1968–69 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team

In only his second season as the Head coach of the Fighting Illini, Harv Schmidt guided his basketball team to a high-point of an Associated Press ranking of number 4 by the beginning of January, 1969. Schmidt and his Illini won their first ten games of the season with the single biggest win occurring December 21, 1968, as they stopped the Houston Cougars' 60 game home winning streak, 97–84. After the win, the Illini, just two days short of two years after the original "Slush Fund" announcement, appeared to be back in their prime. During the season the Illini defeated a total of 4 top 20 teams, including a tenth ranked Ohio State in February. Like so many years before, the Illini's only losses came at the hands of the competition provided by the other teams within the Big Ten Conference. The team completed the season with only 5 losses, all coming within the league. The final totals were 19 wins overall with 9 of those wins coming within the conference. The team was led in scoring for the season by Dave Scholz, Greg Jackson, Mike Price and Jodie Harrison. Scholz would finish his senior season by being named 1st team All-American by the Helms Foundation, 3rd team All-American by the Associated Press and to the Converse honorable mention All-American team. The Fighting Illini would go on to finish the season with a 19-5 overall record and tied for 2nd place in the conference with a 9–5 record.

The 1968-69 team's starting lineup included Scholz and Fred Miller at the forward spots, Price and Harrison as guards and Jackson at center.

{{CBB roster/Header|year=1968|team=Illinois Fighting Illini|teamcolors=y|high_school=yes}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Rick|last=Howat|num=10|pos=G|ft=6|in=2|lbs=160|class=SO|rs=|home=Downers Grove, Illinois|high_school=Downers Grove North High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Bob|last=Windmiller|num=11|pos=G|ft=6|in=0|lbs=175|class=SO|rs=|home=Ossian, Indiana|high_school=Ossian High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Fred|last=Miller|num=14|pos=F|ft=6|in=4|lbs=195|class=SO|rs=|home=Pekin, Illinois|high_school=Pekin High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Mike|last=Price|num=15|pos=G/F|ft=6|in=3|lbs=195|class=JR|rs=|home=Indianapolis, Indiana|high_school=Arsenal Technical High School|link=y|alt=Mike Price (basketball)}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Brad|last=Richardson|num=20|pos=F|ft=6|in=4|lbs=210|class=SO|rs=|home=Olney, Illinois|high_school=East Richland High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Randy|last=Crews|num=30|pos=F|ft=6|in=5|lbs=220|class=JR|rs=|home=Kankakee, Illinois|high_school=Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Greg|last=Jackson|num=31|pos=C|ft=6|in=8|lbs=255|class=SO|rs=|home=Chicago, Illinois|high_school=St. Philip High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Les|last=Busboom|num=32|pos=G|ft=6|in=4|lbs=195|class=SR|rs=|home=Royal, Illinois|high_school=St. Joseph-Ogden High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Jodie|last=Harrison|num=33|pos=G|ft=6|in=3|lbs=195|class=SR|rs=|home=Streator, Illinois|high_school=Streator High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Denny|last=Pace|num=34|pos=G/F|ft=6|in=3|lbs=175|class=SR|rs=|home=Collinsville, Illinois|high_school=Collinsville High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Dave|last=Scholz|num=40|pos=F/C|ft=6|in=8|lbs=220|class=SR|rs=|home=Decatur, Illinois|high_school=Stephen Decatur High School|link=y|note=C}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Bob|last=Shapland|num=43|pos=G|ft=6|in=2|lbs=180|class=SO|rs=|home=Champaign, Illinois|high_school=Central High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Ron|last=Armbrust|num=44|pos=G|ft=6|in=1|lbs=180|class=JR|rs=|home=Lincoln, Illinois|high_school=Lincoln High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Footer

|head_coach=

• Harv Schmidt (University of Illinois) (2nd year)

|asst_coach=

• Dick Campbell (2nd year)
• Jim Wright (University of Illinois) (10th year)

|roster_url=https://fightingillini.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/1968-69

|accessdate=

}}

{{CBB schedule start|attend=yes|rank=yes|tv=no|gamehighs=no|time=no}}

|-

!colspan=12 style="background:#DF4E38; color:white;"| Non-Conference regular season

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/2/1968

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1968|team=Butler Bulldogs|title=Butler}}

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 105-66

| overtime =

| attend = 11,833

| record = 1-0}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/6/1968

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = yes

|away=yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1968|team=Creighton Bluejays|title=Creighton}}

| site_stadium = Omaha Civic Auditorium

| site_cityst = Omaha, NE

| gamename =

| score = 69-66

| overtime =

| attend = 9,240

| record = 2-0 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/9/1968

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1968|team=University of North Dakota|title=North Dakota}}

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 83-51

| overtime =

| attend = 11,795

| record = 3-0 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/14/1968

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = yes

| opponent = Iowa State

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 75-48

| overtime =

| attend = 10,051

| record = 4-0 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/17/1968

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = yes

| opponent = Ohio

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 95-82

| overtime =

| attend = 10,031

| record = 5-0 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/19/1968

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1968|team=Tulane Green Wave|title=Tulane}}

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 105-71

| overtime =

| attend = 10,252

| record = 6-0 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/21/1968

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = yes

|away=yes

|opprank=20

| opponent = {{cbb link|1968|team=Houston Cougars|title=Houston}}

| site_stadium = Hofheinz Pavilion

| site_cityst = Houston, TX

| gamename =

| score = 97-84

| overtime =

| attend = 5,200

| record = 7-0}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/27/1968

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 12

|nonconf = yes

|neutral=yes

| opponent = Creighton

| site_stadium = Miami Beach Convention Center

| site_cityst = Miami, FL

| gamename = Hurricane Classic

| score = 90-77

| overtime =

| attend = 2,093

| record = 8-0}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/28/1968

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 12

|nonconf = yes

|away=yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1968|team=Miami Hurricanes|title=Miami (FL)}}

| site_stadium = Miami Beach Convention Center

| site_cityst = Miami, FL

| gamename = Hurricane Classic

| score = 86-76

| overtime =

| attend = 2,486

| record = 9-0}}

|-

!colspan=9 style="background:#DF4E38; color:#FFFFFF;"|Big Ten regular season

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/4/1969

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 8

|nonconf = no

| opponent = {{cbb link|1968|team=Minnesota Golden Gophers|title=Minnesota}}

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 80-58

| overtime =

| attend = 16,128

| record = 10-0 |conference=1-0}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/7/1969

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 4

|nonconf = no

|away=yes

| opponent = Purdue

| site_stadium = Mackey Arena

| site_cityst = West Lafayette, IN

| gamename =

| score = 84-98

| overtime =

| attend = 14,123

| record = 10-1 |conference=1-1}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/11/1969

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 4

|nonconf = no

|away=yes

|opprank=12

| opponent = {{cbb link|1968|team=Northwestern Wildcats|title=Northwestern}}

| site_stadium = McGaw Memorial Hall

| site_cityst = Evanston, IL

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 82-77

| overtime = OT

| attend = 8,388

| record = 11-1 |conference=2-1}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/25/1969

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 8

|nonconf = yes

|opprank=15

|neutral=yes

| opponent = Notre Dame

| site_stadium = Chicago Stadium

| site_cityst = Chicago, IL

| gamename =

| score = 83-86

| overtime =

| attend = 18,000

| record = 12-1 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/28/1969

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 7

|nonconf = no

|away=yes

|opprank=12

| opponent = {{cbb link|1968|team=Ohio State Buckeyes|title=Ohio State}}

| site_stadium = St. John Arena

| site_cityst = Columbus, OH

| gamename =

| score = 67-76

| overtime =

| attend = 13,374

| record = 12-2 |conference=2-2}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/1/1969

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 7

|nonconf = no

| opponent = Wisconsin

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 86-73

| overtime =

| attend = 15,740

| record = 13-2 |conference=3-2}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/8/1969

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 10

|nonconf = no

| opponent = Iowa

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 98-69

| overtime =

| attend = 16,128

| record = 14-2 |conference=4-2}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/11/1969

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 10

|nonconf = no

|away=yes

| opponent = Michigan

| site_stadium = Crisler Arena

| site_cityst = Ann Arbor, MI

| gamename =

| score = 87-92

| overtime =

| attend = 8,113

| record = 14-3 |conference=4-3}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/15/1969

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 10

|nonconf = no

|away=yes

| opponent = Michigan State

| site_stadium = Jenison Fieldhouse

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| gamename =

| score = 70-75

| overtime =

| attend = 7,020

| record = 14-4 |conference=4-4}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/18/1969

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 19

|nonconf = no

|opprank=10

| opponent = Ohio State

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 73-57

| overtime =

| attend = 16,128

| record = 15-4 |conference=5-4}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/23/1969

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 19

|nonconf = no

| opponent = Michigan

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 100-92

| overtime =

| attend = 16,128

| record = 16-4 |conference=6-4}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/25/1969

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 15

|nonconf = no

|away=yes

| opponent = Iowa

| site_stadium = Iowa Field House

| site_cityst = Iowa City, IA

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 53-74

| overtime =

| attend = 13,700

| record = 16-5 |conference=6-5}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 3/1/1969

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 15

|nonconf = no

|away=yes

| opponent = Indiana

| site_stadium = New Fieldhouse

| site_cityst = Bloomington, IN

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 77-64

| overtime =

| attend = 5,425

| record = 17-5 |conference=7-5}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 3/4/1969

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 20

|nonconf = no

| opponent = Michigan State

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 71-57

| overtime =

| attend = 14,912

| record = 18-5 |conference=8-5}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 3/8/1969

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 20

|nonconf = no

| opponent = Northwestern

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 78-68

| overtime =

| attend = 16,128

| record = 19-5 |conference=9-5}}

|-

{{CBB schedule end||timezone=Central Time}}

• Dave Scholz
• Team Most Valuable Player {{Cite web |url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/05_mbb_guide_06.pdf |title=List of MVPs |access-date=2013-12-30 |archive-date=2014-10-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030004049/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/05_mbb_guide_06.pdf |url-status=dead }}
• 1st team All-American (Helms)
• 3rd team All-American (AP)
• Honorable Mention All-American (Converse)

*Kuberski transferred to Bradley to finish his eligibility due to the "Slush-Fund" scandal of 1966.

*Jones transferred to Memphis State to finish his eligibility due to the "Slush-Fund" scandal of 1966.

{{main|1968–69 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1968-69 Illinois Fighting Illini Men's Basketball Team}}

Illinois Fighting Illini

Category:Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball seasons

Category:1968 in sports in Illinois

Category:1969 in sports in Illinois