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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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CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 30: The Lou Henson signature is seen on the court before the start of the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 30, 2018, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 30: The Lou Henson signature is seen on the court before the start of the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 30, 2018, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1990 – No. 5 Illinois v No. 12 Dayton

Illinois had a great run to the Final 4 in 1989 but fell just short of making the national championship game. They had another solid year in 1989-1990 and finished the regular season with a 20-7 record overall. That season they were led by Kendall Gill and Marcus Liberty who averaged 20 and 17.8 points, respectively.

The No. 1 seeds for the 1990 NCAA tournament were UConn led by Tate George and Chris Smith, Oklahoma who was led by Skeeter Henry, Michigan State who had Steve Smith and UNLV with Larry Johnson, Anderson Hunt and Stacey Augmon.

There were a few upsets that season. No. 10 Texas, No. 14 Northern Iowa, No. 12 Ball State and No. 11 Loyola Marymount all advanced to at least the second round. There was also one more big upset and it featured the Illinois Fighting Illini.

Illinois went up against a tough Dayton team who had some big-time scorers. The Illini actually played pretty well. Gill ended up dropping 28 points in that game and three other Illini players had at least 12 points. But, the turnovers killed Illinois and so did three-point shooting. Dayton ended up dropped four more three-pointers than the Illini and had eight fewer turnovers.

Dayton ended up having the lead in the game going into halftime 41-36. Illinois tried to make a comeback but it fell just short. No. 5 Illinois fell to No. 12 Dayton 88-86. The Flyers only lost the next game by two points against Final 4 bound Arkansas.

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