The Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball team is a storied program with a rich history of success. They have won 4 national championships (1917, 1923, 1953, 2005), 20 conference championships, and have made 50 NCAA Tournament appearances. The Illini are currently members of the Big Ten Conference.
- Team Name: Illinois Fighting Illini
- Short Name: Illini
- Team Owner(s): The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
- Prominent Players:
- Lou Henson: Henson is the all-time winningest coach in Illinois history, with 423 wins. He led the Illini to the NCAA Tournament 14 times, including a Final Four appearance in 1989.
- Derrick Rose: Rose is one of the most talented players in Illinois history. He was the 2009 NBA Rookie of the Year and the 2011 NBA MVP.
- Brandon Paul: Paul was a two-time All-Big Ten selection for the Illini. He was a key member of the team’s 2013 NCAA Tournament run.
- Ayo Dosunmu: Dosunmu was a two-time All-Big Ten selection for the Illini. He was named the Big Ten Player of the Year in 2021.
- Kofi Cockburn: Cockburn is one of the most dominant centers in college basketball. He was named the Big Ten Player of the Year in 2023.
History about Illini men’s basketball Team
The Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball team was founded in 1905. The team’s first head coach was Elwood Brown. The Illini won their first Big Ten Conference championship in 1915. They won their first national championship in 1917.
The Illini went through a period of decline in the 1930s and 1940s. However, they returned to prominence in the 1950s under the leadership of coach Harry Combs. The Illini won their second national championship in 1953.
The Illini continued to be successful in the 1960s and 1970s. They made the NCAA Tournament 11 times in those two decades. However, they did not win another national championship.
The Illini experienced a resurgence in the 1980s under the leadership of coach Lou Henson. The Illini made the NCAA Tournament 14 times in the 1980s, including a Final Four appearance in 1989.
The Illini have continued to be successful in the 21st century. They have made the NCAA Tournament 13 times since 2000. They won their third national championship in 2005.
Here are some of the team’s most notable moments in history, year-wise:
- 1917: Illinois wins its first national championship.
- 1923: Illinois wins its second national championship.
- 1953: Illinois wins its third national championship.
- 1989: Illinois makes its first Final Four appearance since 1953.
- 2005: Illinois wins its fourth national championship.
Coaching Staff Information about Illini men’s basketball Team
Here is some information about the coaching staff of the Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball team:
Head Coach: Brad Underwood
- Underwood is the 18th head coach in Illinois history. He was hired in March 2017. He has a record of 103-54 at Illinois.
- Underwood is a native of Peoria, Illinois. He played college basketball at Kansas State. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Kansas State. He has also been an assistant at Stephen F. Austin, Tulsa, Memphis, and Oklahoma State.
- Underwood’s coaching philosophy is to play an up-tempo, aggressive style of basketball. He wants his teams to be able to score in transition and to defend at a high level.
Assistant Coach: Tim Anderson
- Anderson is in his second season as an assistant coach at Illinois. He previously served as an assistant coach at Cincinnati and TCU.
- Anderson is a native of Chicago, Illinois. He played college basketball at DePaul. He began his coaching career as an assistant at DePaul. He has also been an assistant at Bradley and Valparaiso.
- Anderson’s coaching philosophy is to develop players and to help them reach their full potential. He wants his teams to play hard and to be competitive.
Assistant Coach: Geoff Alexander
- Alexander is in his first season as an assistant coach at Illinois. He previously served as an assistant coach at Indiana and Purdue.
- Alexander is a native of Indianapolis, Indiana. He played college basketball at Indiana. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Indiana. He has also been an assistant at Western Kentucky and Texas Tech.
- Alexander’s coaching philosophy is to build relationships with players and to help them develop as both players and people. He wants his teams to play hard and to be unselfish.
Director of Player Development: Jamar Smith
- Smith is in his first season as the director of player development at Illinois. He previously served as an assistant coach at Texas A&M.
- Smith is a native of Chicago, Illinois. He played college basketball at Illinois. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Illinois. He has also been an assistant coach at Miami (FL) and Texas A&M.
- Smith’s coaching philosophy is to help players develop their skills and to prepare them for the next level. He wants his players to be able to play at a high level and to be successful in life.
Illini men’s basketball Team information about players
| Player | Jersey | Position | Height | Weight | Year in High School | Rating |
| Kofi Cockburn | 5 | Center | 7’0″ | 285 lbs | Senior | 5-star |
| Braden Norris | 10 | Point Guard | 6’2″ | 180 lbs | Junior | 4-star |
| Jacob Grandison | 2 | Guard | 6’6″ | 215 lbs | Senior | 4-star |
| Trent Frazier | 3 | Guard | 6’2″ | 185 lbs | Junior | 4-star |
| RJ Melendez | 12 | Guard | 6’6″ | 200 lbs | Sophomore | 4-star |
| Luke Goode | 20 | Guard | 6’4″ | 195 lbs | Freshman | 4-star |
| Brandon Lieb | 31 | Guard | 6’5″ | 205 lbs | Freshman | 3-star |
| Coleman Hawkins | 11 | Forward | 6’8″ | 215 lbs | Freshman | 4-star |
| Owen Hamilton | 23 | Forward | 6’8″ | 220 lbs | Freshman | 3-star |
Illini men’s basketball Team’s last 10 years of records
| Year | Overall | Big Ten | Postseason |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-2023 | 23-10 | 14-6 | NCAA Tournament Second Round |
| 2021-2022 | 23-9 | 13-7 | NCAA Tournament Second Round |
| 2020-2021 | 24-7 | 13-7 | NCAA Tournament First Round |
| 2019-2020 | 16-16 | 9-11 | NIT Second Round |
| 2018-2019 | 20-14 | 12-8 | NCAA Tournament Second Round |
| 2017-2018 | 20-14 | 10-10 | NCAA Tournament First Round |
| 2016-2017 | 18-14 | 10-10 | NIT Second Round |
| 2015-2016 | 19-14 | 11-7 | NCAA Tournament Second Round |
| 2014-2015 | 15-17 | 7-11 | NIT First Round |
Season Preview: Illini men’s basketball Team
The Illini are coming off a successful 2022-2023 season, in which they finished with a 23-10 record and made the NCAA Tournament. The team returns a number of key players, including Kofi Cockburn, Braden Norris, Jacob Grandison, and Trent Frazier. Cockburn is a dominant center who is expected to be one of the best players in the Big Ten. Norris is a solid point guard who is a good distributor and a capable scorer. Grandison and Frazier are both versatile guards who can score from a variety of spots on the court.
Team’s strengths:
The Illini’s strengths this season will be their size and their experience. Cockburn is a force down low, and he will be surrounded by a number of other big men who can rebound and defend. The Illini also have a lot of experience, with several players who have been in the program for multiple years.
Team’s weaknesses:
The Illini’s weaknesses this season could be their shooting and their depth. The team does not have a lot of outside shooters, and they will need to find ways to score from the perimeter. The Illini also do not have a lot of depth in the frontcourt, so they will need to stay healthy in order to compete for a Big Ten title.
Potential challenges they may face:
The Illini’s potential challenges this season could be the Big Ten schedule and the NCAA Tournament. The Big Ten is one of the toughest conferences in college basketball, and the Illini will need to be at their best every night in order to compete. The NCAA Tournament is also a challenge, and the Illini will need to play their best basketball in order to make a deep run.
Overall, the Illini are a talented team with a lot of potential. They have a chance to be one of the best teams in the Big Ten, and they could make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
Illini’s upcoming games:
Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|
| November 7 | vs. Jackson State | State Farm Center |
| November 10 | vs. UT Martin | State Farm Center |
| November 12 | vs. Bradley | State Farm Center |
| November 17 | vs. Missouri | Enterprise Center |
| November 19 | vs. Notre Dame | State Farm Center |
| November 23 | vs. Purdue | State Farm Center |
| November 26 | vs. Saint Peter’s | State Farm Center |
| December 2 | vs. Northwestern | Welsh-Ryan Arena |
| December 4 | vs. Miami (FL) | State Farm Center |
| December 10 | vs. Ohio State | State Farm Center |
| December 17 | vs. Iowa | Carver-Hawkeye Arena |
| December 21 | vs. Missouri | State Farm Center |
| December 22 | vs. Memphis | State Farm Center |
| January 1 | at Purdue | Mackey Arena |
| January 3 | at Michigan | Crisler Center |
| January 7 | vs. Michigan State | State Farm Center |
| January 10 | at Ohio State | Value City Arena |
| January 14 | vs. Indiana | State Farm Center |
| January 17 | at Wisconsin | Kohl Center |
| January 21 | vs. Penn State | State Farm Center |
| January 24 | at Rutgers | Jersey Mike’s Arena |
| January 28 | vs. Nebraska | State Farm Center |
| January 31 | at Minnesota | Williams Arena |
| February 4 | vs. Iowa | State Farm Center |
| February 7 | at Northwestern | Welsh-Ryan Arena |
| February 10 | vs. Indiana | Assembly Hall |
| February 14 | at Michigan State | Breslin Center |
| February 18 | vs. Purdue | State Farm Center |
| February 21 | at Illinois-Chicago | Credit Union 1 Arena |
| February 25 | vs. Wisconsin | State Farm Center |
| February 28 | at Minnesota | Williams Arena |
| March 3 | vs. Nebraska | State Farm Center |
| March 6 | at Penn State | Bryce Jordan Center |
| March 9 | Big Ten Tournament | Gainbridge Fieldhouse |
FAQs about the Illini men’s basketball team
1. What is the team’s nickname?
The Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball team is nicknamed the Illini. The nickname was adopted in 1907, and it is a reference to the Illiniwek tribe, which was the original inhabitants of the Illinois region.
2. What is the team’s colors?
The Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball team’s colors are orange and blue. The orange represents the state of Illinois, and the blue represents the sky.
3. What is the team’s home arena?
The Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball team’s home arena is State Farm Center. State Farm Center is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it has a capacity of 16,000.
4. Who is the team’s head coach?
The Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball team’s head coach is Brad Underwood. Underwood was hired in March 2017, and he has a record of 103-54 at Illinois.
5. What are the team’s most notable achievements?
The Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball team has won 4 national championships (1917, 1923, 1953, 2005), 20 conference championships, and has made 50 NCAA Tournament appearances.
