By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

April 1, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

(Editor's Note: We consider Brad to be the pre-eminent Illini insider and are proud that he is a co-owner of IlliniGuys. He will be in Indianapolis this weekend as one of the very select few who were also in the front row for the Illini's amazing run 21 years ago.)

In 2005 I was just starting out on this journey covering the Illini and internet sites couldn’t get media credentials for any tournament games and even some road games. Derrick Burson was still the Illinois Basketball SID way back then, and when we looked back the other day, we’re the only two guys left standing from back then. Joey Biggs made a Final Four with Oklahoma State in 2003 and Orlando Antigua has been there with Kentucky, winning a title in 2012. But there are few people that have been around the program, or have covered anything like this, still remaining. Loren Tate was on the beat back then, but he doesn’t travel anymore. Hopefully he can make the trip to Indy.

There was an electricity to the team in 2005 that has been impossible to match since, ranked number 1 the entire season, the epic comeback against Arizona in the Elite 8 and the chance to win it all on Monday night were things nobody will ever forget. They had the route of Indy, Chicago and St. Louis that spurred them on and veteran rock stars like Dee Brown and Deron Williams.

This team has not had the same pressure that the 2005 team has had all season long. They have bounced around the top 15 all season and were not a Final Four or title favorite. They didn’t get the perfect path, even though it was available, and instead had to travel to Greenville, Houston and then back home to Indianapolis. But they have shown a similar personality as that 2005 team. They have fun. They have stars in David Mirkovic, Andrej Stojakovic and Keaton Wagler, although they are younger. Stojakovic is media trained and savvy, and brings great energy and athleticism, the quirky Mirkovic has more fun, on and off the court, than most players, and Wagler looks as if he is as cool as the other side of the pillow at all times.

But Final Four week brings new challenges. These players, as well as the coaches (and even the media) are bombarded with ticket requests, media spots, sponsorships, etc…..oh yeah, and also practices. It becomes a grind. An enjoyable grind, no doubt, but a grind nonetheless. The most important thing is to enjoy it.

For most fans you may only see a few of these in your lifetime. This is the 3rd for me, 1989, 2005 and now 2026, and the only Final Four memories seem to be injuries, missed block outs, missed 3’s and fouls on James Augustine.

But it’s so much more than that. The energy is different. The stakes are higher. The lights are brighter. For the Illini players, they will just go out and ball. There is little pressure on them. They weren’t supposed to beat Houston. They were not supposed to be in Indianapolis. In 2005, they were expected to win. They were the favorites, the team of destiny.

I’ve coached and played in a ton of massively important games, but nothing on this level. And to be honest, I never enjoyed it enough. Winning a national championship was awesome, coaching a state championship team was awesome, but it was always back to the grind the next day. And looking back, I was never in the moment enough. I always took for granted there would be another game, another opportunity, another title.

Obviously, this is a much larger scale but the premise is the same. Enjoy the moments, savor them, stay where your feet are and don’t leave anything on the table. At the end of the day, you don’t want to have to get a ‘No regrets’ tattoo to prove you have no regrets.

I don’t think this group will have any regrets whether they are cutting down the nets on Monday night or not. They will bring their best effort and let the chips fall where they may. It may be the first time in my life where the Illini have entered the Final four with ‘nothing to lose’, but they certainly have something to win.

The Illini have cemented themselves and their legacy by making the Final Four. Now they can reach new heights with two more wins in Indianapolis. Just have fun.