Illinois Basketball: A first-person account of the Big Ten title

The Illinois basketball team earned its first Big Ten Tournament championship since 2005 in front of 8,000 people. It was a weekend to remember.

As a student at the University of Illinois, I have seen the highs and lows of the Illini men’s basketball program. When I came to Champaign as a student during my freshman year, the team was in a midst of what looked like a long rebuild.

Then came the 2019-2020 campaign, and in what seemed like an instant, the team began one of the quickest turnarounds I have ever seen in my life. The Illini found ways to win close games, with Ayo Dosunmu delivering key baskets in late-season home wins against Indiana and Iowa respectively, helping clinch a share of second place in the Big Ten.

Unfortunately for the Illini, Brad Underwood’s team was dealt a harsh blow upon the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the pandemic took over the world, the Illinois basketball program had to adapt. In June of 2020, the squad returned, and along with them came the return of Ayo and Kofi Cockburn for their junior and sophomore seasons. The Illini quickly became one of the hottest preseason teams ever, and the season itself lived up to those promises.

Entering the NCAA tournament, which will begin on Friday at 12:15 CDT against Drexel, the Illini rides the momentum as the No. 2 team in the nation and one of four No. 1 seeds to claim its rightful place amongst the tournament’s best.

Luckily for me, I was able to attend the Big Ten Tournament, which took place March 11-14 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The Illini played in three games throughout the weekend against three worthy Big Ten foes, two of which had defeated Illinois at least once in regular season play.

Outside of the domination against Rutgers in Friday night’s tilt and the slugfest against Iowa, the team came together to finish what they had started just two short seasons ago: win a championship.

By knocking off Ohio State in overtime, the Illini established themselves as a powerhouse in the nation once again. The 91-88 victory, along with Ayo’s 16-point performance, was a small glimpse of what the world may see over the next several weeks.

Attending the Big Ten tournament was a lifetime memory

In what was an unexpected father-son trip, I had one of the most memorable experiences of my life while watching a sporting weekend. With 8,000 fans in attendance, along with masks and social distancing, the team fed off the fan’s energy, having not played in front of a crowd in over a year.

Despite the three wins, the most enjoyable part of my trip was Friday’s encounter with the Dosunmu family. I was grateful to meet them for the first time and am marveled by how much dedication they have towards the program and their son’s ambitions.

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I was lucky to see the team in action for the first time in-person since March of 2020. In a world where there is little to be happy about, the men’s basketball team has provided me and many others hope that there is a light at the end of this long, dark tunnel.

On to Drexel we go, and beyond.