Illinois has good depth, but the Fightin' Illini have had a tough time getting point guard Frank Williams, a partial qualifier last season, to buy into the system. That has caused them to be inconsistent. He seems to be fighting himself and to have an agenda that is somewhat different than the team's. The coaching staff has had to really encourage him to play with the team.
ROSTER
Seed, Region and Bid: 4, East, At-large Total NCAA Tournament Bids: 20 NCAA Tournament Record: 23-20 (.535) Final Four Appearances: 4 (1989, 1952, 1951, 1949) NCAA Tournament Championships: 0 Best NCAA Tournament Finish: National semifinals (1989, 1952, 1951, 1949) Final ESPN/USA Today ranking: 23 Final Asscoiated Press ranking: 21 Final Ratings Percentage Index: 23 Final Sagarin Computer Ranking: 15 RECORD VS. RANKED TEAMS (5-4) Nov. 30 -- Lost to No. 15 Duke, 72-69 Dec. 4 -- Lost to No. 23 Maryland, 69-67 Dec. 5 -- Beat Seton Hall, 72-61 Dec. 18 -- Beat No. 6 Kansas, 84-70 Jan. 6 -- Beat No. 18 Ohio State, 80-77 Jan. 12 -- Lost to Purdue, 69-66 Feb. 22 -- Beat No. 14 Indiana, 87-63 Mar. 10 -- Beat No. 13 Indiana, 72-69 Mar. 12 -- Lost to No. 4 Michigan State, 76-61 (Opponents ranking reflects ranking on game day) TOURNAMENT HISTORY Overall Record: 23-20 (.535) Final Four Appearances: 4 (1949, 1951, 1952, 1989) 1998--Fifth seed in West Region Defeated South Alabama in first round, 64-51 Lost to Maryland in second round, 67-61 1997--Sixth seed in Southeast Region Defeated USC in first round, 90-77 Lost to Chattanooga in second round, 75-63 1995--Eleventh seed in in East Region Lost to Tulsa in first round, 68-62 1994--Eighth seed in Midwest Region Lost to Georgetown in first round, 84-77 1993--Sixth seed in West Region Defeated Long Beach State in first round, 75-72 Lost to Vanderbilt in second round, 85-68 1990--Fifth seed in Midwest Region Lost to Dayton in first round, 88-86 1989--First seed in Midwest Region Defeated McNeese State in first round, 77-71 Defeated Ball State in second round, 72-60 Defeated Louisville in regional semifinal, 83-69 Defeated Syracuse in regional final, 89-86 Lost to Michigan in National Semifinal, 83-81 1988--Third seed in Southeast Region Defeated Texas-San Antonio in first round, 81-72 Lost to Villanova in second round, 66-63 1987--Third seed in Southeast Region Lost to Austin Peay in first round, 68-67 1986--Fourth seed in Southeast Region Defeated Fairfield in first round, 75-51 Lost to Alabama in second round, 58-56 1985--Third seed in Southeast Region Defeated Northeastern in first round, 76-57 Defeated Georgia in second round, 74-58 Lost to Georgia Tech in regional semifinal, 61-53 1984--Second seed in Mideast Region Defeated Villanova in second round, 64-56 Defeated Maryland in regional semifinal, 72-70 Lost to Kentucky in regional final, 54-51 1983--Seventh seed in West Region Lost to Utah in first round, 52-49 1981--Fourth seed in West Region Defeated Wyoming in second round, 67-65 Lost to Kansas State in regional semifinal, 57-52 1963--Mideast Region Defeated Bowling Green in regional semifinal, 70-67 Lost to Loyola of Illinois in regional final, 79-64 1952--East Region Defeated Dayton in regional semifinal, 80-61 Defeated Duquesne in regional final, 74-68 Lost to St. John's in National Semifinal, 61-59 Defeated Santa Clara for National Third Place, 67-64 1951--East Region Defeated Columbia in regional semifinal, 79-71 Defeated North Carolina State in regional final, 84-70 Lost to Kentucky in National Semifinal, 76-74 Defeated Oklahoma State for National Third Place, 61-46 1949--Eastern Regionals Defeated Yale in regional semifinal, 71-67 Lost to Kentucky in regional final, 76-47 Defeated Oregon State for National Third Place, 57-53 1942--Eastern Regionals Lost to Kentucky in regional semifinal, 46-44 Lost to Penn State for regional third place, 41-34 |
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