Breaking away from the 2010s is so refreshing, as these were dark times for the Illinois basketball program.
If you looked up the definition of average in the 2010s, plastered on the page would be the Illini logo. Always a bubble team and never having much in the way of hope in the postseason.
I haven’t even talked about the lack of actual talent that could get to the next level. Shoot, the 2010s only had one player from Illinois taken in the first round of the NBA Draft.
Brad Underwood was hired late in the 2010s, and when Illinois became the No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament a few years later, the term golden era was thrown around.
It was exciting having Illinois back in the national discussion, and we had some great talent like Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn. It was a golden era of Illinois basketball, considering we hadn’t been that good in over 15 years at the time.
Fast forward five years, and Illinois is now in the middle of the summer of 2026, fresh off a Final Four run. I think we were once in a golden era, but I feel like that term doesn’t highlight the capacity at which Illinois is running right now.
Illinois has graduated from a golden era. At this point, and I think it might be scoffed at by some of the older heads, I believe Illinois is in THE era.
THE era has both sustained winning and recruiting success. The current era Illinois is in has seen us secure a top-six seed in the NCAA tournament in five out of the last six seasons. Illinois has been to a Final Four and an Elite Eight in this span.
In this era, the Illini have secured a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. We have won the Big Ten Tournament. We have won the Big Ten regular season.
THE era of Illinois basketball isn’t just about winning; it is also about elite sustained player development
Illinois has had success in the past. Getting to the national championship in 2005 after years of solid play and success was good. In 1989, a Final Four appearance was also exciting for the Illinois fanbase.
What didn’t these two eras continue to do? Develop and put talent into the NBA.
The late 1980s were special, but after the 1989 campaign, the program hit a roadblock for well-documented reasons. Illinois had a chance to build on the run in the early and mid-2000s. The recruiting and player development couldn't keep up, and we went into the dark ages.
Keaton Wagler was selected No. 5 overall. Kasparas Jakucionis and Will Riley went No. 20 and No. 21 overall, respectively. Terrence Shannon Jr. was selected No. 27 overall.
Four first round picks have come out of Underwood’s tenure thus far. He has 21% of all Illinois basketball first round picks in the history of the program. Let that soak in.
The 2020s aren’t nearly finished either. You could easily see the number of first round NBA Draft picks reach six, seven, or more. Quentin Coleman and David Mirkovic are both projected first round picks in 2027.
As of right now, Illinois’ first round NBA Draft picks are four in the 2020s. That is tied for the most in any decade, right there with the 2000s and the 1980s.
Different eras of Illinois basketball have brought excellence to the fanbase. There have been special moments throughout the history of this team. But I am here to say, this isn’t the golden era. This is THE era, and you have the privilege of living through it.
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