2000–01 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team

American college basketball season March 2026 August 2023 Basketball 2000–01 Illinois Fighting Illini 2000–01 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team.jpg 300px Big Ten Conference Big Ten 6 4 27–8 13–3 Bill Self 1st 5th 1st 1st Rob Judson Norm Roberts Billy Gillispie Sergio McClain Marcus Griffin Frank Williams Assembly Hall Big Ten Regular Season Co-Champions NCAA tournament Elite Eight The 2000–01 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team represented the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in the 2000–01 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by first year head coach Bill Self, the Illini played their home games at Assembly Hall in Champaign, Illinois and were members of the Big Ten Conference. They finished the season with a record of 27–8, 13–3 in Big Ten play to win a share of the Big Ten regular season title with Michigan State. They lost in the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament to Indiana. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region. They advanced to the Elite Eight before losing to Arizona. Regular season In May 2000, Lon Kruger left Illinois to become head coach of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks. Bill Self was named Illinois’ 15th head men’s basketball coach on June 9, 2000.http://www.cbsnews.com/news/illini-hires-self-as-hoops-coach/ Illini Hires Self As Hoops Coach CBS News June 9, 2000 2016-07-06 Self came to Illinois from Tulsa where he had led the Golden Hurricane to consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, including a 32–5 record and Tournament run to the Elite Eight in 2000. Self ’s first season at Illinois was memorable. The Illini were ranked in the Top 10 the entire season and tied for the Big Ten Championship with Michigan State. The Illini defeated Purdue in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament but fell to Indiana in the semifinals. The Illini received an at-large as a No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region of the NCAA Tournament. Easy wins over Northwestern Statehttps://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/boxscores/2001-03-16-illinois.html Northwestern State vs. Illinois Box Score, March 16, 2001 College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com 2016-07-06 and Charlottehttp://ncaa-basketball-tournament.pointafter.com/l/271/2001-Illinois-vs-Charlotte-Round-of-32 2001 Illinois vs. Charlotte Round of 32 ncaa-basketball-tournament.pointafter.com 2016-07-06March 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes led to a trip to the Sweet Sixteen. The Illini defeated Kansas in the Sweet Sixteen to advance to the Elite Eight.https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/boxscores/2001-03-23-illinois.html Kansas vs. Illinois Box Score, March 23, 2001 College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com 2016-07-06 However, the Illini run ended in the Elite Eight to eventual national runner-up Arizona, the third meeting between the two schools on the season.http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/scores101/101084/101084347.htm NCAA Men's Basketball - Arizona vs. Illinois usatoday30.usatoday.com 2016-07-06 Sophomore Frank Williams became the first Illini player to earn Big Ten Player of the Year honors since 1967 and was named to several postseason All-America squads. Junior Cory Bradford set an NCAA record by making a three-point field goal in 88 consecutive games. Roster 2000 Illinois Fighting Illini y yes Brett Melton 00 G 6 5 195 FR Mahomet, Illinois Mahomet-Seymour High School n Nate Mast 5 G 5 11 170 SR Champaign, Illinois Champaign Central High School n Joe Cross 12 G 6 2 200 SR Carbondale, Illinois Carbondale Community High School n Cory Bradford 13 G 6 3 200 JR Yes Memphis, Tennessee Raleigh Egypt High School y Robert Archibald 21 F/C 6 11 250 JR Ballwin, Missouri Lafayette High School y Lucas Johnson 22 F 6 8 230 JR Des Plaines, Illinois Maine West High School n Sean Harrington 24 G 6 3 185 SO Bartlett, Illinois Elgin High School n Jerrance Howard 25 G 6 1 190 FR yes Peoria, Illinois Peoria High School y Frank Williams 30 G 6 3 212 SO yes Peoria, Illinois Manual High School y Frank Williams (basketball) Damir Krupalija 33 F 6 9 230 JR Rockford, Illinois Rockford Boylan High School y Brian Cook 34 F 6 10 240 SO Lincoln, Illinois Lincoln Community High School y Brian Cook (basketball) Sergio McClain 40 F 6 4 230 SR Peoria, Illinois Manual High School y C Clayton Thomas 42 F 6 6 220 SO Elgin, Illinois Larkin High School n W Nick Smith 45 C 7 2 240 FR yes Valrico, Florida Bloomingdale High School n Marcus Griffin 52 F 6 9 235 SR Peoria, Illinois Manual High School/Lincoln College n C Bill Self (Oklahoma State) (1st year) Rob Judson (University of Illinois) (5th year) Billy Gillispie (Southwest Texas State) (1st year) Norm Roberts (Queens College) (1st year) https://fightingillini.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/2000-01 Schedule and results yes yes no no no |- !colspan=12 style="background:#Illinois Fighting Illini 1; color:#Illinois Fighting Illini 2;"|Exhibition Nov 6, 2000 6:40 pm yes Athletes in Action Assembly Hall Champaign, IL 91-56 Nov 10, 2000 7:00 pm yes NBC Thunder Assembly Hall Champaign, IL 76-57 |- !colspan=12 style="background:#Illinois Fighting Illini 1; color:#Illinois Fighting Illini 2;"|Non-conference regular season 11/17/2000 8 yes 2000 Maine Black Bears Maine Assembly Hall Champaign, IL 86–57 13,044 1–0 11/20/2000 8 yes yes 2000 UNLV Runnin' Rebels UNLV Lahaina Civic Center Lahaina, HI Maui Invitational Tournament 74–69 2,500 2–0 11/21/2000 8 yes yes Maryland 6 Lahaina Civic Center Lahaina, HI Maui Invitational Tournament 90–80 2,500 3–0 11/22/2000 8 yes yes Arizona 1 Lahaina Civic Center Lahaina, HI Maui Invitational Tournament Championship 76–79 2,500 3–1 11/26/2000 8 yes 2000 Texas Southern Tigers Texas Southern Assembly Hall Champaign, IL 86–67 12,970 4–1 11/28/2000 9 yes yes Duke 1 Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, NC Big Ten-ACC Challenge 77–78 17,966 4–2 12/2/2000 9 yes yes 2000 Kansas State Wildcats Kansas State Bramlage Coliseum Manhattan, KS 76–56 6,415 5–2 12/6/2000 9 yes 2000 Milwaukee Panthers Wisconsin-Milwaukee Assembly Hall Champaign, IL 85–44 12,312 6–2 12/9/2000 2:00 CBS 9 yes 2000 Seton Hall Pirates Seton Hall 7 Assembly Hall Champaign, IL 87–79 16,683 7–2 12/16/2000 5 yes yes Arizona 7 United Center Chicago, IL 81–73 21,885 8–2 12/21/2000 5 yes yes Missouri Scottrade Center St. Louis, MO Braggin' Rights 86–81 OT 22,089 9–2 12/23/2000 5 yes yes Texas Frank Erwin Center Austin, TX 64–72 11,916 9–3 12/29/2000 9 yes yes 2000 UIC Flames Illinois-Chicago Rosemont Horizon Rosemont, IL 77–64 9,152 10–3 |- !colspan=9 style="background:#Illinois Fighting Illini 1"|Big Ten regular season 1/3/2001 9 2000 Minnesota Golden Gophers Minnesota Assembly Hall Champaign, IL 80–64 13,840 11–3 1–0 1/6/2001 9 Ohio State Assembly Hall Champaign, IL 83–68 16,683 12–3 2–0 1/11/2001 7 yes Iowa Carver–Hawkeye Arena Iowa City, IA Rivalry 62–78 15,500 12–4 2–1 1/13/2001 7 Michigan Assembly Hall Champaign, IL 80–51 16,683 13–4 3–1 1/17/2001 11 yes 2000 Northwestern Wildcats Northwestern Welsh-Ryan Arena Evanston, IL Rivalry 63–49 8,117 14–4 4–1 1/20/2001 11 Penn State Assembly Hall Champaign, IL 92–60 16,683 15–4 5–1 1/25/2001 7 yes Michigan Crisler Arena Ann Arbor, MI 55–51 11,092 16–4 6–1 1/31/2001 6 yes Penn State Bryce Jordan Center University Park, PA 95–98 OT 8,953 16–5 6–2 2/3/2001 6 2000 Northwestern Wildcats Northwestern Assembly Hall Champaign, IL Rivalry 84–59 16,683 17–5 7–2 2/6/2001 7 Michigan State 4 Assembly Hall Champaign, IL 77–66 16,683 18–5 8–2 2/10/2001 7 yes 2000 Purdue Boilermakers Purdue Mackey Arena West Lafayette, IN 82–61 14,123 19–5 9–2 2/13/2001 4 Wisconsin 19 Assembly Hall Champaign, IL 68–67 16,683 20–5 10–2 2/17/2001 4 yes Indiana Assembly Hall Bloomington, IN Rivalry 67–61 17,460 21–5 11–2 2/22/2001 3 yes Ohio State Value City Arena Columbus, OH 61–63 19,200 21–6 11–3 2/24/2001 3 Iowa Assembly Hall Champaign, IL Rivalry 89–63 16,683 22–6 12–3 3/4/2001 4:00 CBS 5 yes Minnesota Williams Arena Minneapolis, MN 67–59 14,329 23–6 13–3 |- !colspan=9 style="background:#Illinois Fighting Illini 1"|Big Ten tournament 3/9/2001 4 1 yes Purdue 8 United Center Chicago, IL quarterfinals 83–66 22,679 24–6 3/10/2001 CBS 4 1 yes Indiana 4 United Center Chicago, IL semifinals 56–58 23,418 24–7 |- !colspan=9 style="background:#Illinois Fighting Illini 1"|NCAA tournament 3/16/2001 CBS yes yes 4 1 MW Northwestern State 16 MW University of Dayton Arena Dayton, OH First Round 96–54 13,007 25–7 3/18/2001 CBS 4 yes 1 MW yes Charlotte 9 MW University of Dayton Arena Dayton, OH Second Round 79–61 13,159 26–7 3/23/2001 CBS 4 yes yes 1 MW Kansas 12 4 MW Alamodome San Antonio, TX Sweet Sixteen 80–64 28,962 27–7 3/25/2001 CBS 4 1 MW yes yes Arizona 5 2 MW Alamodome San Antonio, TX Elite Eight 81–87 30,212 27–8 Central Time Sourcehttps://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/illinois/2001.html 2000-01 Illinois Fighting Illini Roster and Stats Player stats PlayerGames Played2 pt. Field Goals3 pt. Field GoalsFree ThrowsReboundsAssistsBlocksStealsPointsFrank Williamshttp://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2009-10_Guide05.pdf Season Stats pg. 125 2011-03-18 2011-07-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20110708212650/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2009-10_Guide05.pdf dead 3412939133126148967508Brian Cookhttp://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2009-10_Guide05.pdf Season Stats pg. 125 2011-03-18 2011-07-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20110708212650/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2009-10_Guide05.pdf dead 351192869212434521391Marcus Griffinhttp://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2009-10_Guide05.pdf Season Stats pg. 125 2011-03-18 2011-07-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20110708212650/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2009-10_Guide05.pdf dead 34154077203344429385Cory Bradfordhttp://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2009-10_Guide05.pdf Season Stats pg. 125 2011-03-18 2011-07-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20110708212650/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2009-10_Guide05.pdf dead 354172478963323345Sergio McClainhttp://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2009-10_Guide05.pdf Season Stats pg. 125 2011-03-18 2011-07-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20110708212650/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2009-10_Guide05.pdf dead 35691869194102746261Robert Archibaldhttp://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2009-10_Guide05.pdf Season Stats pg. 125 2011-03-18 2011-07-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20110708212650/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2009-10_Guide05.pdf dead 3477090154222612244Sean Harringtonhttp://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2009-10_Guide05.pdf Season Stats pg. 125 2011-03-18 2011-07-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20110708212650/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2009-10_Guide05.pdf dead 351051274941127200Lucas Johnsonhttp://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2009-10_Guide05.pdf Season Stats pg. 125 2011-03-18 2011-07-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20110708212650/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2009-10_Guide05.pdf dead 3530186211659520176Damir Krupalijahttp://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2009-10_Guide05.pdf Season Stats pg. 125 2011-03-18 2011-07-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20110708212650/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2009-10_Guide05.pdf dead 273673610518416129Brett Melton 287852371343Joe Cross 175221210418Nate Mast 201411220115Jerrance Howard 254029101010 Awards and honors Frank Williams Big Ten Player of the Year Chicago Tribune Silver Basketball award Wooden 1st team All-American National Association of Basketball Coaches 2nd team All-American Associated Press 3rd team All-American Team Most Valuable Player http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/05_mbb_guide_06.pdf List of MVPs 2013-01-15 2014-10-30 https://web.archive.org/web/20141030004049/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/05_mbb_guide_06.pdf dead Fighting Illini All-Century team (2005) Brian Cook Fighting Illini All-Century team (2005) Cory Bradford Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American Rankings 2000–01 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings + Ranking movementLegend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking. (RV) Received votes but unranked. (NR) Not ranked. Poll Pre Wk 2 Wk 3 Wk 4 Wk 5 Wk 6 Wk 7 Wk 8 Wk 9 Wk 10 Wk 11 Wk 12 Wk 13 Wk 14 Wk 15 Wk 16 Wk 17 Final APhttps://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/illinois/2001-schedule.html 2000-01 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results 8 8 8 9 9 5 9 9 7 11 7 6 7 4 3 5 4 4 References Illinois Fighting Illini Category:Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball seasons Illinois Category:2000 in sports in Illinois Category:2001 in sports in Illinois