Illinois moves up to #21 in the AP Poll and #22 in the Coaches Poll.
Great question. I decided to check the final AP poll going back to the late 1960's. Thought I'd share. Needless to say, we've been in a bit of a slump since Dee graduated:Sorry to ask but when is the last time Illinois was ranked after the regular season? 2006?
I think Kruger was the coach in 1997. That would better explain Lou Henson being let go after six years of mediocre performance.Great question. I decided to check the final AP poll going back to the late 1960's. Thought I'd share. Needless to say, we've been in a bit of a slump since Dee graduated:
1969: 20 - Harv Schmidt
1984: 6 - Lou Henson
1985: 12
1986: 19
1987: 11
1988: 16
1989: 3
1990: 18
1997: 19
1998: 22 - Lon Kruger
2000: 21
2001: 4 - Bill Self
2002: 13
2003: 11
2004: 13 - Bruce Weber
2005: 1
2006: 13
2020: 21 - Brad Underwood (not final --- 1 week remaining)
Lou retired in 1996- yes, after a mediocre stretch. He was retired for a year and then came back to coach NM st in 1997.I think Kruger was the coach in 1997. That would better explain Lou Henson being let go after six years of mediocre performance.
EDIT: #19 in 1981, too.Great question. I decided to check the final AP poll going back to the late 1960's. Thought I'd share. Needless to say, we've been in a bit of a slump since Dee graduated:
1969: 20 - Harv Schmidt
1984: 6 - Lou Henson
1985: 12
1986: 19
1987: 11
1988: 16
1989: 3
1990: 18
1997: 19
1998: 22 - Lon Kruger
2000: 21
2001: 4 - Bill Self
2002: 13
2003: 11
2004: 13 - Bruce Weber
2005: 1
2006: 13
2020: 21 - Brad Underwood (not final --- 1 week remaining)
I think Kruger was the coach in 1997. That would better explain Lou Henson being let go after six years of mediocre performance.
I think Kruger was the coach in 1997. That would better explain Lou Henson being let go after six years of mediocre performance.
Not the right thread for this, but there are too many unknowns to make many predictions just yet. We need to know who is actually going to be on the team. Certainly possible though.Congrats to the whole team and staff. Who would have thought that we would be a top 25 team after the Mz game? Hard work pays off. When the 20-21 season kicks off I think this would be about where we should be rated. The Emerald Island tourney should give us a good indicator of where we stand as a team.