Illinois basketball fans, we are only 42 days away from the start of college basketball.
Throughout the last ten years of Illinois basketball, Illini fans have experienced three coaching changes, only two NCAA tournament berths, multiple disappointing seasons, and an abrupt ending to a 2020 campaign where the Fighting Illini were not only going to clinch their first tournament berth in six years but potentially win the whole thing.
For the most part, the last decade has been pretty rough for Illini Nation. With everything mentioned above, this has also affected recruiting and the ability to bring top talent into Champaign. This includes keeping players home like Anthony Davis, Jabari Parker, etc.
However, Illini fans were able to experience many upsets, big-time wins, and some exciting finishes to thrilling games during these crazy past ten years for the Illinois basketball team. And, over the past couple of years, recruiting has started to become a strong point for the Orange and Blue. Some of the players the Illini have been able to land have actually helped create some of the biggest moments.
In honor of the 2020-21 college basketball season approaching us, let’s take a look at the Illini’s top five thrilling finishes of the last decade.