Illini season

By Jack Burall

It was yet another impressive season for Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball. Coming off finishing 2nd in the Big 10, only behind Purdue, they would have a lot to prove in March. 

Going into the NCAA tournament the Fighting Illini were hot, winning all three of their games in their conference tournament, and winning the Big 10 championship over Wisconsin. This would light a fire under the Illini to not get knocked out early this year in the first or second round. 

The three-seeded Illinois team would first match up with fourteen-seeded Morehead State. This would be a close battle in the first half, but after halftime the high-powered offense of Illinois was too much for Morehead State and the Illini prevailed in the first round 69-85. 

In the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament the Fighting Illini started right where they left off in the last game with the offense connecting on all levels pushing them past the Duquesne Dukes to the Sweet Sixteen. 

The Iowa State Cyclones were the top-rated defensive team in the nation, so their defense would play a big factor in the Illinois Sweet Sixteen game. The two-seeded Cyclones were the Illini's toughest test yet, but it didn't deter them; the Illini came out running and gunning while playing excellent defense to match the Cyclones. This intensity Illinois showed in the Sweet Sixteen is why Iowa State never led and why the Fighting Illini would meet the No. 1 seeded UCONN Huskies in the Elite Eight. 

The UCONN Huskies have shown their dominance all year and throughout the tournament by beating every opponent by thirty points in the NCAA tournament. This hot Illinois team would give them a great first half only being down 28-23 at half.  But a couple of questionable calls and the presence of the Huskies 7’2” center Donavan Clingan were too much for the Illinois defense. This play translated to offense; the Illini couldn't buy a bucket, and before you knew it, they were down large, and their march was over. 

With a return to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2005, and an overall record of 29-9, the third highest in program history. The Fighting Illini have proven themselves to be one of the top teams in the country.