Coach | Overall | Conference |
---|---|---|---|---|
1914β15 | Western Conference | Ralph Jones | 16β0 | 12β0 |
1916β17β | 13β3 | 10β2 | ||
1923β24β | Big Ten Conference | J. Craig Ruby | 11β6 | 8β4 |
1934β35β | 15β5 | 9β3 | ||
1936β37β | Douglas R. Mills | 14β4 | 10β2 | |
1941β42 | 18β5 | 13β2 | ||
1942β43 | 17β1 | 12β0 | ||
1948β49 | Harry Combes | 21β4 | 10β2 | |
1950β51 | 22β5 | 13β1 | ||
1951β52 | 22β4 | 12β2 | ||
1962β63β | 20β6 | 11β3 | ||
1983β84β | Lou Henson | 26β5 | 15β3 | |
1997β98β | Lon Kruger | 23β10 | 13β3 | |
2000β01β | Bill Self | 27β8 | 13β3 | |
2001β02β | 26β9 | 11β5 | ||
2003β04 | Bruce Weber | 26β7 | 13β3 | |
2004β05 | 37β2 | 15β1 | ||
2021β22β | Brad Underwood | 23β10 | 15β5 |
β β Conference co-champions
Tournament
Year | Conference | Coach | Site | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2003 | Big Ten Conference | Bill Self | United Center (Chicago, Illinois) | Ohio State | 72β59 |
2005 | Bruce Weber | United Center (Chicago, Illinois) | Wisconsin | 54β43 | |
2021 | Brad Underwood | Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, Indiana) | Ohio State | 91β88 OT | |
2024 | Target Center (Minneapolis, Minnesota) | Wisconsin | 93β87 |
Postseason history
NCAA Division I Tournament
Seeding
The NCAA began seeding the tournament with the 1979 edition.
Years β | '79 | '80 | '81 | '82 | '83 | '84 | '85 | '86 | '87 | '88 | '89 | '90 | '91 | '92 | '93 | '94 | '95 | '96 | '97 | '98 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seeds β | β | β | 4 | β | 7 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 5 | β | β | 6 | 8 | 11 | β | 6 | 5 |
Years β | '99 | '00 | '01 | '02 | '03 | '04 | '05 | '06 | '07 | '08 | '09 | '10 | '11 | '12 | '13 | '14 | '15 | '16 | '17 | '18 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seeds β | β | 4 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 12 | β | β | β | β | 5 | β | 9 | β | 7 | β | β |
Years β | '19 | '20 | '21 | '22 | '23 | '24 | '25 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seeds β | β | x | 1 | 4 | 9 | 3 |
Results
Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Results |
---|---|---|---|---|
1942 | Elite Eight Regional 3rd-place game |
Kentucky Penn State |
L 44β46 L 34β41 | |
1949 | Elite Eight Final Four National 3rd-place game |
Yale Kentucky Oregon State |
W 71β67 L 47β76 W 57β53 | |
1951 | Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four National 3rd-place game |
Columbia NC State Kentucky Oklahoma A&M |
W 79β71 W 84β70 L 74β76 W 61β46 | |
1952 | Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four National 3rd-place game |
Dayton Duquesne St. John's Santa Clara |
W 80β61 W 74β68 L 59β61 W 67β64 | |
1963 | Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight |
Bowling Green LoyolaβChicago |
W 70β67 L 64β79 | |
1981 | #4 | Second Round Sweet Sixteen |
#5 Wyoming #8 Kansas State |
W 67β65 L 52β57 |
1983 | #7 | First Round | #10 Utah | L 49β52 |
1984 | #2 | Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight |
#7 Villanova #3 Maryland #1 Kentucky |
W 64β56 W 72β70 L 51β54 |
1985 | #3 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen |
#14 Northeastern #6 Georgia #2 Georgia Tech |
W 76β57 W 74β58 L 53β61 |
1986 | #4 | First Round Second Round |
#13 Fairfield #5 Alabama |
W 75β51 L 56β58 |
1987 | #3 | First Round | #14 Austin Peay | L 67β68 |
1988 | #3 | First Round Second Round |
#14 Texas-San Antonio #6 Villanova |
W 81β72 L 63β66 |
1989 | #1 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four |
#16 McNeese State #9 Ball State #4 Louisville #2 Syracuse #3 Michigan |
W 77β71 W 72β60 W 83β69 W 89β86 L 81β83 |
1990 | #5 | First Round | #12 Dayton | L 86β88 |
1993 | #6 | First Round Second Round |
#11 Long Beach State #3 Vanderbilt |
W 75β72 L 68β85 |
1994 | #8 | First Round | #9 Georgetown | L 77β84 |
1995 | #11 | First Round | #6 Tulsa | L 62β68 |
1997 | #6 | First Round Second Round |
#11 Southern California #14 UT Chattanooga |
W 90β77 L 63β75 |
1998 | #5 | First Round Second Round |
#12 South Alabama #4 Maryland |
W 64β51 L 61β67 |
2000 | #4 | First Round Second Round |
#13 Penn #5 Florida |
W 68β58 L 76β93 |
2001 | #1 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight |
#16 Northwestern State #9 Charlotte #4 Kansas #2 Arizona |
W 96β54 W 79β61 W 80β64 L 81β87 |
2002 | #4 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen |
#13 San Diego State #12 Creighton #1 Kansas |
W 93β64 W 72β60 L 69β73 |
2003 | #4 | First Round Second Round |
#13 Western Kentucky #5 Notre Dame |
W 65β60 L 60β68 |
2004 | #5 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen |
#12 Murray State #4 Cincinnati #1 Duke |
W 72β53 W 92β68 L 62β72 |
2005 | #1 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four National Championship |
#16 Fairleigh Dickinson #9 Nevada #12 Milwaukee #3 Arizona #4 Louisville #1 North Carolina |
W 67β55 W 71β59 W 77β63 W 90β89 W 72β57 L 70β75 |
2006 | #4 | First Round Second Round |
#13 Air Force #5 Washington |
W 78β69 L 64β67 |
2007 | #12 | First Round | #5 Virginia Tech | L 52β54 |
2009 | #5 | First Round | #12 Western Kentucky | L 72β76 |
2011 | #9 | First Round Second Round |
#8 UNLV #1 Kansas |
W 73β62 L 59β73 |
2013 | #7 | First Round Second Round |
#10 Colorado #2 Miami |
W 57β49 L 59β63 |
2021 | #1 | First Round Second Round |
#16 Drexel #8 LoyolaβChicago |
W 78β49 L 58β71 |
2022 | #4 | First Round Second Round |
#13 Chattanooga #5 Houston |
W 54β53 L 53β68 |
2023 | #9 | First Round | #8 Arkansas | L 63β73 |
2024 | #3 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight |
#14 Morehead State #11 Duquesne #2 Iowa State #1 UConn |
W 85β69 W 89β63 W 72β69 L 52β77 |
National Invitational Tournament
Seeding
The NIT began seeding the tournament with the 2006 edition.
Years β | '06 | '07 | '08 | '09 | '10 | '11 | '12 | '13 | '14 | '15 | '16 | '17 | '18 | '19 | '20 | '21 | '22 | '23 | '24 | '25 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seeds β | β | β | β | β | 1 | β | β | β | 2 | 3 | β | 2 | β | β | x | β | β | β | β | β |
Results
Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1980 | First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals 3rd Place Game |
Loyola-Chicago Illinois State Murray State Minnesota UNLV |
W 105β87 W 75β65 W 65β63 L 63β65 W 84β74 | |
1982 | First Round Second Round |
LIU Dayton |
W 126β78 L 58β61 | |
1996 | First Round | Alabama | L 69β72 | |
2010 | #1 | First Round Second Round Quarterfinals |
Stony Brook Kent State Dayton |
W 76β66 W 75β58 L 71β77 |
2014 | #2 | First Round Second Round |
Boston University Clemson |
W 66β62 L 49β50 |
2015 | #3 | First Round | Alabama | L 58β79 |
2017 | #2 | First Round Second Round Quarterfinals |
Valparaiso Boise State UCF |
W 82β57 W 71β56 L 58β68 |
Facilities
Kenney Gym (1905β1925)
Kenney Gym Annex is a 5,000-seat multi-purpose arena that is the practice facility for the Fighting Illini gymnastics team. Before the opening of Huff Hall in 1925, Kenney Gym housed the Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team. It also was home to the Women's Volleyball program from 1974 until 1989, after which the program moved to Huff Hall in 1990.
Huff Hall (1925β1963)
Huff Hall is a 4,050-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, the school's athletic director from 1895 to 1935. Huff Hall is home to the University of Illinois Fighting Illini volleyball and wrestling teams. Before the opening of Assembly Hall in 1963, it was home to the basketball team as well.
State Farm Center (1963β)
Assembly Hall opened on March 2, 1963, and hosts the home games for the men's and women's basketball teams. Max Abramovitz, an Illinois alumnus, was the lead architect behind the building of the indoor arena. At the time of its opening, Assembly Hall could hold 16,128 people, making it the largest dome structure in North America until the Houston Astrodome opened in 1965.
In 2008, school officials, led by athletic director Ron Guenther, conducted a study to decide whether to refurbish the Assembly Hall or build a new basketball arena. In 2010, they decided to keep the arena. In 2014, renovations began under the watch of AECOM, an architectural firm based out of Dallas Texas. The estimated cost of the project was estimated to be around $169.5 million and in turn State Farm Insurance decided to buy the naming rights of the stadium.
Ubben Basketball Complex (1998βpresent)
The 2-story, 40,000-square-foot building is home to the University of Illinois Men's and Women's basketball programs. The facility includes offices, locker areas, weight training facilities and team meeting rooms in addition to the practice basketball courts. The Illinois Champions Campaign was a major catalyst of the $40 million renovation.
Prairie Capital Convention Center (2015)
In November 2015, the arena hosted the team for five games while renovations to the State Farm Center were completed.
Rivalries
Indiana Hoosiers
Illinois and Indiana's rivalry started because the teams share a state border and they are located about 153 miles (246 km) apart. They have played annually since 1906. Indiana currently leads the series 96β92. The teams have played each other in five top-ten matchups, the first coming in 1952 when 2nd-ranked Illinois beat 4th-ranked Indiana 78β66. The longest winning streak was when Indiana won nine consecutive matchups from 1972 to 1977.
Iowa Hawkeyes
Northwestern Wildcats
Missouri Tigers
Notable Illini players and coaches
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers
Class | Inductee | Tenure | Category |
---|---|---|---|
1960 | H. V. Porter | β | Contributor |
1961 | Andy Phillip | 1941β1943, 1946β1947 | Player |
1971 | Abe Saperstein | 1920 | Contributor |
2004 | Jerry Colangelo | 1960β1962 | Contributor |
2017 | Mannie Jackson | 1957β1960 | Contributor |
2017 | Bill Self | 2000β2003 | Coach |
National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Famers
Year | Inductee | Tenure | Category |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | Andy Phillip | 1941β1943, 1946β1947 | Player |
2007 | Vic Bubas | 1944β1945 | Contributor |
2009 | Gene Bartow | 1974β1975 | Coach |
2015 | Lou Henson | 1975β1996 | Coach |
Award winners
National awards
- Helms Foundation Player of the Year
- Ray Woods (1917)
- Chuck Carney (1922)
- Sporting News Player of the Year
- Andy Phillip (1943)
- Dee Brown (2005)
- USA Today Player of the Year
- Ayo Dosunmu (2021)
- Bob Cousy Award
- Dee Brown (2006)
- Ayo Dosunmu (2021)
- Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award
- Dee Brown (2006)
- Naismith Coach of the Year
- Bruce Weber (2005)
- AP Coach of the Year
- Bruce Weber (2005)
- NABC Coach of the Year
- Bruce Weber (2005)
- Sporting News Coach of the Year
- Bruce Weber (2005)
- Victor Awards Coach of the Year
- Bruce Weber (2005)
- Henry Iba Award
- Bruce Weber (2005)
- Adolph Rupp Cup
- Bruce Weber (2005)
- Basketball Times Coach of the Year
- Bruce Weber (2005)
- CBS Coach of the Year
- Bruce Weber (2005)
- NCAA Tournament Regional Most Outstanding Player
- Nick Anderson (1989)
- Deron Williams (2005)
- NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team
Conference awards
- Big Ten Medal of Honor
- Allan Williford (1915)
- Clyde Alwood (1917)
- John Felmley (1920)
- Otto Vogel (1923)
- Wally Roettger (1924)
- Harry Combes (1937)
- William Hocking (1942)
- Edwin Parker (1943)
- Donald Delaney (1945)
- Dwight Eddleman (1949)
- Clive Follmer (1953)
- David Downey (1963)
- Bogie Redmon (1965)
- Jack Ingram (2005)
- Dee Brown (2006)
- Warren Carter (2007)
- Trenton Meacham (2009)
- Brandon Paul (2013)
- Big Ten Player of the Year
- Bruce Douglas (1984)*
- Frank Williams (2001)
- Brian Cook (2003)
- Dee Brown (2005)
- Chicago Tribune Silver Basketball
- Dwight Eddleman (1949)
- Don Sunderlage (1951)
- Johnny Kerr (1954)
- Jimmy Dawson (1967)
- Frank Williams (2001)
- Brian Cook (2003)
- Dee Brown (2005)
- Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year
- Bruce Douglas (1985)
- Bruce Douglas (1986)
- Stephen Bardo (1989)
- Dee Brown (2005)
- Big Ten Freshman of the Year
- Cory Bradford (1999)
- Brian Cook (2000)*
- D. J. Richardson (2010)
- Kofi Cockburn (2020)
- Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year
- AndrΓ© Curbelo (2021)
- Big Ten Coach of the Year
- Lou Henson (1993)
- Bruce Weber (2005)
- Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player
- Brian Cook (2003)
- James Augustine (2005)
- Ayo Dosunmu (2021)
- Terrence Shannon Jr. (2024)
NCAA All-Americans
Illinois has had a total of 34 players who have claimed All-American status.
- Ray Woods β 1915, 1916, 1917
- Clyde Alwood β 1917
- Earl William Anderson β 1918
- Chuck Carney β 1920, 1922
- Lou Boudreau β 1938
- Pick Dehner β 1938, 1939
- Bill Hapac β 1940β
- Andy Phillip β 1942β , 1943β , 1947β
- Jack Smiley β 1943, 1947
- Walt Kirk β 1945β
- Dwight Eddleman β 1948, 1949
- Bill Erickson β 1949β
- Don Sunderlage β 1951
- Rod Fletcher β 1952β
- Irv Bemoras β 1953
- Jim Bredar β 1953
- Johnny Kerr β 1954
- Bill Ridley β 1956
- Paul Judson β 1956
- George Bon Salle β 1957
- Skip Thoren β 1965
- Dave Scholz β 1969
- Derek Harper β 1983
- Bruce Douglas β 1984
- Ken Norman β 1987β
- Kendall Gill β 1990β
- Frank Williams β 2001
- Brian Cook β 2003
- Dee Brown β 2005β , 2006β
- Luther Head β 2005β
- Deron Williams β 2005β
- Ayo Dosunmu β 2021β
- Kofi Cockburn β 2021β , 2022β
- Terrence Shannon Jr. β 2024
Illinois All-Century Team
In 2004, 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 online voting by fans and the Illinois Basketball Centennial Committee. The honorees were feted during the Illinois Basketball Centennial Reunion Weekend, Jan. 28β30, 2005.
β Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee.
β‘ National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame inductee.
Β§ Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee.
Position | Player | Tenure | Honors |
---|---|---|---|
Guard | Ray Woods | 1914β1917 |
|
Guard | Andy Phillip | 1941β1943, 1946β1947 |
|
Guard | Gene Vance | 1941β1943, 1946β1947 |
|
Guard | Donnie Freeman | 1963β1966 |
|
Guard | Derek Harper | 1980β1983 |
|
Guard | Bruce Douglas | 1982β1986 |
|
Guard | Nick Anderson | 1987β1989 |
|
Guard | Kendall Gill | 1986β1990 |
|
Guard | Frank Williams | 1999β2002 |
|
Forward | Dwight "Dike" Eddleman | 1945β1949 |
|
Forward | Dave Downey | 1960β1963 |
|
Forward | Nick Weatherspoon | 1970β1973 |
|
Forward | Eddie Johnson | 1977β1981 |
|
Forward | Ken Norman | 1984β1987 |
|
Forward | Kenny Battle | 1987β1989 |
|
Forward | Deon Thomas | 1990β1994 |
|
Center | Chuck Carney | 1920β1922 |
|
Center | Johnny "Red" Kerr | 1951β1954 |
|
Center | Skip Thoren | 1962β1965 |
|
Center | Brian Cook | 1999β2003 |
|
Statistical leaders
All-time records
Record | Player | Tenure | Statistic |
---|---|---|---|
Games played | Da'Monte Williams | 2017β22 | 159 |
Minutes played | Trent Frazier | 2017β22 | 4,881 |
Points | Deon Thomas | 1990β94 | 2,129 |
Assists | Bruce Douglas | 1982β86 | 765 |
Steals | Bruce Douglas | 1982β86 | 324 |
Blocks | Nnanna Egwu | 2011β15 | 201 |
Field goals made | Deon Thomas | 1990β94 | 803 |
Field goals attempted | Eddie Johnson | 1977β81 | 1,658 |
Field goal percentage | Ken Norman | 1984β87 | .609 |
Three-pointers made | Cory Bradford | 1997β02 | 327 |
Three-pointers attempted | Trent Frazier | 2017β22 | 882 |
Three-point percentage | Cory Bradford | 1997β02 | .388 |
Free throws made | Kiwane Garris | 1993β97 | 615 |
Free throws attempted | Deon Thomas | 1990β94 | 790 |
Free throw percentage | Kiwane Garris | 1993β97 | .830 |
Single-season leaders
Player | Season | Stat |
---|---|---|
Deron Williams | 2004β05 | 1,315 |
Luther Head | 2004β05 | 1,297 |
Dee Brown | 2004β05 | 1,272 |
Demetri McCamey | 2009β10 | 1,241 |
D. J. Richardson | 2012β13 | 1,218 |
Player | Season | Stat |
---|---|---|
Terrence Shannon Jr. | 2023β24 | 736 |
Don Freeman | 1965β66 | 668 |
Andy Kaufmann | 1990β91 | 660 |
Nick Anderson | 1988β89 | 647 |
Ken Norman | 1986β87 | 641 |
Player | Season | Stat |
---|---|---|
Deron Williams | 2004β05 | 264 |
Demetri McCamey | 2009β10 | 254 |
Demetri McCamey | 2010β11 | 208 |
Bruce Douglas | 1984β85 | 200 |
Bruce Douglas | 1985β86 | 199 |
Player | Season | Stat |
---|---|---|
Kenny Battle | 1988β89 | 89 |
Bruce Douglas | 1985β86 | 88 |
Bruce Douglas | 1984β85 | 85 |
Bruce Douglas | 1982β83 | 78 |
Frank Williams | 1999β2000 | 74 |
Player | Season | Stat |
---|---|---|
Derek Holcomb | 1978β79 | 86 |
Nnanna Egwu | 2013β14 | 73 |
Meyers Leonard | 2011β12 | 60 |
Mike Tisdale | 2009β10 | 59 |
Nnanna Egwu | 2014β15 | 59 |
Player | Season | Stat |
---|---|---|
Eddie Johnson | 1979β80 | 266 |
Nick Anderson | 1988β89 | 262 |
Don Freeman | 1965β66 | 258 |
Ken Norman | 1986β87 | 256 |
Nick Weatherspoon | 1972β73 | 247 |
Player | Season | Stat |
---|---|---|
Don Freeman | 1965β66 | 595 |
Eddie Johnson | 1979β80 | 576 |
Dave Scholz | 1967β68 | 541 |
Nick Weatherspoon | 1972β73 | 540 |
Johnny Kerr | 1953β54 | 520 |
Player | Season | Stat |
---|---|---|
Robert Archibald | 2001β02 | .659 |
Kofi Cockburn | 2020β21 | .654 |
Ken Norman | 1985β86 | .641 |
Dain Dainja | 2022β23 | .636 |
James Augustine | 2003β04 | .635 |
Player | Season | Stat |
---|---|---|
Luther Head | 2004β05 | 116 |
Player | Season | Stat |
---|---|---|
Luther Head | 2004β05 | 283 |
Player | Season | Stat |
---|---|---|
Tom Michael | 1991β92 | 49.3% |
Player | Season | Stat |
---|---|---|
Terrence Shannon Jr. | 2023β24 | 221 |
Player | Season | Stat |
---|---|---|
Terrence Shannon Jr. | 2023β24 | 276 |
Player | Season | Stat |
---|---|---|
Marcus Domask | 2023β24 | 87.5% |
Game leaders
- Points: Dave Downey (53, 1963)
- Assists: Demetri McCamey (16, 2010), Tony Wysinger (16, 1986)
- Rebounds: Skip Thoren (24, 1963)
- Steals: Bruce Douglas (8, 1984)
- Blocks: Derek Holcomb (11, 1978)
Career milestones
Years | Player | Points |
---|---|---|
1991β94 | Deon Thomas | 2,129 |
1994β97 | Kiwane Garris | 1,948 |
2014β17 | Malcolm Hill | 1,817 |
2003β06 | Dee Brown | 1,812 |
2017β22 | Trent Frazier | 1,794 |
2000β03 | Brian Cook | 1,748 |
1999β02 | Cory Bradford | 1,735 |
2008β11 | Demetri McCamey | 1,718 |
1978β81 | Eddie Johnson | 1,692 |
2010β13 | Brandon Paul | 1,654 |
1978β81 | Mark Smith | 1,653 |
2019-22 | Kofi Cockburn | 1,546 |
1989β93 | Andy Kaufmann | 1,533 |
2018-21 | Ayo Dosunmu | 1,504 |
Years | Player | Three-pointers |
---|---|---|
1999β02 | Cory Bradford | 327 |
2017β22 | Trent Frazier | 310 |
2003β06 | Dee Brown | 299 |
2010β13 | D.J. Richardson | 278 |
1993β96 | Richard Keene | 237 |
2008β11 | Demetri McCamey | 236 |
2004β07 | Rich McBride | 216 |
2010β13 | Brandon Paul | 211 |
2002β05 | Luther Head | 209 |
Years | Player | Assists |
---|---|---|
1983β86 | Bruce Douglas | 765 |
2008β11 | Demetri McCamey | 733 |
2003β06 | Dee Brown | 674 |
2003β05 | Deron Williams | 594 |
1994β97 | Kiwane Garris | 502 |
Years | Player | Rebounds |
---|---|---|
2003β06 | James Augustine | 1,023 |
2008β11 | Mike Davis | 909 |
2019-22 | Kofi Cockburn | 861 |
1983β86 | Efrem Winters | 853 |
1991β94 | Deon Thomas | 846 |
1978β81 | Eddie Johnson | 831 |
1963β65 | Skip Thoren | 830 |
2000β03 | Brian Cook | 815 |
1971β73 | Nick Weatherspoon | 803 |
1961β63 | Dave Downey | 790 |
Years | Player | Blocks |
---|---|---|
2012β15 | Nnanna Egwu | 201 |
1991β94 | Deon Thomas | 177 |
2008β11 | Mike Tisdale | 176 |
1979β81 | Derek Holcomb | 174 |
1979β82 | James Griffin | 156 |
Source for all statistical leaders
Fighting Illini of note
NBA Draft Selections | |
---|---|
Total selected: | 75 |
1st round: | 17 |
Lottery Picks in Draft: | 3 |
Notable achievements | |
Olympic Gold Medal Winners: | 1 player twice |
NBA Champions: | 4 |
Naismith Basketball-Hall-of-Famers: | 5 |
First round NBA draft picks
Draft Year | Pick | Player | Selected by | Professional career |
---|---|---|---|---|
1951 | 9 | Don Sunderlage | Philadelphia Warriors | 1953β1955 |
1954 | 9 | Johnny Kerr | Syracuse Nationals | 1954β1966 |
1957 | 7 | George Bon Salle | Syracuse Nationals | 1957β1962 |
1970 | 17 | Mike Price | New York Knicks | 1970β1973 |
1973 | 13 | Nick Weatherspoon | Capital Bullets | 1973β1980 |
1983 | 11 | Derek Harper | Dallas Mavericks | 1983β1999 |
1987 | 19 | Ken Norman | Los Angeles Clippers | 1987β1997 |
1989 | 11 | Nick Anderson | Orlando Magic | 1989β2002 |
1989 | 27 | Kenny Battle | Detroit Pistons | 1989β2000 |
1990 | 5 | Kendall Gill | Charlotte Hornets | 1990β2005 |
2002 | 25 | Frank Williams | Denver Nuggets | 2002β2010 |
2002 | 24 | Brian Cook | Los Angeles Lakers | 2003β2015 |
2005 | 3 | Deron Williams | Utah Jazz | 2005β2017 |
2005 | 24 | Luther Head | Houston Rockets | 2005β2018 |
2012 | 11 | Meyers Leonard | Portland Trail Blazers | 2012βpresent |
2023 | 19 | Brandin Podziemski | Golden State Warriors | 2023βpresent |
2024 | 27 | Terrence Shannon Jr. | Minnesota Timberwolves | 2024βpresent |
Fighting Illini in the NBA
Position | Name | Height | Weight (lbs.) | Hometown | Draft year | Pick | Current NBA team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SG | Brandin Podziemski | 6'4" | 205 | Greenfield, Wisconsin | 2023 | 19th | Golden State Warriors |
PG | Ayo Dosunmu | 6'5" | 200 | Chicago, Illinois | 2021 | 38th | Chicago Bulls |
Fighting Illini in the NBA G League
Position | Name | Height | Weight (lbs.) | Hometown | Draft Year | Pick | Current G League Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SG/SF | Matthew Mayer | 6'9" | 225 | Dallas, Texas | 2023 | Undrafted | Texas Legends |
PF | Giorgi Bezhanishvili | 6'9" | 245 | Rustavi, Georgia | 2021 | Undrafted | Iowa Wolves |
SG/SF | Malcolm Hill | 6'6" | 220 | Belleville, Illinois | 2017 | Undrafted | Birmingham Squadron |
Fighting Illini playing internationally
Fighting Illini currently coaching
Name | Years with Illinois |
Current Team | Position | League |
---|---|---|---|---|
Leron Black | 2014β18 | Rip City Remix | Assistant coach | NBA G League |
Dee Brown | 2002β06 | Roosevelt | Head coach | CCAC (NAIA) |
Chester Frazier | 2005-09 | West Virginia | Associate Head Coach | Big 12 Conference |
Jerrance Howard | 2000β04 | Southern Illinois | Assistant coach | Missouri Valley Conference |
Roger Powell | 2001β05 | Valparaiso | Head coach | Missouri Valley Conference |
Brian Randle | 2003β08 | Detroit Pistons | Assistant coach | NBA |
Tyler Underwood | 2017-21 | Illinois | Assistant coach | Big Ten Conference |
Fighting Illini basketball media members
Name | Years with Illinois |
Media Outlet | Role | Current Team |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nick Anderson | 1987β1989 | Fox Sports Florida | Commentator | Orlando Magic |
Stephen Bardo | 1986β1990 | Big Ten Network | College Basketball Analyst | Big Ten Conference |
Kendall Gill | 1986β1990 | NBC Sports Chicago | Commentator | Chicago Bulls |
Derek Harper | 1980β1983 | Fox Sports Southwest | Color Commentator | Dallas Mavericks |
Eddie Johnson | 1977β1981 | Fox Sports Arizona | Play-by-play Commentator | Phoenix Suns |
Deon Thomas | 1991-1994 | Fighting Illini Sports Network | Color Commentator | Fighting Illini Men's basketball |
High school honors
Jordan Brand Classic
The following 6 Jordan Brand Classic participants have played for Illinois:
Year | Player | High School | Hometown |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | Dee Brown | Proviso East | Maywood, Illinois |
2015 | Jalen Coleman-Lands | La Lumiere School | Indianapolis, Indiana |
2018 | Ayo Dosunmu | Morgan Park High School | Chicago, Illinois |
2020 | Adam Miller | Morgan Park High School | Peoria, Illinois |
2022 | Skyy Clark | Montverde Academy | Nashville, Tennessee |
2022 | Ty Rodgers | Thornton Township High School | Grand Blanc, Michigan |
Nike Hoop Summit
The following 7 Fighting Illini have played in the Nike Hoop Summit:
Year | Player | High School | Hometown |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | Meyers Leonard | Robinson High School | Robinson, Illinois |
2016 | Andres Feliz | West Oaks Academy | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic |
2018 | Kofi Cockburn | Christ the King Regional High School | Kingston, Jamaica |
2019 | Kofi Cockburn | Oak Hill Academy | Kingston, Jamaica |
2019 | Andre Curbelo | Long Island Lutheran | Vega Baja, Puerto Rico |
2020 | Adam Miller | Morgan Park High School | Peoria, Illinois |
2024 | Morez Johnson | Thornton Township HS | Harvey, Illinois |
2024 | Kasparas Jakucionis | FC Barcelona BΓ squet | Vilnius, Lithuania |
The following 13 McDonald's All-Americans have played for Illinois:
Year | Player | High School | Hometown |
---|---|---|---|
1980 | Derek Harper | North Shore (FL) | Royston, Georgia |
1982 | Bruce Douglas | Quincy Senior High School | Quincy, Illinois |
1982 | Efrem Winters | King College Prep | Chicago |
1985 | Lowell Hamilton | Providence St. Mel School | Chicago |
1986 | Nick Anderson | Simeon Career Academy | Chicago |
1987 | Marcus Liberty | King College Prep | Chicago |
1989 | Deon Thomas | Simeon Career Academy | Chicago |
1992 | Richard Keene | Collinsville High School | Collinsville, Illinois |
1997 | Marcus Griffin | Manual High School | Peoria, Illinois |
1998 | Frank Williams | Manual High School | Peoria, Illinois |
1999 | Brian Cook | Lincoln Community High School | Lincoln, Illinois |
2002 | Dee Brown | Proviso East | Maywood, Illinois |
2010 | Jereme Richmond | Waukegan High School | Waukegan, Illinois |
Mr. Basketball
The following 16 Mr. Basketball award winners have played for Illinois:
International honors
Olympians
Year | Player | Event | Country | Medal |
---|---|---|---|---|
1948 London | Dwight Eddleman | High Jump | United States | 4th |
1992 Barcelona | Jens Kujawa | Basketball | Germany | 7th |
2008 Beijing | Deron Williams | Basketball | United States | |
2012 London | Robert Archibald | Basketball | Great Britain | 9th |
2012 London | Deron Williams | Basketball | United States |
International championships
Illinois honored players
Honored jerseys
The University of Illinois has honored its most decorated basketball players in school history by hanging a banner with their name and number from the rafters of State Farm Center, along with their career years in terms of spring semesters. A total of 34 men's players have their jersey honored. To have his jersey honored, a player must have met one of the following criteria:
To have an honored jersey hung in the State Farm Center, a player must have achieved one of the following criteria:
1) National Player of the Year
2) Enshrined in the National Basketball Hall of Fame
3) Big Ten Player of the Year
4) Consensus First- or Second-Team All-American
5) Illinois All-Century Team Member
6) Individual whose pioneering efforts made a significant impact on Illinois and international basketball
No. | Player | Pos. | Career | National POY | National HOF | US Olympian | Big Ten POY | Consensus All-American | Illinois All-Century (voted 2004) | Basketball Pioneer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ray Woods | G | 1915β17 | Y | Y | |||||
2 | Chuck Carney | F | 1920β22 | Y | Y | |||||
19 | Bill Hapac | F | 1938β40 | Y | ||||||
47 | Andy Phillip | F | 1942β43, 1947 | Y | Y | Y | Y | |||
25 | Gene Vance | G | 1942β43, 1947 | Y | ||||||
14 | Walt Kirk | G | 1942β43, 1947 | Y | ||||||
40 | Dwight "Dike" Eddleman | F | 1947β49 | Y | Y | Y | ||||
33 | Bill Erickson | G | 1947β50 | Y | ||||||
11 | Don Sunderlage | G | 1949β51 | Y | ||||||
37 | Rod Fletcher | G | 1950β52 | Y | ||||||
22 | Johnny "Red" Kerr | C | 1952β54 | Y | Y | |||||
35 | Govoner Vaughn | F | 1958β60 | Y | ||||||
30 | Mannie Jackson | G | 1958β60 | Y | Y | |||||
23 | Jerry Colangelo | G | 1960β62 | Y | ||||||
40 | Dave Downey | F | 1961β63 | Y | ||||||
35 | Duane "Skip" Thoren | C | 1963β65 | Y | ||||||
12 | Tal Brody | G | 1963β65 | Y | ||||||
15 | Donnie Freeman | F | 1963β66 | Y | ||||||
24 | Jim Dawson | G | 1965β67 | Y | ||||||
12 | Nick Weatherspoon | F | 1971β73 | Y | ||||||
33 | Eddie Johnson | F | 1978β81 | Y | ||||||
12 | Derek Harper | G | 1981β83 | Y | ||||||
25 | Bruce Douglas | G | 1983β86 | Y | ||||||
33 | Ken Norman | F | 1985β87 | Y | Y | |||||
33 | Kenny Battle | F | 1988β89 | Y | ||||||
25 | Nick Anderson | F | 1988β89 | Y | ||||||
13 | Kendall Gill | G | 1987β90 | Y | Y | |||||
25 | Deon Thomas | F/C | 1991β94 | Y | ||||||
20 | Frank Williams | G | 2000β02 | Y | Y | |||||
34 | Brian Cook | F | 2000β03 | Y | Y | |||||
4 | Luther Head | G | 2002β05 | Y | ||||||
5 | Deron Williams | G | 2003β05 | Y | Y | |||||
11 | Dee Brown | G | 2003β06 | Y | Y | Y | ||||
11 | Ayo Dosunmu | G | 2019-21 | Y | ||||||
21 | Kofi Cockburn | C | 2020-22 | Y |
HONORED JERSEYS | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 |
#1 |
#19 |
#47 |
#25 |
#14 |
#40 |
#33 |
#11 |
#37 |
#22 |
#35 |
#30 |
#23 |
#40 |
#35 |
#12 |
#15 |
#24 |
#12 |
#33 |
#12 |
#25 |
#33 |
#33 |
#25 |
#13 |
#25 |
#30 |
#34 |
#4 |
#5 |
#11 |
#11 |
#21 |
Dike Eddleman Award
The University of Illinois Athlete of the Year was first awarded in 1940. The award was annually given to a male student-athlete until it was discontinued in 1973. Revived in 1983, the University of Illinois now recognizes both male and female athletes who have distinguished themselves in athletic achievement. In 1993, the awards were named in honor of former Olympian Dwight "Dike" Eddleman, who participated in basketball, football and track and field in 1943 and 1946β49, earning a combined 11 varsity letters during that timeframe. The following list includes Illini basketball players who earned the award.
Player | Years played | Year awarded |
---|---|---|
Bill Hapac | 1937β40 | 1940 |
John Drish | 1937β41 | 1941 |
Andy Phillip | 1942β43, 1947 | 1942, 1943 |
Walton Kirk | 1943β47 | 1945 |
Dike Eddleman | 1945β49 | 1948, 1949 |
Don Sunderlage | 1948β51 | 1951 |
Clive Follmer | 1950β53 | 1953 |
Paul Judson | 1953β56 | 1955 |
Doug Mills | 1959β62 | 1962 |
Jim Dawson | 1963β67 | 1967 |
Dave Scholz | 1966β69 | 1968, 1969 |
Mike Price | 1967β70 | 1970 |
Kendall Gill | 1986β90 | 1990 |
Deron Williams | 2002β05 | 2005 |
Ayo Dosunmu | 2018-21 | 2020, 2021 |
Kofi Cockburn | 2019-22 | 2022 |
Terrence Shannon Jr. | 2022-24 | 2024 |
Head-to-head Big Ten records
Team | Total meetings | Wins | Losses | Pct. | Home record | Road record | Neutral record |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Indiana | 183 | 90 | 93 | .492 | 54β34 | 30β57 | 6β2 |
Iowa | 165 | 89 | 76 | .539 | 64β17 | 23β56 | 2β3 |
Maryland | 19 | 7 | 11 | .333 | 2β4 | 1β6 | 4β2 |
Michigan | 175 | 90 | 85 | .514 | 57β28 | 31β52 | 2β5 |
Michigan State | 123 | 60 | 63 | .488 | 39β21 | 20β39 | 1β3 |
Minnesota | 195 | 127 | 68 | .651 | 74β19 | 47β48 | 6β1 |
Nebraska | 27 | 19 | 8 | .704 | 14β2 | 5β5 | 0β1 |
Northwestern | 182 | 140 | 42 | .769 | 71β14 | 64β28 | 5β0 |
Ohio State | 187 | 108 | 80 | .574 | 62β27 | 43β49 | 3β3 |
Oregon | 6 | 4 | 2 | .667 | 1-0 | 1-0 | 2-2 |
Penn State | 49 | 30 | 19 | .612 | 14β8 | 13β10 | 3β1 |
Purdue | 193 | 90 | 103 | .466 | 59β37 | 29β63 | 2β3 |
Rutgers | 14 | 10 | 4 | .714 | 6β0 | 3β3 | 2β0 |
UCLA | 10 | 4 | 6 | .400 | 2-2 | 2-4 | 0-0 |
USC | 9 | 3 | 6 | .333 | 2-2 | 0-4 | 1-0 |
Washington | 3 | 1 | 2 | .333 | 1-0 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
Wisconsin | 202 | 113 | 89 | .559 | 69β28 | 41β58 | 3β3 |
Season | Wins | Losses | Win pct. | Total attendance | Season | Wins | Losses | Win pct. | Total attendance | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1905β06 | 6 | 0 | 1.000 | N/R | 1925β26 | 6 | 3 | 0.667 | N/R | |
1906β07 | 0 | 4 | 0.000 | N/R | 1926β27 | 8 | 3 | 0.727 | 61,590 | |
1907β08 | 3 | 2 | 0.600 | N/R | 1927β28 | 3 | 5 | 0.375 | 48,202 | |
1908β09 | 5 | 1 | 0.833 | N/R | 1928β29 | 8 | 3 | 0.727 | 30,139* | |
1909β10 | 3 | 2 | 0.600 | N/R | 1929β30 | 5 | 4 | 0.556 | 49,418* | |
1910β11 | 3 | 2 | 0.600 | N/R | 1930β31 | 7 | 3 | 0.700 | 52,440 | |
1911β12 | 4 | 3 | 0.571 | N/R | 1931β32 | 8 | 2 | 0.800 | 57,000 | |
1912β13 | 6 | 2 | 0.750 | N/R | 1932β33 | 8 | 3 | 0.727 | 34,500* | |
1913β14 | 5 | 2 | 0.714 | N/R | 1933β34 | 9 | 1 | 0.900 | 55,500 | |
1914β15 | 9 | 0 | 1.000 | N/R | 1934β35 | 8 | 2 | 0.800 | 62,000 | |
1915β16 | 6 | 1 | 0.857 | 16,644* | 1935β36 | 7 | 3 | 0.700 | 78,028 | |
1916β17 | 9 | 1 | 0.900 | 6,417* | 1936β37 | 7 | 2 | 0.778 | 63,238 | |
1917β18 | 7 | 1 | 0.875 | 5,066* | 1937β38 | 7 | 2 | 0.778 | 63,600 | |
1918β19 | 3 | 5 | 0.375 | 10,739 | 1938β39 | 9 | 1 | 0.900 | 57,933 | |
1919β20 | 6 | 1 | 0.857 | 24,250* | 1939β40 | 10 | 1 | 0.909 | 55,513 | |
1920β21 | 6 | 4 | 0.600 | 34,875 | 1940β41 | 8 | 2 | 0.800 | 52,751 | |
1921β22 | 10 | 2 | 0.833 | 40,112 | 1941β42 | 12 | 1 | 0.923 | 65,357 | |
1922β23 | 6 | 3 | 0.667 | 8,424* | 1942β43 | 10 | 0 | 1.000 | 62,648 | |
1923β24 | 8 | 3 | 0.727 | 41,848 | 1943β44 | 6 | 4 | 0.600 | 29,812 | |
1924β25 | 9 | 0 | 1.000 | 36,222 | 1944β45 | 7 | 3 | 0.700 | 44,951 | |
Kenney Gym Totals | 94 | 39 | .707 | 224,597* | 1945β46 | 11 | 2 | 0.846 | 66,553 | |
Kenney Gym Facts | 1946β47 | 10 | 1 | 0.909 | 77,808* | |||||
Fighting Illini played 20 years in Kenney Gym | 1947β48 | 11 | 1 | 0.917 | 78,388 | |||||
Attendance averaged 2,739 fans per game | 1948β49 | 14 | 0 | 1.000 | 49,036* | |||||
Single game attendance record: January 24, 1925 vs. Iowaβ4,725 | 1949β50 | 11 | 2 | 0.846 | 83,736 | |||||
Hosted 3 Big Ten Champions (1915, 1917, 1924) | 1950β51 | 12 | 1 | 0.923 | 75,116 | |||||
Hosted 1 National Champion (1915) | 1951β52 | 12 | 0 | 1.000 | 57,788* | |||||
Produced 6 All-Americans | 1952β53 | 12 | 1 | 0.923 | 79,957* | |||||
Developed 2 National Players of the Year | 1953β54 | 10 | 3 | 0.769 | 77,378 | |||||
1954β55 | 9 | 2 | 0.818 | 64,721 | ||||||
Huff Hall Facts | 1955β56 | 12 | 0 | 1.000 | 63,912 | |||||
Fighting Illini played 38 years in Huff Hall | 1956β57 | 9 | 2 | 0.818 | 68,448 | |||||
Attendance averaged 7,025 fans per game | 1957β58 | 10 | 3 | 0.769 | 76,032 | |||||
Single game attendance record: February 22, 1937 vs. Wisconsinβ9,000 | 1958β59 | 9 | 3 | 0.750 | 68,292 | |||||
Hosted 8 Big Ten Champions (1935, 1937, 1942, 1943, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1963) | 1959β60 | 10 | 2 | 0.833 | 74,719 | |||||
Hosted 1 National Champion (1943) & 3 Final Four teams (1949, 1951, 1952) | 1960β61 | 7 | 3 | 0.700 | 60,457 | |||||
Produced 33 All-Americans | 1961β62 | 8 | 4 | 0.667 | 75,376 | |||||
Developed 1 National Player of the Year | 1962β63** | 9 | 0 | 1.000 | 61,025 | |||||
Combined Totals | 433 | 116 | .789 | 2,507,959* | Huff Hall Totals | 339 | 77 | .815 | 2,283,362* |
Notes:
- *Denotes incomplete or partial records.
- **Played 9 games at Huff Hall but played final 2 games at Assembly Hall.
- (N/R) denotes no records
See also
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