Column: Before Illinois Steps Into Boston's Garden, They've Already Won

By Larry Smith/Co-Host & Executive Producer, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

March 28, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

(Editor's Note: IlliniGuys co-founder Larry Smith reported from a dozen Final Fours and has covered more than 30 NCAA championships during his decades-long career with CNN Sports and Turner Sports)

2005 seems like an eternity ago.

The Cubs hadn’t won a World Series in almost a century.

Martha Stewart was in prison.

Louisville was in the Final Four representing not the ACC, not the Big East, but Conference USA.

And the Illinois basketball team traveled to games with . . .

 

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