The Illinois basketball team is back in the NCAA tournament once again.
When the Illini tip-off on Friday night, it will mark the fifth straight season we have gotten the privilege of the program playing in the Big Dance. Brad Underwood has helped guide Illinois to these consistent heights.
For the 2025 NCAA tournament, Illinois is entering the festivities as a No. 6 seed. While some would kill just to be in the postseason, this will be the second-worst seeding Illinois has received under Underwood.
There is a history of Illinois earning the No. 6 seed, albeit a small one.
1997 NCAA tournament
The Lou Henson era had just come to a close and rising head coach Lon Kruger took over the Illini after spending six seasons with the Florida Gators.
Led by Kiwane Garris, that Illinois team had a ton of experience and talent. Despite ending the season as the No. 19 team in the country, the Illini entered the 1997 NCAA tournament as a No. 6 seed.
Illinois breezed by No. 11 USC, on the backs of Garris and Chris Gandy who had a combined 48 points, in the first round. The Illini were then gifted a shot at No. 14 Chattanooga in the second round.
The Mocs took down No. 3 Georgia in the first round, setting up a chance for Illinois to advance to the Sweet 16. To no avail, though. Chattanooga was a hot team, as they would end up beating the Illini, 75-63.
1993 NCAA tournament
The only other time Illinois was a No. 6 seed was back in 1993. Illinois was just coming off an NCAA tournament ban that left the program in a rough spot in 1990-91. The following season, the Illini floundered to a 13-15 record.
In 1992-93, Henson helped the Illini break out of the funk and get back to the NCAA tournament. That season, we finished 19-13 overall and 11-7 in the Big Ten.
Illinois, led by Deon Thomas and Andy Kaufmann, forged ahead and entered the NCAA tournament as the No. 6 seed. The first matchup was against No. 11 Long Beach State. Illinois was down at the half, but we fought back to take the win, 75-72. In that game, Thomas dropped 20 points and nine rebounds while three other Illini had at least 10 points.
The next game was a little tougher, as Illinois went up against No. 3 Vanderbilt. We weren’t much of a matchup for the Commodores, as they were up by 11 points at halftime and won the game, 85-69.
That 1992-93 squad took some notes out of Illinois’ current playbook and went 4-of-23, 17.4%, from three-point range in the loss to Vanderbilt.