A recent AP Top 25 basketball preseason poll placed Illinois at a very respectable Number 11. A key reason for the Fighting Illini’s popularity is center Kofi Cockburn. The Jamaican-born junior assured the Fighting Illini a spot in the preseason poll. If the popular All-American had not decided to spend another year in Champaign, the Illini might not have earned the AP fans favor.
But, Puerto Rican-born point guard, Andre Curbelo, also has earned the adoration of the fans. Curbelo is on the rise, having been added to the Bob Cousy Award watch list; the watch list includes all of the top college point guards in the country.
Former Illini player, Ayo Dosunmu, now playing for the Chicago Bulls, is a Bob Cousy Award winner. Moreover, Illinois, North Carolina, and the University of Connecticut are the only three universities with multiple winners.
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The Fighting Illini Keep Ranking
For 21 consecutive weeks throughout 2020 and 2021, Illinois made it into the top all-time top 10 in the AP poll. That ties the Illini with Virginia for the seventh-longest run in the country.
However, the Gonzaga Bulldogs are the all-time favorite, making it into the last 96 polls. By comparison, the Illini’s longest run is 43 weeks, taking place back in the 1950s.
If Illinois maintains a ranking throughout most of the upcoming season, the Illini could make it onto the all-time five favorite lists. During the 1980s, the Illini had two separate streaks in which they ranked for 37 weeks straight.
This year, Illinois just missed starting off a second straight year as a top-10 preseason team. But, given that both Purdue and Michigan and Purdue were also ranked high in the Big Ten preseason poll, the Illinois position is not a surprise.
Will the Big Ten continue to Reign Supreme?
The status of the Big Ten as the country’s top conference could be under attack in 2021 and 2022. The Southeastern Conference also had five teams ranked in the poll. The Atlantic Coast Conference also placed four teams in the first poll of 2021. But along with Illinois, Rutgers, Michigan State, and Indiana could boost the Big Ten to the as the season unfolds.
Cast Your Bet for the Illini
State lawmakers recently passed a measure that would allow sports bettors to place bets in-person at a sportsbook. Also, bets can only be placed on the final score of in-state college team games. As soon as Governor J.B. Pritzker signs it, the measure goes into effect.
However, the state’s Division I athletic directors opposed the measure citing concerns about players’ safety and mental health. Josh Whitman, University of Illinois athletic director, was among the biggest opponents of the measure.
Also, the measure set March 5 as the deadline for the Illinois Gaming Board to open online registration to sports bettors. Currently, sports bettors need to sign up in-person at a brick-and-mortar sportsbook. This is great news for NCAA basketball fans. However, the in-person requirement won’t be lifted unless the state gaming board issues one online-only sportsbook license for $20 million. So far, no online-only license has been issued.
Illinois’ Best Three Season Basketball Teams
Over the last two seasons, the Fighting Illini has been the Big Ten’s most successful basketball team in conference play with a cumulative record of 29-11 for a win percentage of .725.
Michigan came in second over the past two seasons with 24-13 and .648. Iowa came in third at 25-15 (.625) and Wisconsin took fourth-place with 24-16 and .600.
The Long History of Illini Dominance
The best three-year runs in Illini history go way, way back, over a century. Surprisingly, even with a perfect record going into the 2021b- 2022 season, the current team can barely take a spot in University of Illinois history.
We proudly present the best-of-the-best top three University of Illinois basketball teams over three consecutive seasons.
Topping the list are teams that played over 100 years ago, during the 1915, 1916, and 1917 seasons. If they were still alive, the players and coach Ralph Jones would certainly be proud of their longstanding record. Coach Jones’ teams won 31-5 for a .861 win percentage.
Taking the number two spot are the Illini playing in the 1951, 1952, and 1953 seasons under Coach Harry Combes. Those teams took the Big Ten by storm by 39-7, with a win of .848 percent.
The boys who didn’t go to war during the years 1941, 1942, and 1943 help to keep spirits up in the homeland. Coached by Doug Mills, the Illini scored 32-7, for a win rate of .821 percent.
As you can see, the Fighting Illini have been winners for a very long time.
