Illini Victories vs. Final Four Teams

I thought of this randomly today and decided it would be interesting to see how our Illini have fared against teams that would eventually end up in the Final Four that season. I only went back to the 1985 season (when the Tournament expanded to 64 teams), but since then we have faced off against a future or current Final Four team 55 times and compiled a record of 16-39. In the 2000-01 season alone, we faced a Final Four team SIX TIMES (going 3-3). For a fun trip down memory lane, here are those 16 wins:

2018-19: Illinois 79, #9 Michigan State 74 in Champaign, IL
2014-15: Illinois 59, Michigan State 54 in East Lansing, MI
2011-12: Illinois 79, #5 Ohio State 74 in Champaign, IL (BP3 game)
2009-10: Illinois 78, #9 Michigan State 73 in Champaign, IL (College Gameday)
2004-05: (1) #1 Illinois 72, (4) #4 Louisville 57 in St. Louis, MO (NCAAT Final Four)
2004-05: #1 Illinois 81, #12 Michigan State 68 in East Lansing, MI
2001-02: #15 Illinois 70, #25 Indiana 62 in Champaign, IL
2000-01: #7 Illinois 77, #4 Michigan State 66 in Champaign, IL (first Paint the Hall Orange night, IIRC)
2000-01: #7 Illinois 81, #5 Arizona 73 in Chicago, IL
2000-01: #8 Illinois 90, Maryland 80 in Lahaina, HI (Maui Invitational)
1998-99: Illinois 79, #11 Ohio State 77 in Chicago, IL (BTT Semifinal Game)
1996-97: Illinois 96, #7 Minnesota 90 in Champaign, IL
1988-89: #4 Illinois 89, #8 Michigan 73 in Ann Arbor, MI
1988-89: #2 Illinois 96, #6 Michigan 84 in Champaign, IL
1987-88: Illinois 81, #7 Kansas 75 in Lahaina, HI (Maui Invitational)
1986-87: #14 Illinois 69, #3 Indiana 67 in Champaign, IL

You'll notice only one of those wins against a Final Four team is IN the Final Four ... let's change that!

Between UCLA and Texas, may be adding one. Will also get at least one chance against Purdue (if not BTT as well), which is a serious contender as well.

In 1979 we beat eventual champs MSU 57-55 and in 1980 we beat eventual champs Louisville 77-64. Pretty good couple of years!