Amanda Knapp
The Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team is a Division I college basketball team that competes in the Big Ten Conference. The team has a rich history in college basketball, with a devoted fan base and a strong record of appearances in the NCAA Tournament. While the team has made it to the Final Four five times, the Elite Eight ten times, and has won 18 Big Ten regular-season championships, the Illinois men's basketball team has never won an NCAA Tournament championship. However, the team does have a national championship to its name from 1915, which was awarded retroactively by the Helms Athletic Foundation and the Premo-Porretta Power Poll.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Last national championship win | 1915 |
| Number of national championship wins | 1 |
| NCAA Tournament wins | 0 |
| Final Four appearances | 5 |
| Elite Eight appearances | 10 |
| Big Ten regular-season championships | 18 |
| Big Ten Tournament Championships | 4 |
| Last Sweet 16 appearance | 2024 |
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What You'll Learn
Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team
The Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team is a Division I college basketball team that competes in the Big Ten Conference and represents the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The team has a rich history in college basketball, with a strong following of devoted fans.
The Fighting Illini men's basketball program has achieved notable success over the years, including a national championship title in 1915, which was awarded retroactively by the Helms Athletic Foundation and the Premo-Porretta Power Poll. This remains their only national championship win. However, the team has consistently performed well in the NCAA Tournament, making it to the Final Four five times and the Elite Eight on ten occasions. They have also won multiple Big Ten regular-season and tournament championships.
The 2004-05 season was particularly memorable for the Fighting Illini, as they reached the national championship game, only to lose to North Carolina by five points. This team, which included standout players such as Deron Williams, Dee Brown, and Luther Head, also won a Big Ten championship and earned a 37-1 record. Head coach Bruce Weber swept the National Coach of the Year awards that season, a testament to the team's excellence.
In recent years, the Fighting Illini have continued to be a force in college basketball. They ended an eight-year drought by qualifying for the NCAA Tournament in 2021 and have since maintained their streak of appearances. In the 2023-24 season, they advanced to the Elite Eight and showed their potential to challenge for a national championship.
The Fighting Illini play their home games at the State Farm Center, located on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's campus in Champaign. The team is currently coached by Brad Underwood, who was hired in 2017, and has a strong winning percentage, ranking 13th among all NCAA Division I men's college basketball programs.
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Illinois' women's basketball team
The Illinois Fighting Illini women's basketball team has never won a national championship. The closest the team has come to a national championship was in 1997 and 1998, when they made it to the Sweet 16. The women's program has made eight NCAA Tournament appearances, with their most recent trip in 2003. In comparison, the men's basketball team has made it to the Final Four five times and has appeared in the NCAA Tournament 31 times. The men's team has one pre-tournament national championship and one non-NCAA tournament national championship, awarded in 1915 and 1943.
The Fighting Illini women's basketball team has a strong fan base and is a regular contender for conference titles. In the 2021-22 season, the team had a 6-13 overall record and a 1-7 record in Big Ten play. Despite this, the team still had a chance to reach the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament by winning the Big Ten's automatic bid in the conference tournament.
The University of Illinois' men's basketball team has a rich history, with notable achievements including a perfect 16-0 season in 1915, which earned them a national title from the Helms Athletic Foundation. The men's team has also consistently performed well in the Big Ten Conference, winning multiple championships over the years. In 2005, the men's team had a very successful season, with coach Bruce Weber winning several National Coach of the Year awards. That year, the team made it to the national championship game but lost to North Carolina by five points.
While the Fighting Illini women's basketball team has not achieved the same level of success as their male counterparts in terms of championship titles, they have still made a significant impact in the world of college basketball. The team has a dedicated fan base and has consistently worked to improve their performance and reach new heights in the sport.
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Illinois' NCAA Tournament appearances
The Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team is an NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Big Ten Conference, representing the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The team has made it to the NCAA Tournament 31 or 35 times, including their most recent appearance in 2021, which ended an eight-year drought.
The men's team has made the Final Four five times, with their most recent appearance in 2005. They have also competed in 10 Elite Eights and have won 18 Big Ten regular-season championships and four Big Ten Tournament Championships. In 2005, the team was ranked No. 1 in the nation for 15 consecutive weeks and was named the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. They advanced to the Final Four after a memorable one-point win over Arizona.
The Illinois women's basketball team has had less success, with just eight NCAA Tournament appearances, the most recent being in 2003. The closest they have come to the Final Four is through a pair of Sweet 16 appearances in 1997 and 1998.
The Fighting Illini have a devoted fan base and are considered a perennial power in college basketball. They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament in every year from 2021 to 2024, advancing to the Sweet 16 in 2024 for the first time since 2005.
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Illinois' 2005 season
The 2004-05 season of the Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team marked the 100th season of men's basketball at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The team was led by head coach Bruce Weber, who was in his second season with the Illini.
The Illini started the season with a record of 29-0, setting a school record and the third-best start in Big Ten history. They went on to win the Big Ten Conference regular-season title with a 15-1 record, and also won the Big Ten tournament, becoming the second team to win both in the same season.
In the NCAA tournament, the Illini were the overall number 1 seed and won their first three games by double digits. They advanced to the Elite Eight, where they faced the University of Arizona. Despite falling behind early, the Illini mounted a 15-point comeback and ultimately defeated Arizona 90-89 in overtime. This victory sent them to the Final Four, marking the fifth time Illinois had reached this stage in the NCAA tournament.
The Illini then defeated the University of Louisville 72-57 in the national semifinal, advancing to the national championship game for the first time in school history. They faced North Carolina, who were ranked #2 for the entire season, while Illinois held the #1 spot. Despite their impressive season, Illinois struggled offensively in the championship game and ultimately lost to North Carolina by a score of 75-70.
The 2004-05 Illinois Fighting Illini team finished the season with a record of 37-2, tying the record for most victories in a season for a men's college basketball team. They were ranked #1 in the final Associated Press poll of 2005, and their impeccable ball movement and three-point shooting led by Deron Williams, Dee Brown, and Luther Head earned them recognition as one of the best teams ever to not win a national title.
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Illinois' head coach Brad Underwood
Illinois has had a few wins and losses in basketball over the years. The team has made it to the Final Four five times, with their most recent appearance in 2005. In the 2021-22 season, the women's program was 6-13 overall and 1-7 in Big Ten play. The men's side, on the other hand, has made the NCAA Tournament 31 times, including in 2021, ending an eight-year drought.
The Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team is an NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Big Ten Conference, representing the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The team is currently coached by Brad Underwood, who was hired on March 18, 2017, replacing John Groce.
Bradley Cole Underwood, born on December 14, 1963, is the current head coach for the Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team. He previously served as head coach at Oklahoma State, Stephen F. Austin, Dodge City Community College, and Daytona Beach Community College. He also served as an assistant coach at Western Illinois, Kansas State, and South Carolina.
Underwood played as a guard for Hardin-Simmons University during his freshman year from 1982 to 1983 and later transferred to Independence Community College, where he averaged 17 points a game and led Independence to a second-place finish in the 1984 NJCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship game.
Underwood's coaching career includes a stint at Dodge City Community College, where he led the team to a 62–60 record from 1988 to 1993. He then joined Western Illinois as an assistant coach from 1993 to 2003, followed by a head coaching role at Daytona Beach Community College, where he achieved a 70–24 record from 2003 to 2006. He returned to the assistant coaching role at Kansas State from 2006 to 2012 and then became the associate head coach at South Carolina in 2012. On April 30, 2013, he took up the head coach position at Stephen F. Austin, and in 2016, he became the head coach at Oklahoma State.
Underwood was hired as the head coach of Illinois in 2017, signing a six-year contract through 2023 worth $18 million, including retention bonuses. In 2020, his contract was extended until the 2026 season, with a base salary of $3.4 million. During his time at Illinois, Underwood has achieved notable successes, including leading the team to one of only four schools nationally with six straight 20-win regular seasons. In the 2023-24 season, he guided the team to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2005 and then to the Elite Eight, advancing past Iowa State.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Illinois has won a national championship in basketball. The Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team has one pre-tournament national championship from 1915, which was awarded by the Premo-Porretta Power Poll. They have also won 18 Big Ten regular-season championships and 4 Big Ten Tournament Championships.
No, the women's basketball team does not have a national championship title to its name. Their closest approach has been a pair of Sweet 16 appearances in 1997 and 1998.
No, the men's basketball team has never won an NCAA Tournament. In 2005, they came close to winning the national championship game but lost to North Carolina by five points.
The Illinois men's basketball team has made it to the Final Four five times, with their most recent appearance being in 2005.
