Last Time Illinois Men’s Basketball Won the National Championship

Illinois' Tomislav Ivisic takes a selfie with a fan following practice ahead of a national semifinal NCAA college basketball tournament game against UConn at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Indianapolis.
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
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Illinois is a proud basketball program in a section of the Midwest that truly loves the sport. But in 121 years of Illinois basketball, the Illini have never won the national championship.

All that could change this weekend. Illinois basketball odds suggest the Illini are favored to beat UConn and advance to the title game, where they’ll face the survivor of Saturday night’s Arizona vs. Michigan heavyweight showdown.

Last Time Illinois Men’s Basketball Played In the National Championship Game

Illinois has played in only one championship game. It was in 2005 when Deron Williams and the Illini lost to North Carolina. 

Last Time Illinois Men’s Basketball Made the Final Four

Illinois hasn’t made the Final Four since 2005.

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About the Author Read More @chaseakiddy

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.