Although Illinois enters the Sweet Sixteen as a No. 4 seed in the Midwest Regional along with powerhouse Kansas (31-3) and the surprising Oregon Ducks (25-8), Illinois may easily be the most dangerous and feared team in this region.
After a preseason top-five ranking, Illinois got off to a sluggish start in the Big Ten regular season, falling to a 4-5 conference record.
Injuries plagued the Fighting Illini during that stretch, as the loss of senior forward Lucas Johnson and senior forward Damir Krupalija's drastically reduced the depth and leadership on the floor.
However, midway through the season both Johnson and Krupalija returned, and results quickly followed. Illinois went on to win its last eight regular-season games en route to a share of the Big Ten title.
The Illini looked impressive in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament, but fell to eventual Big Ten champ Ohio State in the semifinals.
Throughout the year, Illinois has had a balanced scoring attack between junior point guard Frank Williams (15.8 ppg), junior forward Brian Cook (13.4 ppg), senior guard Cory Bradford (11.6 ppg) and senior forward Robert Archibald (10.7 ppg). With four players averaging double digits, the Fighting Illini are extremely dangerous with countless weapons.
Few teams have the inside/outside combination that Illinois possesses. With big men Cook and Archibald dominating the block down low, three-point specialists Bradford (38 percent) and junior guard Sean Harrington (40 percent) create headaches for opposing coaches.
But the player who makes Illinois a Final Four-caliber team is Williams. Considered by many to be a Player of the Year candidate, the 6'3\ guard has struggled at times throughout the season, but has played extremely well when his team has needed him of late in the NCAA Tournament.
Averaging more than 20 points per game in the first two rounds, Williams looks to take his team back to the Elite Eight, where it was knocked out last year by Arizona.
Additionally, Cook's versatility both inside and out makes him one of the toughest people in the nation to guard. Besides averaging more than 13 points per game, he also averages nearly seven rebounds per game.
However, what is most impressive about this 6'10"" forward is his 38 percent three-point shooting. As a threat behind the arc, he creates drastic matchup problems for opposing coaches.
As important as the balanced scoring attack is to Illinois, scrappy defensive specialist Johnson is one of the Illini's most valuable assets. Regarded as one of the best defenders throughout the Big Ten and around the country, Johnson is also the emotional leader of the team.
Although he only averages a little better than four points per game, his hustle and determination are immeasurable. Upon his return, the Illini returned to a form similar to that of last year's Elite Eight team.
Second-year Head Coach Bill Self leads the Fighting Illini. Self came from Tulsa to replace Lon Krueger and has taken over the program, looking to take Illinois to its first Final Four since 1989.
The 1989 Illini squad was one of the best teams in the history of the program. Names like Kendall Gill and Nick Anderson brought the program close to the precipice of glory, advancing to the national semifinals.
However, the Illini were denied by the Michigan Wolverines in a 89-87 heartstopper as the Wolverines marched on to a National Championship.
As for this year's squad, it has come close to reaching the '89 team's dream, falling in the Elite Eight to Arizona last year.
Williams said he wants one more shot to redeem Illinois' recent close calls.
""This is my last year and I want to go out with a bang,"" Williams said. ""Guys have been talking about this for a long time, and now this time has come.""
This weekend will be a difficult test for Williams and the Illini, but with the way they have been playing and with the games in Madison, only an hour north of the Illinois border, the home-court crowd could provide them with the advantage needed to propel them into the Final Four.
