To have fun SLAM’s thirtieth anniversary, we’re spotlighting the 30 most influential males’s school groups from our previous 30 years. Stats, information and chips aren’t the primary issue right here, it’s all about their contribution to the sport’s cultural material.
For the subsequent 30 days—Monday by means of Friday— we’ll be unveiling the full listing right here. We’ve additionally received an unique retro collegiate assortment, out now, that pays homage to every squad’s threads. Store right here.
The early 2000s was a tough time for all however one basketball program within the Large Ten.
This was when the Large Ten ran by means of them boys in Champaign, Illinois. Every year from ‘00 to ‘04, the Combating Illini gained both a Large Ten common season championship or a Large Ten match championship. Their ‘04-’05 crew introduced all of it collectively and gained each, doing so in mesmerizing trend. A reign of terror was brewing within Meeting Corridor.
They had been any coach’s dream and any opponent’s nightmare; it begins with their unbelievable guard play.
Deron Williams (D-Will) was a prototypical 6-3 level guard, with a nasty deal with, elite imaginative and prescient and a pure knack for buckets. He went on to turn out to be the third decide within the NBA draft, a three-time All-Star, two-time Olympic gold medalist and top-of-the-line level guards within the League for a while.
Dee Brown is an NCAA icon, remembered at present for sporting recent cornrows, an orange or white headband low on the forehead and an extended pair of shorts. He was 6 ft on day, however his blinding pace, defensive tenacity and swagger greater than made up for what he lacked in dimension. He was a four-time All-Large Ten choice, two-time All-American, Large-Ten Defensive Participant of the 12 months and Bob Cousy Award winner.
D-Will and Dee Brown are one of the thrilling backcourt pairings in school basketball for the reason that flip of the century, but it surely was a third guard who led the ‘04-’05 Combating Illini in scoring. That honor belongs to Luther Head, a senior, 6-3 capturing guard, who would ultimately carve out a stable six-year profession within the League.
Illinois approached the ‘04 basketball season with one factor on their thoughts. It was championship or bust–nationwide championship or bust. They hit the bottom working; there have been no indicators of a hangover from their disappointing Candy Sixteen loss the season prior. 4 video games into the ‘04-’05 marketing campaign, the Combating Illini beat No. 24 Gonzaga by 17 factors, placing the nation on discover. The very subsequent sport, just some days later they’d beat No. 1 Wake Forest by 18, placing any remaining doubt to relaxation.
They made it by means of the common season virtually unscathed, successful 29 video games in a row earlier than a small hiccup towards Ohio State the place they suffered a one-point loss, their solely loss headed into the postseason. Illinois responded by dominating the Large Ten Event, sweeping the convention en path to a No. 1 general seed within the Large Dance.
They received by means of their first three video games of March Insanity with out breaking a sweat. However an Elite Eight matchup towards No. 3 Arizona, led by then-future lottery decide Channing Frye, would outline the make-up of this Illinois crew. With solely 4 minutes left within the second half and their season on the road, Illinois discovered themselves down 15 factors. Unfamiliar territory, problem accepted.
Illinois didn’t flinch; their confidence didn’t waver. They only stayed the course. They turned up the strain on protection, created just a few transition alternatives and hustle buckets, hit just a few threes and increase… the sport was headed to additional time. Carrying the momentum into the additional interval, they clawed their approach to the end line and gutted out the victory, finishing one of many memorable comebacks within the match’s current historical past. Ultimate rating: 90-89.
They’d go on to decisively defeat Louisville within the Ultimate 4 earlier than ultimately falling 5 factors quick, to a loaded North Carolina crew, within the Nationwide Championship sport.
Illinois completed the ‘04-’05 season with a 37-2 document, which on the time tied the all-time NCAA document for essentially the most wins in a season. A formidable 31 of their 37 victories had been by 10 factors or extra. They completed the season ranked ninth within the nation in rebounding, eighth in protection, fourth in factors scored, second in three-point area objectives made and first in assists. Now, that’s a recipe for fulfillment.
Regardless of shedding and falling in need of their final season aim, the 04-’05 Illinois crew is etched in trendy school basketball historical past. Whenever you consider one of the best groups to not win a nationwide championship, that ‘04-’05 Illinois squad is on the prime of the listing. And so they’re celebrated in Champaign as such.
Images by way of Getty Pictures.
