Big Ten Standings By Decade

I have had a slow couple of days at work, so I decided to compile this. It also seems relevant to our potential coaching search and how our program history would factor into that. Anywho, here are the Big Ten Standings for the 2000s, 1990s and 1980s (all I've done so far)!

2010-2017
1. Wisconsin ... 102-42 (.708)
2. Maryland ... 38-16 (.704)
3. Michigan State ... 96-48 (.667)
4. Ohio State ... 95-49 (.660)
5. Purdue ... 89-55 (.618)
6. Michigan ... 96-60 (.615)
7. Indiana ... 70-74 (.486)
8. Iowa ... 68-76 (.472)
9. Illinois ... 62-82 (.431)
10. Minnesota ... 56-88 (.389)
10. Northwestern ... 56-88 (.389)
12. Nebraska ... 37-71 (.343)
13. Penn State ... 41-103 (.285)
14. Rutgers ... 6-48 (.111)

Thoughts on 2010-2017
- Guys, it's not in your head. You're not being overly emotional. This stretch has been HISTORICALLY bad for this program, and it's nothing short of a travesty.

2000-2009
1. Michigan State ... 114-50 (.659)
2. Wisconsin ... 111-53 (.677)
3. Illinois ... 110-54 (.671)
4. Ohio State ... 103-61 (.628)
5. Indiana ... 90-74 (.549)
6. Purdue ... 81-83 (.494)
7. Iowa ... 72-92 (.439)
8. Michigan ... 67-97 (.409)
9. Minnesota ... 64-100 (.390)
10. Penn State ... 46-118 (.280)
11. Northwestern ... 44-120 (.268)

Thoughts on 2000s
- We were easily number 1 from 2000-2006, and I think that's VERY important to remember when people look back on what people expected from the program post-2005 and just how disappointing the actual result was.

1990-1999
1. Indiana ... 116-60 (.659)
2. Michigan State ... 114-62 (.648)
2. Purdue ... 114-62 (.648)
4. Michigan ... 104-72 (.591)
5. Illinois ... 94-82 (.534)
6. Minnesota ... 93-83 (.528)
7. Iowa ... 89-87 (.506)
8. Ohio State ... 77-99 (.438)
9. Wisconsin ... 69-107 (.392)
10. Penn State ... 45-77 (.369)
11. Northwestern ... 26-150 (.148)

Thoughts on 1990s
- It's kind of sad that the 1990s Illini (an era referred to as a dark ages when I was growing up watching Dee and Deron ball it up) makes our current situation look ... ugh. :tsk:

1980-1989
1. Indiana ... 126-54 (.700)
2. Purdue ... 119-61 (.661)
3. Illinois ... 118-62 (.656)
4. Iowa ... 107-73 (.594)
5. Michigan ... 103-77 (.572)
6. Ohio State ... 95-85 (.528)
7. Michigan State ... 75-105 (.417)
8. Minnesota ... 74-106 (.411)
9. Wisconsin ... 49-131 (.272)
10. Northwestern ... 34-146 (.189)

Thoughts on 1980s
- It's easy to forget how good the Big Ten was! Those were some tough programs, and we were damn close to the top.

Total Since 1980
1. Purdue ... 403-261 (.607)
2. Indiana ... 402-262 (.605)
3. Michigan State ... 399-265 (.601)
4. Illinois ... 384-280 (.578)
5. Ohio State ... 370-294 (.557)
6. Michigan ... 358-306 (.539)
7. Iowa ... 336-328 (.506)
8. Wisconsin ... 331-333 (.498)
9. Minnesota ... 287-377 (.432)
10. Penn State ... 132-298 (.307)
11. Northwestern ... 160-504 (.241)

Thoughts on Since 1980
- Holy moly would our stats be better without that 2010-2017 disaster ... we'd almost certainly be tied with Michigan State.
- LOL that NU has won under 1 in 4 Big Ten games they've played for almost forty years now.



1970-1979
1. Indiana ... 111-49 (.694)
2. Michigan ... 105-55 (.656)
2. Purdue ... 105-55 (.656)
4. Minnesota ... 91-69 (.569)
5. Michigan State ... 84-76 (.525)
6. Iowa ... 7882 (.488)
6. Ohio State ... 78-82 (.488)
8. Illinois ... 59-101 (.369)
9. Wisconsin ... 52-108 (.325)
10. Northwestern ... 37-123 (.231)

1960-1969
1. Ohio State ... 98-42 (.700)
2. Illinois ... 76-64 (.543)
3. Minnesota ... 73-67 (.521)
3. Purdue ... 73-67 (.521)
5. Indiana ... 71-69 (.507)
5. Iowa ... 71-69 (.507)
7. Michigan ... 66-74 (.471)
8. Northwestern ... 60-80 (.429)
9. Wisconsin ... 57-83 (.407)
10. Michigan State ... 55-85 (.393)

1950-1959
1. Illinois ... 96-46 (.676)
2. Indiana ... 95-47 (.669)
3. Iowa ... 88-54 (.620)
4. Michigan State ... 72-58 (.554)
5. Minnesota ... 77-65 (.542)
6. Ohio State ... 69-73 (.486)
7. Purdue ... 55-87 (.387)
8. Wisconsin ... 53-89 (.373)
9. Northwestern ... 51-91 (.359)
10. Michigan ... 48-94 (.338)

1940-1949
1. Illinois ... 83-40 (.675)
2. Indiana ... 71-52 (.577)
3. Ohio State ... 68-55 (.553)
4. Iowa ... 65-58 (.528)
4. Purdue ... 65-58 (.528)
4. Wisconsin ... 65-58 (.528)
7. Minnesota ... 60-63 (.488)
8. Michigan ... 59-64 (.480)
9. Northwestern ... 49-74 (.398)


Lastly, here is each team's average finish over these decades (since the 1939-1940 season):

1. Indiana ... 2.4
2. Illinois ... 3.3
3. Purdue ... 4.1
4. Michigan State ... 4.8
5. Ohio State ... 5.0
6. Iowa ... 5.3
7. Minnesota ... 6.0
8. Michigan ... 6.3
9. Wisconsin ... 7.4
10. Northwestern ... 9.7
11. Penn State ... 10.0

Thank you Fighter for putting some hard numbers behind our disappointment.

Fighter of the Nightman said:

- Holy moly would our stats be better without that 2010-2017 disaster ... we'd almost certainly be tied with Michigan State.
- LOL that NU has won under 1 in 4 Big Ten games they've played for almost forty years now.

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Great job of putting into perspective how dominant this once-proud program was for the better part of the last 4 decades. And, truth be told, if we performed at least as well as the 6th best team in the conference from 2010-17, Michigan (96-60), we would have the very BEST record in the B1G since 1980, BY AT LEAST 20 WINS OVER PURDUE!!

Yeah........that's the epitome of "elite" and ample proof as to why we were one of the most successful programs in the country. Much of that history is lost on today's generation.

And even with all that success on the court, spread throughout 3 separate decades, we have yet to achieve our coveted national championship, something that Michigan State, Maryland, Michigan and Indiana (twice) were able to attain during that same time frame.

Thanks much for putting this together!

Biggest surprise for me on that list is that we're so far ahead of Wisconsin when factoring in the last ~40 years. Maybe I'm showing my youth here, but I had no idea they were so terrible from 1980-end of the millenium.

Fighter of the Nightman said:

I have had a slow couple of days at work, so I decided to compile this. It also seems relevant to our potential coaching search and how our program history would factor into that. Anywho, here are the Big Ten Standings for the 2000s, 1990s and 1980s (all I've done so far)!

2010-2017
1. Wisconsin ... 102-42 (.708)
2. Maryland ... 38-16 (.704)
3. Michigan State ... 96-48 (.667)
4. Ohio State ... 95-49 (.660)
5. Purdue ... 89-55 (.618)
6. Michigan ... 96-60 (.615)
7. Indiana ... 70-74 (.486)
8. Iowa ... 68-76 (.472)
9. Illinois ... 62-82 (.431)
10. Minnesota ... 56-88 (.389)
10. Northwestern ... 56-88 (.389)
12. Nebraska ... 37-71 (.343)
13. Penn State ... 41-103 (.285)
14. Rutgers ... 6-48 (.111)

Thoughts on 2010-2017
- Guys, it's not in your head. You're not being overly emotional. This stretch has been HISTORICALLY bad for this program, and it's nothing short of a travesty.

2000-2009
1. Michigan State ... 114-50 (.659)
2. Wisconsin ... 111-53 (.677)
3. Illinois ... 110-54 (.671)
4. Ohio State ... 103-61 (.628)
5. Indiana ... 90-74 (.549)
6. Purdue ... 81-83 (.494)
7. Iowa ... 72-92 (.439)
8. Michigan ... 67-97 (.409)
9. Minnesota ... 64-100 (.390)
10. Penn State ... 46-118 (.280)
11. Northwestern ... 44-120 (.268)

Thoughts on 2000s
- We were easily number 1 from 2000-2006, and I think that's VERY important to remember when people look back on what people expected from the program post-2005 and just how disappointing the actual result was.

1990-1999
1. Indiana ... 116-60 (.659)
2. Michigan State ... 114-62 (.648)
2. Purdue ... 114-62 (.648)
4. Michigan ... 104-72 (.591)
5. Illinois ... 94-82 (.534)
6. Minnesota ... 93-83 (.528)
7. Iowa ... 89-87 (.506)
8. Ohio State ... 77-99 (.438)
9. Wisconsin ... 69-107 (.392)
10. Penn State ... 45-77 (.369)
11. Northwestern ... 26-150 (.148)

Thoughts on 1990s
- It's kind of sad that the 1990s Illini (an era referred to as a dark ages when I was growing up watching Dee and Deron ball it up) makes our current situation look ... ugh. :tsk:

1980-1989
1. Indiana ... 126-54 (.700)
2. Purdue ... 119-61 (.661)
3. Illinois ... 118-62 (.656)
4. Iowa ... 107-73 (.594)
5. Michigan ... 103-77 (.572)
6. Ohio State ... 95-85 (.528)
7. Michigan State ... 75-105 (.417)
8. Minnesota ... 74-106 (.411)
9. Wisconsin ... 49-131 (.272)
10. Northwestern ... 34-146 (.189)

Thoughts on 1980s
- It's easy to forget how good the Big Ten was! Those were some tough programs, and we were damn close to the top.

Total Since 1980
1. Purdue ... 403-261 (.607)
2. Indiana ... 402-262 (.605)
3. Michigan State ... 399-265 (.601)
4. Illinois ... 384-280 (.578)
5. Ohio State ... 370-294 (.557)
6. Michigan ... 358-306 (.539)
7. Iowa ... 336-328 (.506)
8. Wisconsin ... 331-333 (.498)
9. Minnesota ... 287-377 (.432)
10. Penn State ... 132-298 (.307)
11. Northwestern ... 160-504 (.241)

Thoughts on Since 1980
- Holy moly would our stats be better without that 2010-2017 disaster ... we'd almost certainly be tied with Michigan State.
- LOL that NU has won under 1 in 4 Big Ten games they've played for almost forty years now.

Click to expand...

First, great stats ! Thanks for the post.
Second, I took your comment about the 30 years from 1980 to 2009 to heart and did the numbers.
Here they are, in order by wins
Indiana, 332 - 188 (.638)
Illinois, 322 - 198 (.619)
Purdue, 314 - 206 (.604)
MSU, 303 - 217 (.583)
Ohio St., 275 - 245 (.529)
Michigan, 274 - 246 (.527)
Iowa, 268 - 252 (.515)
Minnie, 231 - 289 (.444)
Wisconsin, 229 - 291 (.440)
Penn St., 91 - 195 (.318)
Northwestern, 104 - 416 (.200)

7 winning programs, 4 losing ones for 30 years.
Thank you Northwestern for being everyone's favorite B1G team.

When you look at our program and its history in its entirety and you don't just focus on this last terrible decade, it's obvious that we are a top 15 program nationally and top 5 in the B1G. I posted this a couple days ago and was dismissed for "having too much alcohol in my orange koolaid", but Illinois has the 13th highest winning percentage in college basketball of all time which puts us ahead of every other current B1G team. This is a sample size of over 100 years of basketball. That's a century of basketball pointing to the FACT that we are indeed a top 15 program. And that is where we should expect our team to rank more often than not. The posters who say that we need to accept the fact that we aren't elite are too complacent and content with mediocrity. The reality is we are an elite program (not a blue blood) and any coach who can't maintain our position in that class should be let go. Here's to a speedy return to prominence.

Thanks for the work in compiling those stats. As I've read posts, particularly over the last few years it is evident that many folks expressing their perspectives have a comparatively brief experience as an Illini fan. When you've accrued 30, 40, 50 plus years then you see the ebbs a flows of fortune in the B1G.

Illinois fans have seen the program on the verge of not just being good but dominant, then stuff happened. However the big picture is largely unchanged. Illinois experienced those eras of success because of characteristics such as geography, dead center midwest basketball heaven, a avid/rabid fan base, virtually no competition locally with pro sports teams for support/attention, etc. But most importantly, the programs that dominate now and historically have/had one element that Illinois is now missing. The Coach. That's the magic, that's the spoon that stirs the pot.

Get the right guy and the all the narratives about how Illinois is becoming irrelevant, poor image, whatever. Those are gone. Seen it before, it will happen again. Hopefully soon because I'm getting/am old.

FightingIllini09 said:

Thanks much for putting this together!

Biggest surprise for me on that list is that we're so far ahead of Wisconsin when factoring in the last ~40 years. Maybe I'm showing my youth here, but I had no idea they were so terrible from 1980-end of the millenium.

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Wisconsin was a complete basketball non-entity for decades until Dick Bennet (father of current Virginia coach) got there in the late 90s. He had to quit due to health problems, but Wisconsin made arguably the greatest coaching hire of the last 30 years with Bo Ryan. He picked up what Bennet had started and then ran with it.

FightingIllini09 said:

Thanks much for putting this together!

Biggest surprise for me on that list is that we're so far ahead of Wisconsin when factoring in the last ~40 years. Maybe I'm showing my youth here, but I had no idea they were so terrible from 1980-end of the millenium.

Click to expand...

The Badgers were pretty much an also-run until Dick Bennett followed by Bo Ryan were hired.

Fighter of the Nightman said:

I have had a slow couple of days at work, so I decided to compile this. It also seems relevant to our potential coaching search and how our program history would factor into that. Anywho, here are the Big Ten Standings for the 2000s, 1990s and 1980s (all I've done so far)!

2010-2017
1. Wisconsin ... 102-42 (.708)
2. Maryland ... 38-16 (.704)
3. Michigan State ... 96-48 (.667)
4. Ohio State ... 95-49 (.660)
5. Purdue ... 89-55 (.618)
6. Michigan ... 96-60 (.615)
7. Indiana ... 70-74 (.486)
8. Iowa ... 68-76 (.472)
9. Illinois ... 62-82 (.431)
10. Minnesota ... 56-88 (.389)
10. Northwestern ... 56-88 (.389)
12. Nebraska ... 37-71 (.343)
13. Penn State ... 41-103 (.285)
14. Rutgers ... 6-48 (.111)

Thoughts on 2010-2017
- Guys, it's not in your head. You're not being overly emotional. This stretch has been HISTORICALLY bad for this program, and it's nothing short of a travesty.

2000-2009
1. Michigan State ... 114-50 (.659)
2. Wisconsin ... 111-53 (.677)
3. Illinois ... 110-54 (.671)
4. Ohio State ... 103-61 (.628)
5. Indiana ... 90-74 (.549)
6. Purdue ... 81-83 (.494)
7. Iowa ... 72-92 (.439)
8. Michigan ... 67-97 (.409)
9. Minnesota ... 64-100 (.390)
10. Penn State ... 46-118 (.280)
11. Northwestern ... 44-120 (.268)

Thoughts on 2000s
- We were easily number 1 from 2000-2006, and I think that's VERY important to remember when people look back on what people expected from the program post-2005 and just how disappointing the actual result was.

1990-1999
1. Indiana ... 116-60 (.659)
2. Michigan State ... 114-62 (.648)
2. Purdue ... 114-62 (.648)
4. Michigan ... 104-72 (.591)
5. Illinois ... 94-82 (.534)
6. Minnesota ... 93-83 (.528)
7. Iowa ... 89-87 (.506)
8. Ohio State ... 77-99 (.438)
9. Wisconsin ... 69-107 (.392)
10. Penn State ... 45-77 (.369)
11. Northwestern ... 26-150 (.148)

Thoughts on 1990s
- It's kind of sad that the 1990s Illini (an era referred to as a dark ages when I was growing up watching Dee and Deron ball it up) makes our current situation look ... ugh. :tsk:

1980-1989
1. Indiana ... 126-54 (.700)
2. Purdue ... 119-61 (.661)
3. Illinois ... 118-62 (.656)
4. Iowa ... 107-73 (.594)
5. Michigan ... 103-77 (.572)
6. Ohio State ... 95-85 (.528)
7. Michigan State ... 75-105 (.417)
8. Minnesota ... 74-106 (.411)
9. Wisconsin ... 49-131 (.272)
10. Northwestern ... 34-146 (.189)

Thoughts on 1980s
- It's easy to forget how good the Big Ten was! Those were some tough programs, and we were damn close to the top.

Total Since 1980
1. Purdue ... 403-261 (.607)
2. Indiana ... 402-262 (.605)
3. Michigan State ... 399-265 (.601)
4. Illinois ... 384-280 (.578)
5. Ohio State ... 370-294 (.557)
6. Michigan ... 358-306 (.539)
7. Iowa ... 336-328 (.506)
8. Wisconsin ... 331-333 (.498)
9. Minnesota ... 287-377 (.432)
10. Penn State ... 132-298 (.307)
11. Northwestern ... 160-504 (.241)

Thoughts on Since 1980
- Holy moly would our stats be better without that 2010-2017 disaster ... we'd almost certainly be tied with Michigan State.
- LOL that NU has won under 1 in 4 Big Ten games they've played for almost forty years now.

Click to expand...

Good stuff.

If you have a little more time, could you add the 1970's, as that was probably our most "down" time (prior to this decade).

MakesNoSense said:

We are a top 20ish program along with 10 or 15 other programs. We have zero National Titles. Sorry but that means something.

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Of course it "means something." But when looking at what can be done here and what the ceiling is for this program, it also "means something" that we could very easily have 3 National Titles - in three separate decades - if a few breaks go our way; at least one National Title if even one goes our way. The potential is clearly there, and any Illini fan who denies that has some type of agenda, IMO. The evidence is just too overwhelming that it's not hard to win here. How many other programs in the entire country have had their previous four coaches all win at least one title? That's remarkably self-sustaining. Anyway, as requested, here are the 1970s numbers:

1970-1979
1. Indiana ... 111-49 (.694)
2. Michigan ... 105-55 (.656)
2. Purdue ... 105-55 (.656)
4. Minnesota ... 91-69 (.569)
5. Michigan State ... 84-76 (.525)
6. Iowa ... 7882 (.488)
6. Ohio State ... 78-82 (.488)
8. Illinois ... 59-101 (.369)
9. Wisconsin ... 52-108 (.325)
10. Northwestern ... 37-123 (.231)

We REALLY sucked in the 1970s, even worse than we have since 2010. However, given that this was post-Slush Fund, pre-Lou Henson and before the "modern era" (3-point line, expanded field, etc.), these numbers should carry a LOT less weight than the ones posted before.

Fighter of the Nightman said:

1970-1979

8. Illinois ... 59-101 (.369)

10. Northwestern ... 37-123 (.231)

We REALLY sucked in the 1970s, even worse than we have since 2010. However, given that this was post-Slush Fund, pre-Lou Henson and before the "modern era" (3-point line, expanded field, etc.), these numbers should carry a LOT less weight than the ones posted before.

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Still considerably better than Northwestern!

And here are the 1950s and 1960s! Dan, feel free to combine these if you want, I just can't edit my old posts anymore.

1960-1969
1. Ohio State ... 98-42 (.700)
2. Illinois ... 76-64 (.543)
3. Minnesota ... 73-67 (.521)
3. Purdue ... 73-67 (.521)
5. Indiana ... 71-69 (.507)
5. Iowa ... 71-69 (.507)
7. Michigan ... 66-74 (.471)
8. Northwestern ... 60-80 (.429)
9. Wisconsin ... 57-83 (.407)
10. Michigan State ... 55-85 (.393)

1950-1959
1. Illinois ... 96-46 (.676)
2. Indiana ... 95-47 (.669)
3. Iowa ... 88-54 (.620)
4. Michigan State ... 72-58 (.554)
5. Minnesota ... 77-65 (.542)
6. Ohio State ... 69-73 (.486)
7. Purdue ... 55-87 (.387)
8. Wisconsin ... 53-89 (.373)
9. Northwestern ... 51-91 (.359)
10. Michigan ... 48-94 (.338)

My takeaway: when this program has not been facing unavoidable roadblocks - specifically recovering from sanctions and/or institutional turmoil - it has been a STELLAR basketball program. When you consider what we were dealing with when Henson took over and what we were dealing with post-Deon Thomas era, our 2010-2017 stretch is all the more inexcusable.

These are indisputable numbers. No agenda.

14th all time in wins (2nd in B1G)
13th all time win % (1st in B1G)
16th (tied) all time tournament appearances (Tied for 2nd in B1G)
13th (tied) all time Final Four appearances (4th in B1G)

To say that we are "top 20ish with 10 or 15 other programs" is wrong and shortsighted.

http://http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/ has a "Simple Rating System" that uses record and strength of schedule to rank teams across the years.

Shouldn't be any surprise that the '89 and '05 teams are their top rated Illinois teams by that system. The rest of the top 10 comes scattered throughout the 50s, 60s, 80s, 90s, and 00s.

Of their worst 10 Illinois teams, 7 of those 10 come from the 11 seasons between the Slush Fund Scandal and Lou Henson being hired (1967-1977). Clearly the low ebb of the program's history. Of the remaining three, two - '58 and '61 - come from the tail end of Harry Combes' great coaching career, although he had really good teams immediately before, between, and then just after those low points. His '63 team went to the Elite 8 and was ranked #8 in the final AP poll.

The other team in the bottom 10... last year's team. Sigh.

A small pick-me-up after that travesty of a performance ... the 1940s:

1940-1949
1. Illinois ... 83-40 (.675)
2. Indiana ... 71-52 (.577)
3. Ohio State ... 68-55 (.553)
4. Iowa ... 65-58 (.528)
4. Purdue ... 65-58 (.528)
4. Wisconsin ... 65-58 (.528)
7. Minnesota ... 60-63 (.488)
8. Michigan ... 59-64 (.480)
9. Northwestern ... 49-74 (.398)

westvilleillini said:

These are indisputable numbers. No agenda.

14th all time in wins (2nd in B1G)
13th all time win % (1st in B1G)
16th (tied) all time tournament appearances (Tied for 2nd in B1G)
13th (tied) all time Final Four appearances (4th in B1G)

To say that we are "top 20ish with 10 or 15 other programs" is wrong and shortsighted.

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I find it to be completely correct and a spot on observation.

I don't doubt your calculations, but we had exactly 1 Big Ten Championship between 1952 and 1984 - not exactly a powerhouse during those 32 years.

In the 65 years since 1952 we have 2 Final Four banners and made it to the Elite 8 on 3 other occasions - so basically we have been a top 10 team in 5 out of 65 years. How many other programs nationwide have had better results than these over the last 65 years - 20, 30, 40? Wisconsin has had 3 Final Fours and 1 Elite 8 in that time. Indiana and Ohio State have had 7 Final Fours and 3 other Elite 8 finishes in that time. Michigan has 7 Final Fours and 5 other Elite 8s. Michigan State has had 9 Final Fours and 4 other Elite 8s. Even Iowa has 3 Final Fours and 1 Elite 8 in that time. Purdue and Minnesota also have 2 Final Fours in that time period and 2 and 1 Elite 8 appearances respectively. So in the Big Ten we in a 3 way tie for 7th in Final Four appearances over the last 65 years. Of the traditional Big Ten schools, only Northwestern has fewer Final Four appearances over that time period than we do. So it depends on how you evaluate Illinois as to whether it has been a dominant program at any time in its recent history. I think you could say the evidence is that we were usually pretty good but rarely great.

alaskaillini said:

I don't doubt your calculations, but we had exactly 1 Big Ten Championship between 1952 and 1984 - not exactly a powerhouse during those 32 years.

In the 65 years since 1952 we have 2 Final Four banners and made it to the Elite 8 on 3 other occasions - so basically we have been a top 10 team in 5 out of 65 years. How many other programs nationwide have had better results than these over the last 65 years - 20, 30, 40? Wisconsin has had 3 Final Fours and 1 Elite 8 in that time. Indiana and Ohio State have had 7 Final Fours and 3 other Elite 8 finishes in that time. Michigan has 7 Final Fours and 5 other Elite 8s. Michigan State has had 9 Final Fours and 4 other Elite 8s. Even Iowa has 3 Final Fours and 1 Elite 8 in that time. Purdue and Minnesota also have 2 Final Fours in that time period and 2 and 1 Elite 8 appearances respectively. So in the Big Ten we in a 3 way tie for 7th in Final Four appearances over the last 65 years. Of the traditional Big Ten schools, only Northwestern has fewer Final Four appearances over that time period than we do. So it depends on how you evaluate Illinois as to whether it has been a dominant program at any time in its recent history. I think you could say the evidence is that we were usually pretty good but rarely great.

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We were VERY regularly putting ourselves in positions to make deep Tournament runs (top 4 seeds), and that's all you can truly evaluate as far as potential to win here. Sometimes (1989, 2005) we capitalized, sometimes (1986, 2006), we kind of flopped. The point is we were ALWAYS a threat and a program on everyone's radar ... until now.

Fighter of the Nightman said:

We were VERY regularly putting ourselves in positions to make deep Tournament runs (top 4 seeds), and that's all you can truly evaluate as far as potential to win here. Sometimes (1989, 2005) we capitalized, sometimes (1986, 2006), we kind of flopped. The point is we were ALWAYS a threat and a program on everyone's radar ... until now.

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Did you know that you made it on the tay and jay show yesterday because of your work in this thread?

cmore said:

Did you know that you made it on the tay and jay show yesterday because of your work in this thread?

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Bahaha, seriously?! I wonder if they know it was made by a 25-year old guy living in Iowa City who still just pretty much parties with his friends for a living (maybe I'll see some of you folks in Chicago this weekend!)...

Fighter of the Nightman said:

Bahaha, seriously?! I wonder if they know it was made by a 25-year old guy living in Iowa City who still just pretty much parties with his friends for a living (maybe I'll see some of you folks in Chicago this weekend!)...

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Yup. They mentioned your handle and talked about your info for awhile. I'm not sure how often you listen to them but it was carp that brought you up. I thought you'd get a kick out of it. I'm sure you can listen to it online somehow (is that what a podcast is?).

cmore said:

Yup. They mentioned your handle and talked about your info for awhile. I'm not sure how often you listen to them but it was carp that brought you up. I thought you'd get a kick out of it. I'm sure you can listen to it online somehow (is that what a podcast is?).

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I have never heard 'em before, but I'm currently on their site trying to find it, haha.

I'm starting to have second thoughts on the day. It might have been Tuesday.

cmore said:

I'm starting to have second thoughts on the day. It might have been Tuesday.

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Finally found it! Haha, my Hawkeyes friends got QUITE a kick out of that, thanks so much for sharing. Might actually try to listen to those podcasts now, I like those guys!