Underwood Era’s Most Shocking Nonconference Upsets That Changed Illini Basketball Forever

The Illinois basketball squad is shaping up for an electrifying 2025-26 nonconference season, locking in some eye-catching neutral site bouts with powerhouses like Alabama, UConn, Tennessee, and Missouri, plus a must-see home clash against Texas Tech. While it might not have the sheer star power or volume of matchups that Dan Hurley’s Huskies boast—pitting themselves against top-tier teams like BYU, Arizona, and Kansas—Brad Underwood’s crew is far from taking a backseat. These carefully chosen contests promise meaningful games that’ll test the Illini grit early on. Reflecting on the exciting upcoming schedule, I found myself revisiting some of the program’s standout nonconference triumphs under Underwood—those hallmark victories that truly defined his tenure so far. Here are five of the most impressive wins that immediately sprang to mind… LEARN MORE.

The addition of the games against UConn at Madison Square Garden and Texas Tech in Champaign got me thinking about the best nonconference wins Illinois has posted in the Underwood era. These five came to mind immediately …Going SEC heavy for the 2024-25 nonconference schedule wound up a mixed bag for Illinois. Not counting the exhibition loss to Mississippi, the Illini were 2-2 against perhaps the best conference (for one season) of all time, and beating Arkansas on Thanksgiving Day was better than a Braggin’ Rights win against Missouri. It was kind of a three-man show. Kasparas Jakucionis earned MVP honors with 23 points, six rebounds and four assists. Tomislav Ivisic outdueled his twin brother with 21 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and two steals (maybe he should have been MVP). And Kylan Boswell flashed some of the productivity that would become more consistent in the final weeks of the season with 18points, six assists and five rebounds.Sign up for our daily basketball newsletter hereIllinois has the makings of a solid nonconference schedule for the 2025-26 season, with neutral site games scheduled (so far) against Alabama, Connecticut, Tennessee and Missouri and a home game against Texas Tech. It’s not quite as robust as what Dan Hurley and the Huskies have pieced together with games against BYU, Arizona, Kansas, Florida and Texas (in addition to the game against the Illini), but Brad Underwood and Co. still have a strong nonconference slate.Illinois crushed UCLA in the second half of the Continental Tire Main Event matchup, turning a nine-point halftime deficit into a nine-point victory. Mostly because Terrence Shannon Jr. hardly missed. Shannon tied a program record with eight made three-pointers (on nine attempts) and scored a game-high 29 points to go with 10 rebounds and three assists. The Illini were strong defensively, too, and even though the Bruins’ Tyger Campbell and Jaime Jaquez Jr. combined for 42 points it took them 45 shots to do it.

No. 6 Illinois 83, No. 10 Duke 68

Dec. 8, 2020; Durham, N.C.

The only disappointment from this game is basically nobody was there to see it in person with COVID protocols in place for the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Or not so much of a challenge, apparently, with Ayo Dosunmu putting up 18 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in the Illini’s 15-point road win. Kofi Cockburn (13 points), Andre Curbelo (12), Giorgi Bezhanishvili (11), Trent Frazier (10), Da’Monte Williams (10) and Adam Miller (nine) also contributed in arguably the most balanced Illinois performance of all time.

No. 19 Illinois 79, No. 8 UCLA 70

Nov. 18, 2022; Las Vegas 

Welcome to “Good Morning, Illini Nation,” your daily dose of college basketball news from Illini beat writer and AP Top 25 voter Scott Richey. He’ll offer up insights every morning on Brad Underwood’s team and college basketball at large:

No. 17 Illinois 85, No. 2 Texas 78 (OT)

Dec. 6, 2022; New York

Five Florida Atlantic players in double figures — led by Vladislav Goldin’s 23 points on 10 of 15 shooting — could have been a problem. Would have been a problem if not for Shannon and Marcus Domask. The Illinois duo scored 33 points apiece and did so in exceedingly different ways, which basically summed up the Illini’s success in the 2023-24 season. Shannon was a force getting downhill and went 10 of 14 from the field and 11 of 13 at the free throw line, and Illinois’ second straight Jimmy V Classic win was the debut of Domask in “booty ball.”

No. 20 Illinois 98, No. 11 Florida Atlantic 89

Dec. 5, 2023; New York

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Illinois 90, No. 19 Arkansas 77

Nov. 28, 2024; Kansas City, Mo.

Shannon put on an absolute show at Madison Square Garden, scoring 12 of his 16 total points in overtime to lead Illinois to a Jimmy V Classic win against Texas. Credit for the Illini even getting a shot at overtime belonged to Jayden Epps, however, with the freshman guard scoring the final five points in regulation to force a tie. Matthew Mayer also had 21 points for Illinois, matching Texas’ Timmy Allen for the game high.