The Illini got fans into the holiday spirit Monday night as they beat Missouri by a record 43 points. As we bask in the afterglow of a dominant performance entering the conference season, I thought it might be a nice Christmas gift to look back at some of our most satisfying wins against some of our other competitors.
Winning can be enjoyable for a lot of different reasons, so the list here is a mix of significant blowouts and tight games. For the seasoned veterans out there, feel free to point out any older games I’ve missed on the list.
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Merry Christmas and hope the team can add some new members in the new year.
Northwestern University: 96-66 (January 2, 2024)
Northwestern is not an all-time rivalry; the Purple Cats have made the NCAA Tournament just three times, with Illinois dominating the all-time series 144-46. Generally speaking, when the Illini beat Northwestern, it’s expected, and when they lose, it’s a big letdown. The last three years have been frustrating, splitting a season each time, but Northwestern’s fan base is so small that there’s concern that the school won’t really be able to get involved.
That said, this two-year-old game stands out because of its surroundings. A week ago, the Illini’s promising season took a turn for the worse with the announcement of charges against star player Terrence Shannon Jr., who is considering an indefinite suspension, a punishment that could last the entire year. In the first important game after the suspension, Marcus Domask led the team to score 30 points, somewhat calming the fans’ nerves and giving some hope for the rest of the season. Shannon then took legal action to overturn his suspension (and was ultimately found not guilty in court), and it turned into a very special March, with a Big Ten tournament title and an Elite Eight appearance.
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It’s not going to be easy for this Northwestern team either. They were a second round tournament team led by Boo Buie. Domask scored an efficient 32 points on just 15 shots and dished out six assists, kicking off the Illini’s trophy era.
best moments
Marcus Domask put the exclamation point on an alley-oop to Coleman Hawkins before pulling away from the starters (4:25).
Purdue University: 63-37 (January 5, 2020)
Purdue and Illinois historically hate Indiana far more than we hate each other, but over the past five years that relationship has grown increasingly acrimonious as these two teams have become two of the best teams in the Big Ten. Unfortunately for Illinois, Purdue has largely had the better results in this matchup during the Ed-Brayden Smith era. However, this 2019-20 game happened right before Purdue’s recent golden era. It’s been a disappointing season for Purdue, who was ranked high in the preseason but managed just a 16-15 record in a strong year in the Big Ten Conference.
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This game was significant because it was a turning point in the Brad Underwood era. Heading into the game, the Illini were 9-5 and 1-2 in the Big Ten. A third consecutive non-tournament season looks likely, and Underwood’s seat is about to get hot. However, the Illini jumped out to an 11-0 lead and never looked back. The blowout win was the start of a seven-game winning streak that would have put the Illini in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in seven years but for the coronavirus pandemic. They haven’t missed a game since.
Alan Griffin, who came off the bench, scored a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. The Illini’s defense held Purdue to just 25 percent shooting, the lowest mark in school history.
best moments
Andres Feliz grabbed an offensive rebound between four Boilermakers and found Kofi Cockburn for the rim. (0:30 mark)
Honorable mentions:
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In the same year, it defeated McGee 79-62 and achieved its seventh consecutive victory. This was Illinois’ only victory over Purdue University since the 2008-09 season.
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The 88-80 win last March ended a five-game losing streak against Purdue.
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Scored 71-67 points at Purdue in 1995-96. Hansen’s final year was a down year for the Illini, but they beat the No. 1 seed on the road.
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Wisconsin: Madison 71-70 (January 8, 2020)
This was the game immediately following the aforementioned Purdue win. Not only was it the start of the team’s seven-game winning streak, it also marked the end of a nine-year, 15-game losing streak and started a nine-game winning streak against the Badgers that was finally snapped last February. Ayo Dosunmu had his usual 18 points and six assists, including the Illini’s final five points.
best moments
With 46 seconds left, Ayo Dosunmu put on his skates and hit a nasty dagger three-pointer to give Illinois a four-point lead. (1:25) Giorgi Bezhanishvili scored bonus points by dancing on the Kohl Center floor after the win. (1 minute 42 seconds)
Honorable Mention
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TSJ and Marcus Domask combined for 60 points in a 93-87 victory in the 2024 Big Ten Tournament.
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Won 54-43 in the 2005 Big Ten Conference Championship.
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In 2002, Kirk Penny’s team, led by Devin Harris, won a laugh-out-loud 80-48.
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Michigan State: 81-68, No. 12 MSU (February 1, 2005)
Illinois was 22-0 and ranked No. 1 in the country, but Michigan State was only one game behind Illinois in the Big Ten standings and would also make the Final Four that year. The Breslin Center has always been a tough venue, but the Illini silenced the crowd early and held the lead throughout the game. Luther Hyde led the way with 22 points and five steals as any doubts about Big Ten supremacy were removed.
best moments
Luther Head broke through and dunked, giving himself an 8-0 scoring climax. (0:33 mark)
Honorable Mention
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With two clutch 3-pointers, including the iconic “This is not going to end well for Illinois” dagger in a 79-74 win at No. 9 Michigan State on February 5, 2019, Ayo is emerging as the best finisher in the game.
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Defeated No. 5 Michigan State 78-73 at home on College GameDay.
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Michigan State: 76-53, No. 2 Michigan State (March 2, 2021)
This is one of my personal favorites. Michigan State just lost one game this year, while Illinois lost All-American Ayo Dosunmu. Hunter Dickinson and Juwan Howard are the face of a Michigan team that’s easy to despise. Illinois got into Ann Arbor and completely shut out Michigan. Michigan State scored just 22 points in the first half and trailed by 11 at halftime, but things got worse in the second half as Trent Frazier got hot and Illinois extended its lead to 28 points in 10 minutes. Looking back at this game should also serve as a reminder to anyone who forgot how good first-year Andre Curbelo was, finishing with 17 points and 6 rebounds. Stadiums are empty due to the coronavirus pandemic, but even if fans are present, they leave early. Michigan State may have been crowned the regular season champion due to COVID technical issues, but the real champion was crowned that night (and then again in the Big Ten Tournament). Michigan’s Big Ten trio of Hunter Dickinson, Isaiah Livers and Franz Wagner combined for 15 points while shooting 21% from the field.
best moments
Trent Frazier dances and hits a 3-pointer to push the lead to 28, and Trollman Hawkins does a goofy “come here” finger off the bench (5:15)
Honorable Mention
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In the 1988-89 season, the team defeated Glenn Rice 89-73 in Ann Arbor. Beat Michigan twice this year and just failed to beat their all-important third time.
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Last year’s 93-73 win in Ann Arbor made it nine straight wins against Michigan. This year makes it No. 10, which will definitely make the list.
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Indiana: Bloomington 70-67 (March 5, 1989)
While Indiana was at the peak of Bob Knight’s power, the Flying Illini entered another conference hall and posted a huge road victory in a battle at the top of the Big Ten Conference. Indiana was ranked No. 3 nationally at the time, and it was the highest road win Illinois had ever had until Michigan won.
Indiana star Jay Edwards tied the game with a tough power shot with two seconds left, but then Nick Anderson hit perhaps the most iconic shot in Illinois history to win the game.
best moments
Ugh (2:30 mark).
Honorable mentions:
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In 2013, Tyler Griffey’s buzzer-beater beat No. 1 Indiana 74-72.
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Last year, Indiana suffered its worst home defeat in Indiana history, 94-69. Illinois led by 30 points in the first half heading into practice in the second half.
