Elite

In 1985, the March Madness bracket expanded to 64 teams. This is the modern era of college basketball. This is the 39th tournament since then. 

Four times in basically 40 years, Illinois has reached the Elite Eight.

1989

2001

2005

2024

They advanced to the Final Four in 1989 and 2005. Have a chance as an underdog to do it again this year on Easter Sunday.

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When looking at the list above, and deciding what years would be best to be at Illinois, you would pick being a Senior in 2005, right?

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For reference, in the modern era:

Missouri has made three Elite Eights and zero Final Fours.

Purdue has made three Elite Eights and zero Final Fours, but has a chance to change that today.

Wisconsin has made four Elite Eights and three Final Fours.

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Even if this run ends on Sunday, Illinois Basketball is back. 

This is not a promise or guarantee of anything that will happen beyond the next two weeks. But making the Elite Eight is definitively something. Hopefully the next Sweet 16 is not 19 years away. But without saying anything about future seasons, it's objectively true that Illinois Basketball made it out of the darkness and back into the light.