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Illinois Basketball: 5 biggest games in John Groce’s Illini career

By Rees Woodcock

Jan 7, 2017; Bloomington, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach John Groce gives instructions to his team during a timeout during the second half of the game at Assembly Hall. The Indiana Hoosiers defeated the Illinois Fighting Illini 96 to 80. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2017; Bloomington, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach John Groce gives instructions to his team during a timeout during the second half of the game at Assembly Hall. The Indiana Hoosiers defeated the Illinois Fighting Illini 96 to 80. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 11, 2016; Champaign, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Malcolm Hill (21) and center Mike Thorne Jr. (33) and guard Tracy Abrams (13) and guard Aaron Jordan (23) and guard Jalen Coleman-Lands (5) await the end of a timeout during the first half against the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports /

Illinois v. No. 4 Iowa State November 28, 2015

The game against No. 4 Iowa State back in November 2015 was a huge game in the history of the Illinois basketball program. This was potentially the game that derailed the entire Illini season last year.

Illinois didn’t start the season off well going 3-3 in their first six with losses to North Florida, Providence and Chattanooga. But, through a half of basketball Illinois was only down 40-39 against the Cyclones. That is when center Mike Thorne Jr. went down with an injury.

Thorne only logged 13 minutes that game but still had 10 points and 7 rebounds. He would have had a monster game and the Illini might have come out victorious.

Illinois ended up losing that game and Thorne really never returned the rest of the season. There were many close calls throughout the year but the Illini weren’t the same team in the paint without him.

This injury to Thorne in the game against Iowa State could have potentially made the fire underneath the seat of Groce even hotter. This was a bad turn for the Illini as they finished the year 13-18 overall.

The Iowa State game goes down as one of the most important games in the career of Groce.

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