Interesting read Fighter…definitely brought back some memories …kinda reinforces the opinion that Maryland has been our nemesis over the past few years…time to take control and return some of the pain the Terps have inflicted on us…good post…thanks for sharingGetting excited for hoops again (understandably after Saturday!) and I was thinking about something interesting. What would you say was the single "best win" and "worst loss" of each regular season of the Underwood Era since 2019-20? We've had some real highs and (thankfully not as many) lows, and I thought this would be fun. This list is also MEANT to be subjective ... for example, maybe a given loss is the worst from a Quad/NET perspective, but another loss just hit so much harder.
Mine take into account the context, such as how badly we needed a win, the way in which we won/lost, the statement it made about our team, etc. I also limited it to the regular season for obvious reasons ... like, DUH beating Iowa State in the Sweet Sixteen is gonna win that year!
2019-20
Best Win: W 78-76 vs. #18 Iowa ... Kofi blocking Garza at the buzzer in the last game of the season to clinch the double bye in the BTT, a game that would be a rematch with Iowa when this rivalry was really gaining steam again?? This was just so epic, haha. It's such a shame COVID cut this season short, because I honestly think this team was primed for a run.
Worst Loss: L 56-63 vs. Missouri (St. Louis, MO) ... This game was SUCH a stinker, and I watched it alone while my wife was asleep (she worked nights back then). We looked like we didn't even want to be there, and it dropped us to 8-4. At this point, it honestly looked like making the NCAA Tournament (that of course wasn't to be) was going to be an uphill climb. Of course, starting on January 5, we would rattle off 7 straight wins!
2020-21
Best Win: W 76-53 at #2 Michigan ... Enough said. Michigan fans talked SO much smack all year about how they were going to dominate us, and once Ayo was out it was an even surer thing. The controversy about Michigan not making up its postponed games added fuel to the fire, and the hype for this was huge ... and we went in there and utterly embarrassed them. Probably still the biggest "statement win" we've had since Wake Forest in the 2005 season.
Worst Loss: L 63-66 vs. Maryland ... This one doesn't need much explanation. It dropped us to 9-4 (soon 9-5 after a home loss to OSU a few days later) and nearly out of the top 25. Honestly, the fact that we would go on to get a #1 seed is truly astounding, and no one would have believed you in mid-January!
2021-22
Best Win: W 74-72 vs. #24 Iowa ... I actually considered statement road wins at Indiana and MSU, but man this one just felt so cathartic for our fan base. After Wisconsin inexplicably lost to Nebrasketball at home earlier in the day, all of a sudden we had a real shot at a Big Ten championship. To beat Iowa in such a thriller and see our fans flood the court as we won our first regular season championship in 17 years felt so good.
Worst Loss: L 51-71 vs. Cincinnati (Kansas City, MO) ... This was right after the late-game collapse at Marquette, and it dropped us to 2-2. People were rightfully wondering what the HELL had happened, and it felt like this was our Season 8 of Game of Thrones where things just got SO much worse than we could have imagined.
2022-23
Best Win: vs. #8 UCLA (Las Vegas, NV) ... I know most might say upsetting #2 Texas at MSG, but this was the TSJ coming out party, and it was so fun to watch. I truly believed we had a team on our hands that was going to make a deep run in March after this one.
Worst Loss: L 65-80 vs. Indiana ... Lotta contenders in this season, but this one was the biggest stinker for me. We had won 4 straight to get back to 13-5 and seemingly "on track," and we had an electric environment to welcome the Hoosiers to the House of 'Paign. We proceeded to play like we could not care ANY less if we won or lost and got blown out at home.
2023-24
Best Win: vs. #11 FAU (New York, NY) ... Sure, FAU turned out to be overrated, but they were a top 15 team at this point that everyone had beating us, and they honestly looked the part ... we were just even better! This was a super exciting game to watch, and it seemed like a real statement that we were clearly head-and-shoulders better than our 2022-23 selves.
Worst Loss: L 67-76 vs. Maryland ... I know some would pick the collapse at PSU, but it was honestly so fluky, haha. This Maryland game was just a dud where we could never get anything going. Granted, we were still without TSJ, but it was one of those games where NOBODY would step up and will us to a victory. The fact it was another loss vs. Maryland was pretty hard to take, too.
2024-25
Best Win: W 88-80 vs. #18 Purdue ... There are many other contenders here, such as the historic win at Oregon and destroying Michigan at their place to keep the streak alive. However, I think FINALLY getting over the hump vs. Purdue in the last game of the season was important for our fans' collective psyche. Not only was it a massive Quad 1 win that probably solidified our spot above that 8/9 seed line, but it also totally seemed like the type of game vs. Purdue where we would just fade down the stretch and lose another heart breaker ... but then we pulled it out!
Worst Loss: L 71-90 vs. Maryland ... Unfortunately, there was so much competition here. People will obviously choose Duke (objectively our worst loss ever, lol...), the stinker in Madison, our embarrassing collapse vs. MSU when we desperately needed a win, etc. However, this is one of the few games I have watched in the Underwood Era where I genuinely felt our team just didn't give a crap. We looked like boys playing against men, and our effort on our home floor was nothing short of embarrassing. Did Maryland turn out to be really good? Yes, of course. However, you can ALWAYS bring fight, and we brought none.
Illini Basketball 2025-2026
- Status
Perhaps in both situations, they are cleared but are still waiting for the official designation of what grade they will be considered for; therefore, there is no report until they know whether they will be a Sophomore, Junior, or Senior.This is where we start to get into conspiracy theory mode.
I recall the same thing as you. That Tomi was cleared on Halloween after playing in the exhibition games. But… Brad casually made a mention in one of his press conferences recently that Tomi was officially cleared BEFORE those exhibition games and that’s why he was allowed to play. This means either:
1. I (and many others) recall this incorrectly.
2. Tomi was cleared before the exhibition games and we didn’t learn about it until after the exhibitions, or…
3. We’re living in a simulation and there’s a glitch in the matrix.
I’m guessing it’s #2 but #3 is a close second. I refuse to believe it’s #1.
In regards to the being cleared situation, I am trying to get my head around this, so excuse my rambling. Since it was a secret scrimmage (and also in the case of the exhibition game) what difference did it make if he was cleared or not? It was a scrimmage. No one won or lost. Illinois wouldn’t forfeit the scrimmage. Help me out here. The brain is shutting down.
Getting excited for hoops again (understandably after Saturday!
Mine take into account the context, such as how badly we needed a win, the way in which we won/lost, the statement it made about our team, etc. I also limited it to the regular season for obvious reasons ... like, DUH beating Iowa State in the Sweet Sixteen is gonna win that year!
2019-20
Best Win: W 78-76 vs. #18 Iowa ... Kofi blocking Garza at the buzzer in the last game of the season to clinch the double bye in the BTT, a game that would be a rematch with Iowa when this rivalry was really gaining steam again?? This was just so epic, haha. It's such a shame COVID cut this season short, because I honestly think this team was primed for a run.
Worst Loss: L 56-63 vs. Missouri (St. Louis, MO) ... This game was SUCH a stinker, and I watched it alone while my wife was asleep (she worked nights back then). We looked like we didn't even want to be there, and it dropped us to 8-4. At this point, it honestly looked like making the NCAA Tournament (that of course wasn't to be) was going to be an uphill climb. Of course, starting on January 5, we would rattle off 7 straight wins!
2020-21
Best Win: W 76-53 at #2 Michigan ... Enough said. Michigan fans talked SO much smack all year about how they were going to dominate us, and once Ayo was out it was an even surer thing. The controversy about Michigan not making up its postponed games added fuel to the fire, and the hype for this was huge ... and we went in there and utterly embarrassed them. Probably still the biggest "statement win" we've had since Wake Forest in the 2005 season.
Worst Loss: L 63-66 vs. Maryland ... This one doesn't need much explanation. It dropped us to 9-4 (soon 9-5 after a home loss to OSU a few days later) and nearly out of the top 25. Honestly, the fact that we would go on to get a #1 seed is truly astounding, and no one would have believed you in mid-January!
2021-22
Best Win: W 74-72 vs. #24 Iowa ... I actually considered statement road wins at Indiana and MSU, but man this one just felt so cathartic for our fan base. After Wisconsin inexplicably lost to Nebrasketball at home earlier in the day, all of a sudden we had a real shot at a Big Ten championship. To beat Iowa in such a thriller and see our fans flood the court as we won our first regular season championship in 17 years felt so good.
Worst Loss: L 51-71 vs. Cincinnati (Kansas City, MO) ... This was right after the late-game collapse at Marquette, and it dropped us to 2-2. People were rightfully wondering what the HELL had happened, and it felt like this was our Season 8 of Game of Thrones where things just got SO much worse than we could have imagined.
2022-23
Best Win: vs. #8 UCLA (Las Vegas, NV) ... I know most might say upsetting #2 Texas at MSG, but this was the TSJ coming out party, and it was so fun to watch. I truly believed we had a team on our hands that was going to make a deep run in March after this one.
Worst Loss: L 65-80 vs. Indiana ... Lotta contenders in this season, but this one was the biggest stinker for me. We had won 4 straight to get back to 13-5 and seemingly "on track," and we had an electric environment to welcome the Hoosiers to the House of 'Paign. We proceeded to play like we could not care ANY less if we won or lost and got blown out at home.
2023-24
Best Win: vs. #11 FAU (New York, NY) ... Sure, FAU turned out to be overrated, but they were a top 15 team at this point that everyone had beating us, and they honestly looked the part ... we were just even better! This was a super exciting game to watch, and it seemed like a real statement that we were clearly head-and-shoulders better than our 2022-23 selves.
Worst Loss: L 67-76 vs. Maryland ... I know some would pick the collapse at PSU, but it was honestly so fluky, haha. This Maryland game was just a dud where we could never get anything going. Granted, we were still without TSJ, but it was one of those games where NOBODY would step up and will us to a victory. The fact it was another loss vs. Maryland was pretty hard to take, too.
2024-25
Best Win: W 88-80 vs. #18 Purdue ... There are many other contenders here, such as the historic win at Oregon and destroying Michigan at their place to keep the streak alive. However, I think FINALLY getting over the hump vs. Purdue in the last game of the season was important for our fans' collective psyche. Not only was it a massive Quad 1 win that probably solidified our spot above that 8/9 seed line, but it also totally seemed like the type of game vs. Purdue where we would just fade down the stretch and lose another heart breaker ... but then we pulled it out!
Worst Loss: L 71-90 vs. Maryland ... Unfortunately, there was so much competition here. People will obviously choose Duke (objectively our worst loss ever, lol...), the stinker in Madison, our embarrassing collapse vs. MSU when we desperately needed a win, etc. However, this is one of the few games I have watched in the Underwood Era where I genuinely felt our team just didn't give a crap. We looked like boys playing against men, and our effort on our home floor was nothing short of embarrassing. Did Maryland turn out to be really good? Yes, of course. However, you can ALWAYS bring fight, and we brought none.
That 22-23 year had so many hair pulling moments. Losing to PSU 3 times in one year and getting smoked by a mediocre Mizzou team are certainly up there with the Indiana loss you mentioned.
He can play in the scrimmage even if not cleared. Tomi did last year before he was cleared.
Sorry, I wasn’t clear. LIke I said, the brain is not functioning properly today (or ever). I was asking in regards to the Kedric Prince report that MP has been cleared by the NCAA and also to the follow-up posts speculating about if Prince meant cleared to play in the exhibition and the scrimmage or the NCAA eligibility issue. So, again, if my tiny brain has figured this out correctly, I guess Prince may be correct since there is no reason to be cleared to play in an exhibition or secret scrimmage since they do not count. You can’t forfeit an exhibition or SS. So, Prince does not need to report that he was cleared to play in an exhibition or SS. Does that make sense?
Good news today for Mihalo 
Three years is huge. We spent the summer thinking it'd be two. That's crazy work by Illini lawyers.
foby
- Bonnaroo Land
Some internet mea culpas should be headed Ked's way today! Good for him.
My thoughts for the day:
Stats
Will we have a better 3 point per game average?
Will we have slightly better numbers: Blocked shots and steals per game. Assist to turn overs.
If the answers are yes and (I think so)…collectively we are better than a year ago!
42.5 rebounding was worth bragging about. Rez at 6.7 is only 1 board higher than KJ per game. Rez only played 17 minutes per game…but at the end of the day, we are looking at rebounds per game.
For Tomi, Bam, Jake, Ben, Z and AS (excluding Rodges for now)…we can look at what they did a year ago. We have players that have been “fletched” (bigger, strong, faster, better jumping and better stamina). I would expect they will be a little better on the boards based on physical development. Also, Brad likes to send the back court in aggressively. Our system promotes rebounding.
And how do we get to 42.5 boards per game: I am going to guess! (my glass is half full btw)
Front court= 24
Tomi-8 Z-5 Ben-4 Mirk-7
Back court= 18
Bam-5 Petro-3 AS-5 Wagler-2 Lee-1.5 Jake-1.5
Blow out minutes= 1.5
Jason, Blake and A.J …….1.5
Puts us in the 42-43 range> Whacha think ?
Stats
Will we have a better 3 point per game average?
Will we have slightly better numbers: Blocked shots and steals per game. Assist to turn overs.
If the answers are yes and (I think so)…collectively we are better than a year ago!
42.5 rebounding was worth bragging about. Rez at 6.7 is only 1 board higher than KJ per game. Rez only played 17 minutes per game…but at the end of the day, we are looking at rebounds per game.
For Tomi, Bam, Jake, Ben, Z and AS (excluding Rodges for now)…we can look at what they did a year ago. We have players that have been “fletched” (bigger, strong, faster, better jumping and better stamina). I would expect they will be a little better on the boards based on physical development. Also, Brad likes to send the back court in aggressively. Our system promotes rebounding.
And how do we get to 42.5 boards per game: I am going to guess! (my glass is half full btw)
Front court= 24
Tomi-8 Z-5 Ben-4 Mirk-7
Back court= 18
Bam-5 Petro-3 AS-5 Wagler-2 Lee-1.5 Jake-1.5
Blow out minutes= 1.5
Jason, Blake and A.J …….1.5
Puts us in the 42-43 range> Whacha think
?madillini4
Ozamataz Buckshank
- Millywaukee
My thoughts for the day:
Stats
Will we have a better 3 point per game average?
Will we have slightly better numbers: Blocked shots and steals per game. Assist to turn overs.
If the answers are yes and (I think so)…collectively we are better than a year ago!
42.5 rebounding was worth bragging about. Rez at 6.7 is only 1 board higher than KJ per game. Rez only played 17 minutes per game…but at the end of the day, we are looking at rebounds per game.
For Tomi, Bam, Jake, Ben, Z and AS (excluding Rodges for now)…we can look at what they did a year ago. We have players that have been “fletched” (bigger, strong, faster, better jumping and better stamina). I would expect they will be a little better on the boards based on physical development. Also, Brad likes to send the back court in aggressively. Our system promotes rebounding.
And how do we get to 42.5 boards per game: I am going to guess! (my glass is half full btw)
Front court= 24
Tomi-8 Z-5 Ben-4 Mirk-7
Back court= 18
Bam-5 Petro-3 AS-5 Wagler-2 Lee-1.5 Jake-1.5
Blow out minutes= 1.5
Jason, Blake and A.J …….1.5
Puts us in the 42-43 range> Whacha think
We had an Aussie punter that was nearly 30 right?
sacraig
- The desert
In fairness, Ked has a history of jumping the gun based on info that is less than solid, so it's something he kind of brought upon himself, especially with how he worded his tweet.
Joel Goodson
- how was I to know, she was with the Russians too?
Mihailo, mahalo, c'mon pretty mama
About damn time
I’m getting psyched about this team!
- Status