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Illinois Basketball: Top 5 Illini 1st round performances of the last 20 seasons

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 02: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini brings the ball up court during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at State Farm Center on January 2, 2021 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 02: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini brings the ball up court during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at State Farm Center on January 2, 2021 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Illinois basketball
CHICAGO – MARCH 16: The tournament’s MVP, Brian Cook #34 of the University Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Fighting Illini, celebrates his win over Ohio State University Buckeyes in the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament Championship at the United Center on March 16, 2003 in Chicago, Illinois. Illinois defeated Ohio State 72-59. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Illinois basketball opens up their NCAA tournament run this Friday against the Chattanooga Mocs.

The Illini are a No. 4 seed in the tournament, but the No. 13 seeded Mocs will not be an easy team to beat. I think Illinois has it in them to advance past the first round, but they will be a trendy upset pick by some people.

Over the last 20 seasons, Illinois has had some great first round performances. There have been some big names show up in big-time spots for the program.

Here are the top five Illini first round performances of the last 20 seasons.

Honorable Mention

  • 2009 vs No. 12 Western Kentucky (L) – Trent Meacham 24 points, 4 steals, 3 assists, 3 rebounds

I will start off with the honorable mention performances by Illinois players in the first round. I put Trent Meacham’s game against No. 12 Western Kentucky in this mix.

If this would have been a victory for the Illini, then I would have Meacham in the top five. But Illinois couldn’t fend off the dreaded No. 12 seed despite Meacham’s 24 points, four steals, three assists, and three rebounds.

  • 2005 vs No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson (W) – James Augustine 11 points, 15 rebounds

The magical national title run for Illinois had various key contributors. One of the most talented players on the team was James Augustine.

Augustine didn’t get the notoriety that some of the other players received, but he was a huge piece to the program, and one of the big reasons Illinois eased through the first game against No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson. Augustine finished the first round with a double-double of 11 points and 15 rebounds.

  • 2003 vs No. 13 Western Kentucky (W) – Brian Cook 17 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals

Brian Cook checks in with the final honorable mention player. Cook was such a great part of the Illinois basketball program. Sadly, he came just a couple of years before Illinois needed him the most.

Cook’s presence in the NCAA tournament was big for the Illini. He had one of his best games in the first round of the 2003 postseason. Cook would take down No. 13 Western Kentucky with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and two steals.

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