Monday night, the Illini put their fans in the holiday spirit with a record-breaking 43-point Braggin’ Rights victory over Mizzou. As we bask in the afterglow of the dominant performance heading into the conference season, I thought it might be a nice early Christmas gift to look back at some of the most satisfying wins against some of our other rivals.
Wins can be enjoyable for a lot of different reasons, so there is a mix of blowouts and tight games with significance in the list here. For the seasoned vets out there, feel free to point out any older games I am missing from the list.
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Merry Christmas, and hopefully this team can add a few more to the list in the New Year.
Northwestern: 96-66 (Jan. 2, 2024)
Northwestern is not a rivalry filled with rich history; The Purple Kitties have only made the NCAA tournament three times, and Illinois has dominated the all-time series 144-46. Generally, when the Illini beat Northwestern it is expected, and when they lose it is a major disappointment. The last three years have been frustrating, with a season split each time, but the Northwestern fan base is too small and worried about skool to actually rub it in.
That said, this game from two years ago stands out due to the circumstances around it. The Illini’s promising season had been turned upside down a week earlier by the announcement of charges against star Terrence Shannon Jr., who was looking at an indefinite suspension that would probably last all year. In their first high major game since the suspension, Marcus Domask led the team to a 30-point blowout to calm the fan’s nerves a bit and give some hope for the rest of the season. Shannon then went through the legal system to get his suspension overturned (and eventually was found innocent of all charges when he went to court), and it turned into a pretty special March, with a Big Ten Tournament Championship and an Elite Eight appearance.
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This Northwestern team was no pushover either; they were a second-round tourney team led by Boo Buie. Domask scored a ridiculously efficient 32 points on just 15 field goal attempts, as well as racking up six assists, and the booty ball era of the Illini was launched.
Best Moment
Marcus Domask to Coleman Hawkins alley oop to put the exclamation point on the performance right before pulling the starters (4:25 mark).
Purdue: 63-37 (Jan. 5, 2020)
Purdue and Illinois both historically hate Indiana much more than we hate each other, but over the past five years has heated up as these two teams have been the best two programs in the Big Ten. Unfortunately for Illinois, Purdue has largely gotten the better of this matchup in the Edey-Braden Smith era. However, this 2019-20 match up comes right before Purdue’s recent golden age. It was a disappointing season for a Purdue team that was ranked preseason but limped to a 16-15 record in a strong Big Ten year.
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This game is significant though, as it stands out as the turning point of the Brad Underwood era. Heading into the game, The Illini were 9-5 and 1-2 in the Big Ten. It looked like a third straight non-tournament season was possible, and Underwood’s seat was on the verge of getting hot. However, the Illini jumped out to an 11-0 lead and never looked back. The blowout victory was the start of a seven-game winning streak that propelled the Illini to what-would-have-been their first tournament appearance in first NCAA Tournament appearance in seven years, if not for COVID. They have not missed the tournament since.
Alan Griffin led the way off the bench with a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double. The Illini defense held Purdue to 25% from the field, their lowest recorded mark in school history.
Best Moment
Andres Feliz grabbing an offensive rebound between four Boilermakers and finding Kofi Cockburn for the rim rocka. (0:30 mark)
Honorable Mention:
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79-62 win in Mackey that same year during the seven-game win streak, Illinois’ only win at Purdue since 2008-09.
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88-80 win last March to end a 5-game losing streak against Purdue.
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71-67 at Purdue in 1995-96. It was a down year for the Illini in Henson’s last year, but they beat a 1-seed on the road.
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Wisconsin: 71-70 in Madison (Jan. 8, 2020)
This is the game immediately following the Purdue win mentioned above. Beyond being the start of the massive seven-game winning streak, it marked the end of a 9-year, 15-game losing streak to the Badgers and started a nine-game winning streak against the Badgers that was finally broken last February. Ayo Dosunmu, as he so often did, led the way with 18 points and 6 assists, including the last five points for the Illini.
Best Moment
Ayo Dosunmu putting obnoxious on skates for the dagger three with 46 seconds to go to put Illinois up by four. (1:25 mark) Bonus points for Giorgi Bezhanishvili dancing on the Kohl Center floor after the victory. (1:42 mark)
Honorable Mention
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TSJ and Marcus Domask combining for 60 in the 2024 Big Ten Championship game, 93-87.
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54-43 win in the 2005 Big Ten Championship game.
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80-48 laugher in 2002 over a decent Kirk Penny, Devin Harris-led team.
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Michigan State: 81-68 at No. 12 MSU (Feb. 1, 2005)
Illinois was 22-0 and ranked No. 1 in the country at the time, but Michigan State was only one game behind the Illini in the Big Ten standings at the time and would also end up being a Final Four team that year. The Breslin Center is always a tough place to play, but the Illini quieted the crowd early and led throughout the game. Luther Head led the way with 22 points and 5 steals, and any doubts about Big Ten supremacy at the time were eliminated.
Best Moment
Luther Head with the breakaway dunk to cap an 8-0 scoring run for himself. (0:33 mark)
Honorable Mention
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79-74 at #9 MSU February 5th, 2019, Ayo on his path to becoming the best closer in the game with two clutch threes including the iconic “This won’t end well for Illinois” dagger.
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78-73 over #5 Michigan State with College Gameday in the house.
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Michigan: 76-53 at No. 2 Michigan (March 2, 2021)
This one is my personal favorite on the list. Michigan had just lost once all year to this point, and Illinois was without their All-American Ayo Dosunmu. Hunter Dickinson and Juwan Howard were the faces of a Michigan team that was just incredibly easy to despise. And Illinois went into Ann Arbor and completely blew the doors off of Michigan. Michigan only scored 22 first half points and was down by 11 at half, yet things somehow got worse for them in the second half, as Trent Frazier got hot and Illinois built the lead up to 28 by the 10-minute mark. Looking back on this game should also remind anyone who forgot that freshman year Andre Curbelo was really good, as he went for 17 points and 6 rebounds. It was an empty stadium due to covid, but even if fans were there, they all would have left early. Michigan may have been given the regular season title on a covid technicality, but the true champion was crowned that night (and then again in the Big Ten Tournament). Michigan’s All Big-Ten trio of Hunter Dickinson, Isaiah Livers, and Franz Wagner combined for 15 points on 21% shooting.
Best Moment
Trent Frazier dancing and splashing a three to go up by 28, with Trollman Hawkins giving a goonish “come here” finger on the bench (5:15 mark)
Honorable Mention
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89-73 win in Ann Arbor over Glen Rice in 1988-89. Beat Michigan twice this year, just couldn’t quite beat them the most important third time.
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93-73 win in Ann Arbor last year, the 9th straight win against Michigan. Make it 10 this year and that will certainly make the list.
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Indiana: 70-67 in Bloomington (March 5, 1989)
With Indiana at the peak of their Bob Knight powers, the Flyin’ Illini went into the other Assembly Hall and grabbed a massive road win in the fight at the top of the Big Ten. Indiana was ranked third in the country at the time, the highest road win the Illinois had ever gotten, until the Michigan win above.
Indiana star Jay Edwards hit a huge, tough shot with two seconds left to tie the game, but then Nick Anderson made perhaps the most iconic shot in Illinois history to win it.
Best Moment
Duh (2:30 mark).
Honorable Mention:
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Tyler Griffey buzzer beater to beat #1 ranked Indiana 74-72 in 2013.
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94-69 last year in the worst beatdown at home in Indiana history. Illinois led by 30 in the first half, as the second half turned into practice.
