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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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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 12: Big Ten logo on the floor before the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Final against the Wisconsin Badgers and Michigan Wolverines at the Verizon Center on March 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. The Wolverines won 71-56. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

1983 – No. 7 Illinois v No. 10 Utah

The 1983 NCAA tournament was star-studded much like two years prior. The No.1 seeds were St. John’s who was led by Chris Mullin, Louisville led by Lancaster Gordon, Houston and the Phi Slama Jama team led by Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler and Virginia who still had Ralph Sampson.

This tournament is famous for a few reasons. One reason was because of the future NBA talent that participated. Besides for the people I named in the last paragraph, you can add in Thurl Bailey, Sam Perkins and someone named Michael Jordan to the famous players in this postseason.

North Carolina State was the reason this tournament had the most fame, though. They were the No. 6 seed and stormed through teams to make it to the championship game where they knocked off Houston on a last-second miracle put back. Thankfully, Illinois didn’t have to play against that North Carolina State team, but they did have their hands full with No. 10 Utah, though.

Illinois matched up with Utah in the first round and things didn’t go well. That year, Illinois was led by Derek Harper who averaged 15.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. They also had a pretty good regular season going 21-10. But, the Illini didn’t play well against the Utes. Harper, Efrem Winters and Bruce Douglas all shot under 40-percent from the field. Harper, Winters and Anthony Welch led the team in scoring with 11 points apiece as well.

Utah came out firing. Peter Williams and Manny Hendrix had 14 points apiece. The Utes took a five-point lead into the halftime locker room, and Illinois couldn’t erase that margin. No. 7 Illinois fell to No. 10 Utah 52-49. For what it is worth, Utah ended up beating No. 2 UCLA in the next round 67-61.

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