The second round of the Big Ten Tournament was great for the Illinois basketball program.
It is always good to get off to a sound start in the Big Ten Tournament. The Illini were tested against Iowa, but the Hawkeyes didn’t have enough firepower to hold off a hot Illinois squad.
Illinois put up a massive number in the Big Ten Tournament. In fact, the 106 points were the most by any Illini team since the tournament started in 1998. The combined score of 200 points, 106-94, was the highest combined score of any game in Big Ten Tournament history as well.
This prompted me to, understandably, look at what the highest combined scores for Illinois have been since the inception of the Big Ten Tournament. Enjoy.
Top 10 highest scoring Illinois basketball Big Ten Tournament games of all time
10. 2003 – vs Northwestern – 94-65 – 159
Illinois had the makings of a national championship quality team in 2002-03. We had so much young talent, and that talent won the Big Ten Tournament. In that Big Ten Tournament run, the Illini throttled an overmatched Northwestern program, 94-65. Brian Cook led the way with 20 points, and Roger Powell, Dee Brown, and Nick Smith all scored in double figures. The 159 combined points ranks No. 10 all time.
9. 2002 – vs Minnesota 92-76 – 168
There were so many good Illinois teams prior to 2006. The 2001-02 squad was special, and Minnesota felt our wrath. In the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, the Illini whooped up on the Golden Gophers, 92-76. The 168 points rank No. 9 all time. In the game, Cory Bradford was hot from deep, hitting 5-of-8 and dropping 25 points. Cook, Robert Archibald, Sean Harrington, and Damir Krupalija all scored at least 10 points in the game.
8. 2010 – vs #5 Ohio State – 81-88 – 169
If we are being honest, from 2007 through 2018, not a lot of positive happened for the Illinois basketball program. Almost knocking off No. 5 Ohio State in 2010 was exciting, though. Illinois took the Buckeyes to double overtime, falling 88-81. The 169 points ranks No. 8 all time. Demetri McCamey went off for 22 points, but we couldn’t stop future NBA player, Evan Turner, from finishing with 31 points and 10 rebounds.
7. 2000 – vs Penn State – 94-84 – 178
Illinois made some highlights a couple of seasons into the Big Ten Tournament. In 2000, we took on Penn State and totaled 178 combined points, making it the No. 7 highest scoring Illinois game in Big Ten Tournament history. The 94-84 win over the Nittany Lions was a true team effort, as seven Illinois players had at least eight points in the contest with Cook leading the way with 18 points.
6. 2021 – vs #9 Ohio State – 91-88 – 179
The year after COVID, Illinois had some ground to make up. I think we would have done damage in 2019-20, but the greatness had to wait. In 2021, Illinois advanced to the Big Ten Tournament title game and took down No. 9 Ohio State, 91-88. The 179 points ranks No. 6 in program history. This was a special game for the Illini, as we took the Buckeyes into overtime. Ayo Dosunmu, Kofi Cockburn, and Andre Curbelo all scored 16 points in the triumphant victory.
5. 2024 – vs Wisconsin – 93-87 – 180
The Illini had another special team in 2023-24. We were one of the best programs in the country, and Illinois put up some massive numbers in the Big Ten Tournament. In the championship game against Wisconsin, the Illini won 93-87. The 180 points take the No. 5 spot on this list. Terrence Shannon Jr. dominated with 34 points. Marcus Domask was Robin to Shannon’s Batman, as he had 26 points and eight assists in the victory.
4. 2002 – vs #21 Ohio State – 88-94 – 182
We are going back a couple of decades to 2002. Illinois had another great team poised to make a run. No. 21 Ohio State ended that run in the Big Ten Tournament, though. The Buckeyes took down the Illini, 94-88. The 182 points ranks as the No. 4 highest scoring Big Ten Tournament game for the Illini. Illinois couldn’t stop Brian Brown, as he went for 27 points. Brent Darby also added 23 points for Ohio State. Cook and Frank Williams combined for 40 points in an effort to clip the Buckeyes.
3. 2018 – vs Iowa – 87-96 – 183
The first couple of seasons under Brad Underwood were rough for the Illinois basketball team. In 2018, Illinois didn’t have Underwood’s players in place yet, so the team struggled. In the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, we put up a fight against Iowa, though. Illinois lost the game 96-87. The 183 combined points ranks No. 3 all time for the Illini. Kipper Nichols had a huge game, dropping 31 points on 10-of-18 shooting from the floor.
2. 2024 – vs Nebraska – 98-87 – 185
In the game before Illinois beat Wisconsin in the 2024 Big Ten Tournament, the Illini dismantled Nebraska’s defense. We put up a 51-spot in the first half only to finish the game beating the Cornhuskers, 98-87. The 185 points ranks No. 2 all time for the Orange and Blue. This was an incredible run for Shannon, as he would drop 40 points on 11-of-22 shooting from the floor and 5-of-9 from three-point range in the win over Nebraska.
1. 2025 – vs Iowa – 106-94 – 200
The highest scoring game Illinois basketball has ever been a part of in the Big Ten Tournament was on Thursday night against Iowa. The Hawkeyes never went away in the game despite Illinois putting up a three-digit number. The Illini thankfully had enough juice to beat Iowa, 106-94. This was the most points in a single Big Ten Tournament game ever. Five Illinois players scored double figures. Three Illini managed to hit the 20-point mark. Tomislav Ivisic was four assists shy of a triple-double.
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