The debate on which Illinois basketball team is the best in program history rages on.
There are a few to choose from. The Illini have produced some incredibly talented rosters, but it is so hard to determine which team was actually the best.
So, what do you do in 2026? Ask artificial intelligence, of course.
I put the eight best Illinois basketball teams post-1970 into ChatGPT. It is so hard to determine anything pre-1970 because of the competition, etc. If we included every team, the 1914-15 Illini, which went 16-0, would win it all. That isn’t happening.
Here is the bracket.
#1 2004-05 vs. #8 2005-06
#4 2020-21 vs. #5 2003-04
#2 1988-89 vs. #7 2002-03
#3 2025-26 vs. #6 1983-84
According to ChatGPT, it is putting together the winner based on “the strength of each team on its actual season, roster talent, postseason performance, efficiency, and how the styles would translate.”
Elite Eight Results
#1 2004-05 (78) vs. #8 2005-06 (68)
#4 2020-21 (84) vs. #5 2003-04 (78)
#2 1988-89 (91) vs. #7 2002-03 (82)
#3 2025-26 (88) vs. #6 1983-84 (79)
Everything was chalk, but there were a couple of issues I had with the results.
I think the 2004-05 team beats the 2005-06 team by more than 10 points. There was just so much depth on that national title team.
2003-04 fell to 2020-21, but I don’t think that would happen. That 2003-04 team was so good, and while the 2020-21 team was too, again, I think depth would have been what put the 2003-04 team over the top.
Final Four Results
#1 2004-05 (81) vs. #4 2020-21 (76)
#2 1988-89 (84) vs. #3 2025-26 (87)
There is a bit of an upset in the Final Four. The No. 3 seed 2025-26 team takes down the No. 2 seed 1988-89 squad. This would be such a fascinating matchup.
The Flyin’ Illini had so much athletic ability, but the Final Four team from this past season had size and good rim protection. That dynamic would be fun to watch play out on the court.
ChatGPT’s reasoning for the 2025-26 team beating the 1988-89 team is, “The 1988-89 team is athletic enough to survive the first wave, but eventually the modern spacing creates just enough openings.”
Also, in the No. 1 vs No. 4 matchup, I think the 2004-05 trucks the 2020-21 team. I don’t think that is a close matchup, and only having them win by five points is a bit off, in my opinion.
National Championship
#1 2004-05 (79) vs. #3 2025-26 (75)
What a wild game this would be to watch. The two teams were so different, and it would be so fun to see them go head-to-head.
In the paint, you would have James Augustine and Jack Ingram going up against Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic. Both 2004-05 big men play around the hoop, while the Ivisic brothers can pull them out to clear the lane.
Roger Power vs. David Mirkovic would be such a clash of styles at the No. 4 spot. I think Luther Head cooks Andrej Stojakovic on the wing, but Stojakovic could be an effective rebounder and could use his size offensively.
I think you have to put Keaton Wagler on Deron Williams and Kylan Boswell on Dee Brown. Either way, Brown is going to be able to run circles around either 2025-26 Illini guard. I would love to see Wagler’s length against Williams.
The all-time Illinois basketball tournament hands out the MVP award
I am sure there were plenty of options for the MVP, as that 2004-05 team had some elite talent.
ChatGPT gives the MVP to Deron Williams. He has a big all-time Illinois basketball tournament, finishing the three games averaging 18.4 points, 8.1 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game.
What is intriguing is that he shot 48% from the field and 43% from three-point range. I don’t think Williams would shoot this well against the 2025-26 squad.
I go back to Wagler’s length. Williams isn’t a tall guard, and having Wagler’s long arms flailing in front of him would probably mean the assists are a little higher and the scoring is down a bit.
Regardless, this was a fun little experiment. Unsurprisingly, the 2004-05 team takes the crown.
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