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Illinois Basketball: 5 biggest storylines for the Illini in 2019

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 14: The Illinois Fighting Illini huddle up before the game against the Old Dominion Monarchs at State Farm Center on December 14, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 14: The Illinois Fighting Illini huddle up before the game against the Old Dominion Monarchs at State Farm Center on December 14, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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COLLEGE PARK, MD – DECEMBER 07: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts during the first half of the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on December 7, 2019 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

4. Another missed postseason

2019 possessed some fond memories of the Illinois basketball team. I enjoyed watching the players perform on the court. It was exciting to see recruiting going well. But 2019 also provided some more disappointment too. One of the biggest negative storylines was another missed postseason.

The Illinois basketball fanbase is one of the most irrational, crazy, ping-pong balls going off walls, fanbases in the world. But I wouldn’t trade this fanbase for any other. We love our teams and that shows as the frustration builds for the basketball program.

The last time Illinois has made the NCAA tournament was John Groce’s first year with the program. That was in 2013. It was the same year that Illinois took down No. 1 Indiana. We were able to get to the second round of the tournament that season and came oh so close to knocking off No. 2 Miami.

After that campaign, the thoughts of the sky being the limit were there. But the following year, this team came up short. We finished the regular season with 18 wins and the got ousted in the NIT. The year after that was much the same with a first-round NIT bust.

Two more non-NCAA tournament seasons followed before Groce was fired and in stepped Brad Underwood. There have been some growing pains with Underwood. His first two seasons were ugly win-wise. We haven’t hit 15 wins since he took over. But this year is looking more promising.

Despite the current campaign looking better, 2019 brought Illinois fans another missed postseason. It was the sixth-straight year we haven’t gone dancing. This ugly trend needs to change.

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