More Illinois Fighting Illini News
Luka Garza or Ayo Dosunmu? Which Big Ten Star Will Be National Player of the Year?
Luka Garza and Ayo Dosunmu are expected to be the leading candidates in the NCAA Player of the Year race. Who will win this battle?
WATCH: Illinois Fighting Illini Celebrate Massive Ranked Win Over Ohio State Buckeyes
The Illinois Fighting Illini celebrated a big win over the Ohio State Buckeyes in the locker room with a lot of pomp and circumstance.
‘Most Clutch’- NCAA Analyst Compares Luka Garza and Ayo Dosunmu in the Race For Naismith Player of the Year
Luka Garza has been considered the frontrunner in the College Player of the Year race all season long, but is Ayo Dosunmu going to upset him?
‘Flair for the Dramatic’- NCAA Analyst Believes Illinois Fighting Illini Guard Ayo Dosunmu is One of the Best Players in the Big 10
Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu is proving to be one of the best players in the NCAA this season and people are noticing.
WATCH: Illinois Fighting Illini Star Ayo Dosunmu Brings Down The Hammer Against Nebraska Cornhuskers
Illinois Fighting Illini junior guard Ayo Dosunmu had a stunning dunk during their overtime win against the Nebraska Cornhuskers last night.
NCAA Basketball: Illinois Fighting Illini vs Nebraska Cornhuskers- Possible Lineups and Predictions
NCAA Basketball action will pit the Illinois Fighting Illini against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in a lop-sided Big 10 battle.
NCAA Basketball: Iowa Hawkeyes vs Illinois Fighting Illini- Possible Lineups and Predictions
NCAA Basketball action will see two ranked opponents clash when the Illinois Fighting Ilinni take on heavyweights in the Iowa Hawkeyes.
WATCH: NCAA Basketball Fans Perplexed After Odd Bit of Camera Work In Illinois Fighting Illini vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights
NCAA Basketball fans tuned into a bizarre moment in the game between Illinois and Rutgers when the camera created an odd illusion.
NCAA Men’s Basketball: Ohio State Buckeyes vs Illinois Fighting Illini – Possible Lineups and Predictions
NCAA Men's Basketball returns to action with Big Ten clash as the Ohio State Buckeyes take on the Illinois Fighting Illini.
NCAA Men’s Basketball: Northwestern Wildcats vs Illinois Fighting Illini- Possible Lineups and Predictions
NCAA Men's Basketball action will continue when the ranked Illinois Fighting Illini take on the Northwestern Wildcats in a Big 10 clash.
NCAA Men’s Basketball: Illinois Fighting Illini vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights- Possible Lineups and Predictions
NCAA Men's Basketball action will see two ranked opponents face off when #19 Rutgers Scarlet Knights take on #13 illinois Fighting Illini.
NCAA Men’s Basketball: Illinois Fighting Illini vs Missouri Tigers- Possible Lineups and Predictions
NCAA Men’s Basketball action will see the top-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini take on the Missouri Tigers in this years Braggin' Rights Game.
About Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini 2021: News, Schedule, Roster, Scores, Injury Report
The Illinois Fighting Illini compete in NCAA Men’s Basketball as a part of the Big Ten Conference. Some notable opponents from the conference include Iowa, Michigan, and Wisconsin. They were founded in 1906.
The name Illini emerged when the University's student newspaper changed its name from 'The Student' to 'The Illini' in 1874. Over 40 years later in the 1910s, the word 'Fighting' was used initially as an adjective for the team, but later it became part of the name. It was officially adopted as the nickname by the University in the 1920s.
The current logo of the Fighting Illini is a bold letter I, which is orange with a blue border. When the university first introduced a logo in 1947, it was the face of a Native American. It was completely dropped in 2004 when the bold letter I was launched.
History
| Founded | 1906 |
| Conference | Big 10 Conference |
| Athletic Director | Josh Whitman |
| Head Coach | Brad Underwood |
| Arena | State Farm Center |
| Championships (0) | - |
| Conference Tournament Titles (2) | 2003, 2005 |
| Conference Regular Season Titles (17) | 1915, 1917, 1924, 1935, 1937, 1942, 1943, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1963, 1984, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005 |
| Website | https://fightingillini.com/sports/mens-basketball |
Who is the coach of the Fighting Illini?
The current coach of the Fighting Illini is Brad Underwood. He was appointed in 2017 after he won three consecutive Southland Conference Tournaments.
Underwood signed a six-year deal worth $18 million, before getting an extension for up to 2026. After two underwhelming seasons, Underwood led the Fighting Illini to an impressive 21-10 record last season.
Who is the Athletic Director of the Fighting Illini?
The current athletic director of the Fighting Illini is Josh Whitman. He was appointed in 2016.
Whitman is an alumnus of the college and is also a former NFL player who became a lawyer after retirement. He was in charge of hiring Underwood as the head coach.
Achievements and Championships
The early 2000s and the 1980s were the most successful periods for the Fighting Illini. From 2001 to 2005, they won four out of the five regular-season championships.
In 2005, they reached the National Final with a brilliant record of 37-2. But they lost by 5 points in the Final to UNC. That remains as their best finish in the NCAA tournament.
The Fighting Illini haven't won the NCAA Division 1 title yet.
Greatest NBA Players
It has been almost eight years since a former Fighting Illini was drafted in the NBA. But earlier, Illinois had many young prospects making it into the big league.
Some of the greatest NBA players from Illinois include Deron Williams, Don Ohl, Nick Anderson, and Jerry Sloan. Williams was part of the team that finished as the runner-up in 2005. Sloan was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a coach in 2009.
Currently, Kendrick Nunn and Meyers Leonard are the only former Fighting Illini playing in the NBA.
Mascot and Uniform
The Fighting Illini had Chief Illiniwek as their mascot until it was retired by the University back in 2007 due to a lot of criticism around the stereotypes promoted by it.
In September 2020, the belted kingfisher was voted as the new mascot for the University. Spencer Hulsey, an alumnus of the University of Illinois, is the one who came up with the idea for the kingfisher.
The team colors of the Illinois Fighting Illini are navy blue and orange.
Current Roster
The Illinois Fighting Illini roster for the 2020-21 season has 17 players.
| Position | JerseyNumber | Name | Height | Weight |
| G | 1 | Trent Frazier | 6-2 | 175 |
| F | 2 | Connor Serven | 6-9 | 215 |
| G/F | 3 | Jacob Grandison | 6-6 | 205 |
| F | 4 | Zach Griffith | 6-6 | 220 |
| G | 5 | Andre Curbelo | 6-1 | 175 |
| G | 10 | Edgar Padilla Jr. | 6-1 | 165 |
| G | 11 | Ayo Dosunmu | 6-5 | 200 |
| C | 12 | Brandon Lieb | 7-0 | 210 |
| F | 13 | Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk | 6-8 | 235 |
| F | 15 | Giorgi Bezhanishvili | 6-9 | 245 |
| G | 20 | Da'Monte Williams | 6-3 | 215 |
| C | 21 | Kofi Cockburn | 7-0 | 285 |
| G | 22 | Austin Hutcherson | 6-6 | 180 |
| G | 32 | Tyler Underwood | 6-2 | 180 |
| F | 33 | Coleman Hawkins | 6-10 | 215 |
| C | 34 | Jermaine Hamlin | 6-10 | 235 |
| G | 44 | Adam Miller | 6-3 | 180 |
Schedule
The Fighting Illini began their 2020-21 season with a huge 122-60 win against North Carolina A&T on November 25. They have a 27-game regular season that ends with an away game against Iowa on March 5, 2021. Currently, their record is 3-0.
The full schedule is available on the college website.
How to contact Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball?
Illinois Fighting Illini on Twitter: @IlliniMBB
Illinois Fighting Illini on Instagram: @illinimbb
