2000–01 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team
The 2000–01 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team, from the University of Illinois, played their season at Assembly Hall in Champaign and competed in the Big Ten Conference. Under first-year head coach Bill Self, the Illini finished 27–8 overall and 13–3 in the Big Ten, earning a share of the regular-season title with Michigan State. They were ranked in the Top 10 for most of the season (AP No. 4, Coaches No. 6).
In the Big Ten tournament, Illinois beat Purdue in the quarterfinals but lost to Indiana in the semifinals. They earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region. The Illini won easy games against Northwestern State and Charlotte, then defeated Kansas in the Sweet Sixteen to reach the Elite Eight, where they were eliminated by Arizona, the eventual national runner-up.
Key players included sophomore Frank Williams, who was the team's MVP and Big Ten Player of the Year, and junior Cory Bradford, who set an NCAA record by making a three-pointer in 88 consecutive games. Captains were Sergio McClain and Marcus Griffin. Assistants were Rob Judson, Norm Roberts, and Billy Gillispie.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 12:14 (CET).