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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 – FEBRUARY 20: Trent Meacham
CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 20: Trent Meacham /

2009 – No. 5 Illinois v No. 12 Western Kentucky

The Bruce Weber era was in full force by the 2008-2009 season. Illinois’ national title run four years prior had worn off and the Illini needed to get back to their glory days. They actually had a surprisingly good season that year finishing the regular season 23-8 and getting to the second round of the Big Ten Tournament. But, what was waiting in the postseason was not good for this Illini crew.

The No. 1 seeds in the 2009 NCAA tournament were littered with talent. There was Louisville who had Earl Clark and Terrence Williams, Pittsburgh had DeJuan Blair and Sam Young, North Carolina was stacked with Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington and Company and UConn had Kemba Walker.

Upsets were plentiful in this tournament as well. No. 12 Arizona, No. 13 Cleveland State, No. 11 Dayton, No. 10 USC, No. 12 Wisconsin, No. 10 Michigan and No. 10 Maryland all advanced to at least the second round. Illinois also ran into another upset-minded team in No. 12 Western Kentucky.

Illinois’ starters played well in this game. Trent Meacham dropped 24 points and 4 steals while three other Illini players finished with at least 10 points. But, fouls and rebounds doomed the Illini. They had double the amount of fouls as the Hilltoppers and were outrebounded by seven rebounds. This spells disaster for the better-seeded team.

Next: Which Illini players hit expectations in 2017-2018

Western Kentucky had all five starters score at least 10 points including leading scorer Steffphon Pettigrew who went for 17 points. Illinois was beaten from the get-go and went into halftime down nine points. No. 12 Western Kentucky took down No. 5 Illinois, 76-72. The Hilltoppers would go on to only lose by two points to Gonzaga in the next round.

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