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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584 IlliniGuys with the Illini at the Final Four

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4.3.26 - Final Four Show

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583 - Jay Price & Brian Barnhart Talk Illini Final Four

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582 - Illini Assistant Coach Geoff Alexander

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581 Illini Legend Eddie Johnson Talks Illini Final Four

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580 Illini Getting Ready for Final Four

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579 Illini are Final Four Bound

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578 Illini vs Iowa Preview

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3.27.26 - Illini 2nd EE in 3 Years & IlliniGal CeCe Parchment

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576 - Illini Earn 2nd Elite 8 Appearance in 3 Years

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575 Sweet 16 - Illini Bust Up VCU 76-55

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3.20.26 March Madness and Matt Brown on NIL

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574 Mirk & the Illini Roll Over Penn 105-70

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573 The 2026 NCAA Tournament Show

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572 Illini Lose Big Lead vs Badgers

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