RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
Let our opponents think that we’re a bunch of cigarette smoking, tracksuit wearing, tough as iron, unbeatable bad !!! dudes.
Illini Basketball 2025-2026
- Status
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Illini NCAAT performances as a top 3 seed. I'm subjectively considering the following for my color shading.
(1) Elite Eight or beyond automatically successful for any seed
(2) Losing in the Sweet Sixteen is a "neutral result" for a #2 or #3 seed and an underperformance for a #1 seed
(3) Losing in the Second Round is an underperformance for any seed
1984 - #2 seed - Elite Eight
1985 - #3 seed - Sweet Sixteen
1987 - #3 seed - First Round
1988 - #3 seed - Second Round
1989 - #1 seed - Final Four
2001 - #1 seed - Elite Eight
2005 - #1 seed - National Runner-Up
2021 - #1 seed - Second Round
2024 - #3 seed - Elite Eight
2026 - #3 seed - Elite Eight or beyond
So as a program, we really have not "underachieved" in the Tournament as much as so many people act like we have when we've had a top 3 seed. Other than the massive Loyola flop, we have achieved our goals and then some as a top 3 seed every single time out in nearly 40 years. There were a few 1980s upsets (especially 1987), but they were quickly remedied with a Final Four the next year.
The notion that Illinois has "underperformed in the NCAA Tournament" historically comes almost ENTIRELY from our dire history as a #4 or #5 seed. I think this is the reason so many Illini fans have this "grass is always greener" bias toward being on the bottom part of the bracket. Compare the history above with our history as a #4 seed, which I'll use these subjective color shades for.
(1) Sweet Sixteen or beyond is automatically successful for both
(2) A Second Round loss is "neutral" for both, though obviously more disappointing for a #4 seed so I'll use orange for that seed line
(3) A First Round loss is an underperformance for both
1981 - #4 seed - Sweet Sixteen
1986 - #4 seed - Second Round
1990 - #5 seed - First Round
1998 - #5 seed - Second Round
2000 - #4 seed - Second Round
2002 - #4 seed - Sweet Sixteen
2003 - #4 seed - Second Round
2004 - #5 seed - Sweet Sixteen
2006 - #4 seed - Second Round
2009 - #5 seed - First Round
2022 - #4 seed - Second Round
To add more of a psychological strain on this "path," our only Sweet Sixteen as a #4 seed came by defeating a #12 seed in the Second Round in 2002. In years where we were a #4 seed and we faced a classic #4 vs. #5 matchup in the Second Round, we are 0-5 in such games since the Tournament expanded to its modern format. That is brutal, and I still get PTSD ever seeing a bracket where Illinois is a #4 seed, haha ... it really is about the most hollow, back-handed reward ever for being a "top 16 team" all year and SO much worse than being a #3 seed.
So all in all, I think it's not talked about enough how a lot of the discrepancy between Illinois' amazing regular season success over the years (which I'd argue would have us in the #10-15 range all-time) and our comparatively worse NCAAT success over the years (probably closer to #25 all-time) is we've had too many years where we had a good team but just couldn't get over that #4 seed line, and we have REALLY struggled going far as a #4 or #5 seed.
Just some random history, but I think it's interesting. Top 3 seed Illini teams have actually rarely just laid an egg in March Madness, and it's nice to that this team is continuing that positive trend and humming along!
(1) Elite Eight or beyond automatically successful for any seed
(2) Losing in the Sweet Sixteen is a "neutral result" for a #2 or #3 seed and an underperformance for a #1 seed
(3) Losing in the Second Round is an underperformance for any seed
1984 - #2 seed - Elite Eight
1985 - #3 seed - Sweet Sixteen
1987 - #3 seed - First Round
1988 - #3 seed - Second Round
1989 - #1 seed - Final Four
2001 - #1 seed - Elite Eight
2005 - #1 seed - National Runner-Up
2021 - #1 seed - Second Round
2024 - #3 seed - Elite Eight
2026 - #3 seed - Elite Eight or beyond
So as a program, we really have not "underachieved" in the Tournament as much as so many people act like we have when we've had a top 3 seed. Other than the massive Loyola flop, we have achieved our goals and then some as a top 3 seed every single time out in nearly 40 years. There were a few 1980s upsets (especially 1987), but they were quickly remedied with a Final Four the next year.
The notion that Illinois has "underperformed in the NCAA Tournament" historically comes almost ENTIRELY from our dire history as a #4 or #5 seed. I think this is the reason so many Illini fans have this "grass is always greener" bias toward being on the bottom part of the bracket. Compare the history above with our history as a #4 seed, which I'll use these subjective color shades for.
(1) Sweet Sixteen or beyond is automatically successful for both
(2) A Second Round loss is "neutral" for both, though obviously more disappointing for a #4 seed so I'll use orange for that seed line
(3) A First Round loss is an underperformance for both
1981 - #4 seed - Sweet Sixteen
1986 - #4 seed - Second Round
1990 - #5 seed - First Round
1998 - #5 seed - Second Round
2000 - #4 seed - Second Round
2002 - #4 seed - Sweet Sixteen
2003 - #4 seed - Second Round
2004 - #5 seed - Sweet Sixteen
2006 - #4 seed - Second Round
2009 - #5 seed - First Round
2022 - #4 seed - Second Round
To add more of a psychological strain on this "path," our only Sweet Sixteen as a #4 seed came by defeating a #12 seed in the Second Round in 2002. In years where we were a #4 seed and we faced a classic #4 vs. #5 matchup in the Second Round, we are 0-5 in such games since the Tournament expanded to its modern format. That is brutal, and I still get PTSD ever seeing a bracket where Illinois is a #4 seed, haha ... it really is about the most hollow, back-handed reward ever for being a "top 16 team" all year and SO much worse than being a #3 seed.
So all in all, I think it's not talked about enough how a lot of the discrepancy between Illinois' amazing regular season success over the years (which I'd argue would have us in the #10-15 range all-time) and our comparatively worse NCAAT success over the years (probably closer to #25 all-time) is we've had too many years where we had a good team but just couldn't get over that #4 seed line, and we have REALLY struggled going far as a #4 or #5 seed.
Just some random history, but I think it's interesting. Top 3 seed Illini teams have actually rarely just laid an egg in March Madness, and it's nice to that this team is continuing that positive trend and humming along!
Didn't want to clutter up the postgame thread, but I noticed it was March 28 last year when Morez Johnson entered the portal. On that day, we pretty much already knew KJ and Riley were gone, Keaton Wagler was a possible redshirt, and I'm not sure the word Mirkovic had appeared on this board yet.
College basketball is weird.
College basketball is weird.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
Going to be such a different feeling going into Portal Madness this year.
GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
So #10 next year...
This would seem to point to a MIRK return, I would hope.
Per sports reference (back to the 1970 season) Keaton is now 5th all time in single season scoring and has a real chance to move to 2nd with 1 strong game or 2 decent games.
Illini in Indiana
- Indiana
Not sure who it was in the post game that asked "why does the Illini have a tough time closing out games" - paraphrased
But that pissed Brad off, and he denied it. I think it took a couple days for it to sink in to Brad's head.
Cap tip to that person, I think it helped us focus on finishing teams off!
But that pissed Brad off, and he denied it. I think it took a couple days for it to sink in to Brad's head.
Cap tip to that person, I think it helped us focus on finishing teams off!
Anyone know if one could obtain the final four daily Illini newspaper if one lives in Chicago?
Illini4Chief
- TENNESSEE
Bad enuff I gotta watch "Mr.. Honesty" Bruce da Pearl.....on TV.
I believe they might be sold through the Illini Media merch page. They are not currently listed, but emailing helpdesk@illinimedia.com is probably the best way to find out. It's possible that they will create a special edition with content about the team to go behind the front pages that have been displayed before selling them.
Contact
Contact Us We’re here to answer your questions and help in any way we can. 1001 S. Wright St., Champaign, IL 61820 Campus mail: MC-497 Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.– 5 p.m.
illinimedia.org
In 1989 the Illini were the best team in college basketball and did not win the National Championship.
In 2005 the Illini were the best team in college basketball and did not win the National Championship.
In 2026 the Illini are not the best team in college basketball, but may still win the National Championship.
In 2005 the Illini were the best team in college basketball and did not win the National Championship.
In 2026 the Illini are not the best team in college basketball, but may still win the National Championship.
Can't wait to see the D in 2029-2030!
Joel Goodson
- how was I to know, she was with the Russians too?
pretty amazing (as Giorgi would say):
On March 14, I posted the following:
I'm so glad the team/staff have proven me wrong and/or worked a miracle with our defense against top opponents. I also realized those rankings include a lot of random teams with very few games against Q1. Here's a better list of rankings through today (min 5 games):
Year: D-rank vs all, D-rank vs Q1
2019/20: #36 #27
2020/21: #10 #24
2021/22: #25 #48
2022/23: #33 #78
2023/24: #91 #67
2024/25: #41 #41
2025/26: #20 #36
2019/20-now: #18, #43 (min 20 games)
If I had applied the "min games" filters back on March 14, it would have had us around #55 this year (and #45 since 2019/20), so we've moved up 20 spots (AdjD improved from 102.8 to 100.2). Since then, we played 3 Q1 games, and our AdjD in those is 87.1, which is good for:
#1 IN THE COUNTRY!
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keep it up. we defend, we rebound, we win.
- Status