The Final Four

[Combo]

Agreed - a loss here most likely won't haunt like I mentioned 1989 does (and 2005 to a lesser degree) but one never knows how often these chances come around. I hope the team approaches it with a reckless abandon like it's the opportunity of a lifetime that you can't let slip by. Let it all hang out.

For sure. I remember thinking in '89 how, despite being disappointed, the future looked so great. Unfortunately, thanks to B Pearl, a decade of sucking ensued.

 

[Illini2010-11]

I keep thinking how relatively efficient this run to the Final 4 has been. In 2005, the Illini had to miraculously recover to beat Arizona (just to make Final 4) -- and that Illini team was the best team overall. This squad has won all games by double digits, and the last couple minutes in every game have been relatively stress free.

It is truly amazing how level-headed this team has been. It could have been very easy to fold the way the season started to slightly unravel following the Michigan State game. That is premier coaching and a tight-knit unit with strong leadership within the roster.

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

Also, some quick comparisons of this year's Final Four teams by all-time categories! If this doesn't give you motivation that we are such a great program historically in many ways that desperately needs to break through and get that national title, I don't know what will!

National Championships
UConn - 6 (1999, 2004, 2011, 2014, 2023, 2024)
Arizona - 1 (1997)
Michigan - 1 (1989)
Illinois - 0

National Championship Game Appearances
UConn - 6 (1999, 2004, 2011, 2014, 2023, 2024)
Michigan - 4 (1965, 1976, 2013, 2018)
Arizona - 2 (1997, 2001)
Illinois - 1 (2005)

Final Fours
UConn - 8 (1999, 2004, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2023, 2024, 2026)
Michigan - 7 (1964, 1965, 1976, 1989, 2013, 2018, 2026)
Illinois - 6 (1949, 1951, 1952, 1989, 2005, 2026)
Arizona - 5 (1988, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2026)

Elite Eights
UConn - 14, Michigan - 14
Arizona - 12
Illinois - 11

Sweet Sixteens
Arizona - 21
UConn - 20
Michigan - 19
Illinois - 15

NCAA Tournament Appearances
UConn - 38
Arizona - 36, Illinois - 36
Michigan - 30

Total Weeks in AP Poll
#7 Arizona - 637
#10 Illinois - 539
#13 Michigan - 470
#18 UConn - 433

AP Top 25 Finishes (Preemptively Counting This Year)
#7 Arizona - 32
#8 Illinois - 31
#14 Michigan - 25
#22 UConn - 20

30-Win Seasons
UConn - 12
Arizona - 9
Michigan - 6
Illinois - 2

25-Win Seasons
Arizona - 25
UConn - 17
Michigan - 16
Illinois - 11

20-Win Seasons
Arizona - 45
Illinois - 39
UConn - 37
Michigan - 33

.500 or Below Seasons in "Modern Era" (1980 and On)
Arizona - 4
Illinois - 6
UConn - 8
Michigan - 10

Let's go fix that first category and add a "1 (2026)" there.

 

[Altuve27]

Also, some quick comparisons of this year's Final Four teams by all-time categories! If this doesn't give you motivation that we are such a great program historically in many ways that desperately needs to break through and get that national title, I don't know what will!

National Championships
UConn - 6 (1999, 2004, 2011, 2014, 2023, 2024)
Arizona - 1 (1997)
Michigan - 1 (1989)
Illinois - 0

National Championship Game Appearances
UConn - 6 (1999, 2004, 2011, 2014, 2023, 2024)
Michigan - 4 (1965, 1976, 2013, 2018)
Arizona - 2 (1997, 2001)
Illinois - 1 (2005)

Final Fours
UConn - 8 (1999, 2004, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2023, 2024, 2026)
Michigan - 7 (1964, 1965, 1976, 1989, 2013, 2018, 2026)
Illinois - 6 (1949, 1951, 1952, 1989, 2005, 2026)
Arizona - 5 (1988, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2026)

Elite Eights
UConn - 14, Michigan - 14
Arizona - 12
Illinois - 11

Sweet Sixteens
Arizona - 21
UConn - 20
Michigan - 19
Illinois - 15

NCAA Tournament Appearances
UConn - 38
Arizona - 36, Illinois - 36
Michigan - 30

Total Weeks in AP Poll
#7 Arizona - 637
#10 Illinois - 539
#13 Michigan - 470
#18 UConn - 433

AP Top 25 Finishes (Preemptively Counting This Year)
#7 Arizona - 32
#8 Illinois - 31
#14 Michigan - 25
#22 UConn - 20

30-Win Seasons
UConn - 12
Arizona - 9
Michigan - 6
Illinois - 2

25-Win Seasons
Arizona - 25
UConn - 17
Michigan - 16
Illinois - 11

20-Win Seasons
Arizona - 45
Illinois - 39
UConn - 37
Michigan - 33

.500 or Below Seasons in "Modern Era" (1980 and On)
Arizona - 4
Illinois - 6
UConn - 8
Michigan - 10

Let's go fix that first category and add a "1 (2026)" there.

The fact Arizona has only been to 5 Final Fours REALLY surprised me. They have had a bunch of GREAT teams over the last 20 years.

Just illustrates how difficult it is to reach this point.

 

[ptgrd23]

Biggest upsets in NCAA finals

1991 Duke upset UNLV in semis
1985 Villanova over Geogetown. Villanova played a perfect game.
1983 NC State over Houston Lorenzo Charles rebounds air ball and puts it in (like Illinois Michigan 89)

Does not happen very often but it can

 

[wc_illini]

I was not paying attention to betting odds in 2005. At the time, it seemed obvious to me that Illinois was the favorite since we were the #1 overall seed, had the long run at #1 in the polls, and had the proximity/crowd advantage. But apparently (link) we were second to UNC in odds going into the tournament, before the F4, and before the NC game:

Pre-tourney (possibly affected by path):
UNC +350
ILL +400
Duke +400
Wake Forest +400

Before F4 (likely affected by Louisville being tougher than MSU):
UNC +140
ILL +200
UL +250
MSU +450

NCG (link): UNC -2

I have always felt like we let a rare chance of being the clear overall favorite slip away, and wondered why the basketball gods would grant a blue-blood yet another championship when they weren't even "supposed" to win, but maybe in hindsight this helps me cope.

Now let's go out and steal one for ourselves!

 

[Goillinikobd]

Just read the Seth Davis column on the FF teams. Unless i can’t decode his text, he claims we won the Natty in 2005 and BU’s career highlight was coaching Stephen Austin, no mention of his being the winningest BIG coach in recent memory

“ Illinois hasn’t been there since the Dee Brown-Deron Williams-Luther Head-led squad won it all in 2005. ”

“He returned to his alma mater in 2006 as an assistant coach, and seven years later he finally got a Division I head coaching opportunity at Stephen F. Austin. That’s 27 years of hard grinding before he got his big break. And now he’s coaching in the Final Four. March is for the dreamers, indeed.”

What a putz

 

[Mobi]

Watch the NCAA tournament now with March Madness Live https://www.ncaa.com/march-madness-live/event/1007?cid=mml2026_product_sharelink

Funny our road to Final Four video. It started with the final minutes of us beating UPenn and Brad talking to Fran. Then it followed up with us beating Iowa. I guess the translation of the conversation is Brad said to Fran that we would beat Iowa to get to Final Four to revenge you and us.

 

[pweo]

Before my time too. But this was the Whiz Kids. Best team in the country that year and once they lost players to the draft, they decided not to participate in the tournament out of respect for those guys.

Different times, man. Can't even imagine.

In that era they likely would have gone to the NIT over the NCAA as well

 

[hiberto]

To me, when you get this close only winning the whole thing matters. Of course if we lose Saturday or Monday, I'll look back fondly on this team as I do 89 & 05. But maybe, it's just me, but every time I think of those teams the one lingering thought is they got painfully close & just didn't quite finish the job.

I hate for that to sound negative & I don't mean it like they choked or anything. The 89 teams haunts me to this day. Maybe it's just the way I am wired. But they were the best team no doubt in my mind. They just came up short.

When you get this close to something this hard to accomplish you need to approach it like you are ready to kick the door down. I've been very pleased with what I have heard out of Brad & the various players. Even in the post game presser Saturday. Everyone was very happy & pleased (as well they should be) but they all seem to have this quite determination that "we ain't done yet".

Hopefully in a week this conversation can be rendered to the dust bin of history as we all celebrate.

agreed. was very happy to hear Andrej mention after the game, unprovoked, that they didnt just come here to make the final four, they're not done and are going for 2 more wins

 

[sacraig]

 

[Curbelo Fanboy]

The fact Arizona has only been to 5 Final Fours REALLY surprised me. They have had a bunch of GREAT teams over the last 20 years.

Just illustrates how difficult it is to reach this point.

Youngsters won't remember but prior to their run to the title in 97 they were the "choking dogs" of the NCAA. The made a final four in 88 with Kerr, Sean Elliott, etc, But then from 89 to 96 they were no worse than a 5 seed and never made it past the sweet 16. Including losing as a 3 seed in round 1 in 92 & as a 2 seed in round 1 in 93. Demonstrates how hard it is to 1. get there & 2. win it all.

Amazingly from 88 to 2003 they were no worse than a 5 seed and 12 times in that stretch they were a top 3 seed.

 

[Combo]

Also, some quick comparisons of this year's Final Four teams by all-time categories! If this doesn't give you motivation that we are such a great program historically in many ways that desperately needs to break through and get that national title, I don't know what will!

National Championships
UConn - 6 (1999, 2004, 2011, 2014, 2023, 2024)
Arizona - 1 (1997)
Michigan - 1 (1989)
Illinois - 0

National Championship Game Appearances
UConn - 6 (1999, 2004, 2011, 2014, 2023, 2024)
Michigan - 4 (1965, 1976, 2013, 2018)
Arizona - 2 (1997, 2001)
Illinois - 1 (2005)

Final Fours
UConn - 8 (1999, 2004, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2023, 2024, 2026)
Michigan - 7 (1964, 1965, 1976, 1989, 2013, 2018, 2026)
Illinois - 6 (1949, 1951, 1952, 1989, 2005, 2026)
Arizona - 5 (1988, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2026)

Elite Eights
UConn - 14, Michigan - 14
Arizona - 12
Illinois - 11

Sweet Sixteens
Arizona - 21
UConn - 20
Michigan - 19
Illinois - 15

NCAA Tournament Appearances
UConn - 38
Arizona - 36, Illinois - 36
Michigan - 30

Total Weeks in AP Poll
#7 Arizona - 637
#10 Illinois - 539
#13 Michigan - 470
#18 UConn - 433

AP Top 25 Finishes (Preemptively Counting This Year)
#7 Arizona - 32
#8 Illinois - 31
#14 Michigan - 25
#22 UConn - 20

30-Win Seasons
UConn - 12
Arizona - 9
Michigan - 6
Illinois - 2

25-Win Seasons
Arizona - 25
UConn - 17
Michigan - 16
Illinois - 11

20-Win Seasons
Arizona - 45
Illinois - 39
UConn - 37
Michigan - 33

.500 or Below Seasons in "Modern Era" (1980 and On)
Arizona - 4
Illinois - 6
UConn - 8
Michigan - 10

Let's go fix that first category and add a "1 (2026)" there.

Amazing that UConn has won all 6 of the 6 NC games they've been in.

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

The fact Arizona has only been to 5 Final Fours REALLY surprised me. They have had a bunch of GREAT teams over the last 20 years.

Just illustrates how difficult it is to reach this point.

I agree to some extent, but I also feel like the media has this weird fascination with Arizona Basketball as this quasi-Blue Blood when their history is MUCH closer to Illinois' than, say, Louisville. Not sure if it's them getting more notoriety from being on a bit more of an island out West or the fact that they had some of their best success right around the turn of the Millennium when ESPN / SportsCenter was in its golden age or what ... but they probably receive the most disproportionate praise compared to their actual history more than any historically successful program I can think of.

 

[Calvin]

I won't lie. I picked us to lose in round 2 to Carolina. I was so despondent at the end of the season with how we finished. In January I was starting to think this could be something special & then as soon as I started having those thoughts they fell off a bit.

You weren't alone. I certainly thought they weren't going to put it together the way the season finished, especially with the conference tournament. But when the bright lights went on, the final adjustments and fighting spirit were there. Very, very impressed with this group, and the feelings of something special earlier in the season being validated with a FF run (and more!) are heaven for us long time fans. Lotta lean years between 2005 and now.

 

[sacraig]

The fact Arizona has only been to 5 Final Fours REALLY surprised me. They have had a bunch of GREAT teams over the last 20 years.

Just illustrates how difficult it is to reach this point.

Arizona is very, very similar to us as a program. Their only main advantage over ours is that one championship. There's no reason we shouldn't both be mentioned in that tier that is like half a step below the blue bloods... except our lack of a championship.

 

[Curbelo Fanboy]

It was WAY before my time, but I’ve seen people post that we really could have won a title in 1942 if not for the draft? Can’t recall. 1989 was also before my time, but hearing my dad / posters here talk about that squad plus seeing highlights, I’m certainly convinced they were the best team in the nation. And I don’t care what anyone says about the talent on UNC in 2005, we WERE the best team in the nation and we win that game if it’s played again.

I don’t think we are “better” than Arizona or Michigan, and I don’t think it’s 100% clear if we are “better” than UConn … but our best can beat any of those teams. And it’s time we got the breaks necessary to cut down the nets!

I was a high school senior in 1989. That team was THE BEST team in the country by a solid margin when fully healthy. All regular season losses were while Kendall Gill was out with a foot injury & in the semi final Kenny Battle was hobbled a bit with a sprained ankle.

I will say forever that if we escape Michigan, we were taking Seton Hall to the woodshed in the final. There is no way in the world we were losing that game.

I'd say that 1989 team on it's best day was a solid double digits better than anyone else. Just a little off at the wrong time.

 

[Curbelo Fanboy]

Amazing that UConn has won all 6 of the 6 NC games they've been in.

Not only that, but they are 6 for 6 in final fours. Been 6 times. Won 6 titles.

 

[Mobi]

Not only that, but they are 6 for 6 in final fours. Been 6 times. Won 6 titles.

Let's make sure it won't happen this time.

 

[fatboyslim]

Not only that, but they are 6 for 6 in final fours. Been 6 times. Won 6 titles.

Actually 6 for 7. They lost to MSU in the final four in 09.

 

[IllinoisssssssVarsity]

There were 8 great teams going into the tournament. Iowa State lost their best player and fell off that line, but of the 7, 3 made the Final Four.

UConn was not among that list, though, so the madness lives on.

I had iowa st in my final 4, losing their dude hurt them big time

 

[Illini2010-11]

Not only that, but they are 6 for 6 in final fours. Been 6 times. Won 6 titles.

So they are overly due for a setback on Saturday.

 

[Curbelo Fanboy]

Actually 6 for 7. They lost to MSU in the final four in 09.

I forgot about 2009. You are correct.

 

[jrichisamazing]

I agree to some extent, but I also feel like the media has this weird fascination with Arizona Basketball as this quasi-Blue Blood when their history is MUCH closer to Illinois' than, say, Louisville. Not sure if it's them getting more notoriety from being on a bit more of an island out West or the fact that they had some of their best success right around the turn of the Millennium when ESPN / SportsCenter was in its golden age or what ... but they probably receive the most disproportionate praise compared to their actual history more than any historically successful program I can think of.

I don't think anyone would argue with you about both programs being equal in the mid 2000s. It can't be stressed enough how damaging the 2010s were for the national brand. It's okay to have a rough year here and there, or even a couple rough years. To go 10+ years is going to do some damage.

Thank goodness for Josh Whitman and Brad Underwood.

 

[Mobi]

I don't think anyone would argue with you about both programs being equal in the mid 2000s. It can't be stressed enough how damaging the 2010s were for the national brand. It's okay to have a rough year here and there, or even a couple rough years. To go 10+ years is going to do some damage.

Thank goodness for Josh Whitman and Brad Underwood.

Arizona is just ok since mid 2000s anyway. They are recruiting well but never got into the Final Four until now. Maybe it was the incompetitiveness of Pac 12 but it was definitely lower than the blue blood standard in terms of post season achievement.