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Illinois Basketball: History of Illini upsets in the NCAA tournament

By Rees Woodcock

ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 26: A detail of a net hanging from the rim with an official NBA 2012 Orlando NBA All-Star logo during the 2012 NBA All-Star Game at the Amway Center on February 26, 2012 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 26: A detail of a net hanging from the rim with an official NBA 2012 Orlando NBA All-Star logo during the 2012 NBA All-Star Game at the Amway Center on February 26, 2012 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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CHAPEL HILL, NC – DECEMBER 20: Two basketballs are stuck in a net prior to the game between the Wofford Terriers and the North Carolina Tar Heels at Dean Smith Center on December 20, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Wofford won 79-75. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

1981 – No. 4 Illinois v No. 8 Kansas State

The 1981 NCAA tournament featured some stiff competition. The No. 1 seeds that year were Virginia featuring Ralph Sampson, DePaul who was led by Mark Aguirre, LSU who was led by Rudy Macklin and Oregon State who had superstar Steve Johnson.

This tournament was filled with upsets in 1981. DePaul went down in the second round to No. 9 St. Joseph’s, who would eventually get beat by the tournament champion, Indiana, in the Elite 8. Another upset was No. 1 Oregon State falling to No. 8 Kansas State in the second round. The Wildcats would then go on to face Illinois in the Sweet 16 that year.

Illinois had a pretty good year in 1980-1981. They finished the regular season 19-7 and entered the postseason as a No. 4 seed in the NCAA tournament. This Illini team was stacked as well. They were led by none other than Eddie Johnson who averaged 17.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists that season.

Kansas State was playing well and was probably a little underrated coming into the matchup against Illinois. They were led by Rolando Blackman who would go on to have a 13-year NBA career and make four All-Star Game appearances.

The Wildcats ended up jumping out to a first half lead 30-27. Illinois couldn’t manage to erase that deficit despite getting 15 points and 9 rebounds from Johnson. Perry Range and Mark Smith also added 10 points apiece in the game. No. 4 Illinois ended up falling to No. 8 Kansas State in the 1981 NCAA tournament.

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