Ah, too late to edit and add one more...
Illinois has played in the last eight NCAA Championships, and four times in last five years the Illini have advanced to match play. In 2013, Illinois lost to Alabama in the championship match, recording its best NCAA finish in program history.
Small’s teams continue to stay relevant.
Many times with northern-climate golf programs we see a pattern of team performance with ups and downs. Drop-offs are not looked at that poorly because they are expected when snow can cover the ground for many months of the year. It is a cyclical thing. And programs can be judged by how often they bounce back.
Not in Champaign. There is no need to bounce back. It’s more like, here we are again.
Really, there is only one thing left for Illinois golf to accomplish: win the NCAA title.
Will this year be the year?
Golfweek
I'm guessing we'll be the top seed at the regional in Kohler.
When does the regional start?
Since the NCAA went to six regionals in 2009:
Only four teams have made it through regional play and advanced to the national championship each year: UCLA, Texas, USC and Illinois.