Illinois Basketball’s Surprising Rise: Are They the Next National Powerhouse?
Illinois basketball stands at an intriguing crossroad. Steeped in a rich tapestry of tradition and blessed with a robust winning culture, this program has carved out its niche as one of the more dependable forces in college hoops under Brad Underwood’s stewardship. As someone who proudly wears the Illini colors, I’m constantly reminded there’s a lot to celebrate here. Yet, if we’re keeping it real, there’s always that pesky green-eyed monster creeping in — watching other programs flex with regular deep tournament runs or snag the flashy 5-star recruits. It sparks a provocative thought: if you could snap your fingers and trade your allegiance to another college basketball team, how many would you truly consider swapping with, this very instant — not in the past, but right now? I took it upon myself to sift through this tantalizing quandary, weighing program legacies, consistent performance, coaching acumen, resources, and, of course, the fan fervor. Is the list long or surprisingly short? Let’s peel back the curtain and see where Illinois basketball genuinely ranks on the national spectrum.
Illinois basketball is in a great spot. Full of history, tradition, and a winning culture, the program has become one of the nation’s most consistent under Brad Underwood’s tenure. I love being an Illini fan.
But let’s be honest: even with a strong program, we all still look around sometimes at the college basketball landscape and feel a little envy. With certain teams always making deep tournament runs or consistently landing the big 5-star recruit, it can make even an ultra-proud Illini fan jealous. Which raises a fun hypothetical: how many college basketball programs would an Illini fan willingly swap programs with right now? Not in the past but in this very moment.
I don’t want to speak on behalf of all Illinois fans, but I’ve decided to tackle this question on my own. Here are the factors I used when making my decision: program history, consistency, current success, coaching, resources, and fan base. This isn’t about objective rankings; it’s about willingness as a fan. So what’s the number? Is it 20? 10? 5? Let’s find out.
The Obvious Yeses (The Blue Bloods)
Let’s start with the no-brainers. These are the true blue bloods of college basketball who remain relevant today. Some programs might be considered “blue bloods” historically, but aren’t currently in a stronger position than Illinois, so they don’t make this cut, but I will get into that later.
The programs I’d switch with without hesitation:
- Kansas
- Duke
- North Carolina
- Kentucky
- UConn
That’s five right off the bat. The combination of titles, program history, consistent success, and unlimited resources makes these schools hard to ignore.
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The “Probably” Group
Next up are the programs where the answer is most likely yes. These are teams consistently in the national mix with more recent success than Illinois. If you say you wouldn’t trade places with them, you’re probably ignoring results or haven’t watched college basketball recently. They include:
- Florida
- Houston
- Tennessee
- Auburn
- Alabama
- Gonzaga
That’s six more. Add them to the first group, and we’re at eleven programs.
The Reluctant Big Ten Choices
Contemplating which teams to place in this category was not fun. But if we’re being honest, there are Big Ten programs that Illini fans would swap with, even if it’s painful to admit. Just don’t tell them.
- Purdue: As much as I dislike saying it, Purdue belongs here. No national title yet, but consistent deep runs, stability, and Painter’s steady guidance make them hard to argue against. At least we can always hold their 16-seed loss over them, and that’s more memorable than a championship. Congratulations on your accomplishment, Purdue!
The debatable ones:
- Indiana: Historic program, massive fan base, and resources. But recent coaching hires and mediocrity make this tough. Brad > Indiana’s recent coaching carousel, no question.
- UCLA: Arguably the best history of a program in college basketball. But right now? Illinois is in a better place. Still, history and resources alone make this one worth mentioning in my opinion.
- Michigan State: Tom Izzo’s greatness makes them attractive, but his age raises questions. Once he’s gone, does MSU keep rolling or come back to earth? Long-term stability might actually lean toward Illinois.
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The Toss-Ups
Here’s where it gets murky. These are the programs I wouldn’t put in the “definitive yes” category, but you could argue either way, and I wouldn’t put up a big fight with you. They are 50/50 in my opinion, and maybe that is just my Illinois bias showing. Whatever it may be, here is the rest of the programs worth mentioning, broken down by conference:
- ACC: Louisville
- Big 12: Arizona, Texas Tech, Iowa State
- Big East: Creighton, Villanova
- SEC: After Auburn, Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, and Tennessee, whom I already mentioned in the previous categories, the SEC has a lot of inconsistent and mediocre programs, in my opinion. I’m taking Illinois over the rest of what the SEC has to offer.
- Big Ten: Other than the four Big Ten programs cited (Purdue, Indiana, UCLA, and Michigan State), the only 2 I would consider disputable would be Maryland and Michigan. Very comparable programs to Illinois, and if not, maybe slightly worse off.
The Final Number
I want to be clear: I love being an Illinois basketball fan. I’ll rep the Illini from November through April (if they are lucky enough to make it that far) every year. But this little thought experiment forces us to gauge how our program stacks up against the rest.
When you add it up, the number of programs I would undoubtedly swap places with is 12. There are several programs that one could argue for as well, most notably Indiana, UCLA, and Michigan State, that I would accept as a logical argument as well. However, out of the 362 Division I programs, having only 12 programs where I would undoubtedly trade places with is honestly a pretty great place to be. Not long ago, this list probably would’ve been two or three times as long. I think this hypothetical has made me more grateful, in actuality. Illinois basketball is stable, respected, and consistently relevant. Something a lot of programs can’t claim.
So the next time we grumble after a tough loss or question whether the program is truly elite, remember: if you had the option to switch jerseys with almost anyone else in college basketball, chances are you’d keep repping the orange and blue.
Now let me ask you: What’s your number? How many programs would you actually swap places with?
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