1975–76 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team

During the 1975-76 season, Illinois finished seventh in the Big Ten going went 14-13 overall. Lou Henson took over the team as head coach, replacing Gene Bartow after Bartow left Illinois to replace John Wooden at UCLA.

{{CBB roster/Header|year=1975|team=Illinois Fighting Illini|teamcolors=y|high_school=yes}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Nate|last=Williams|num=10|pos=G|ft=6|in=4|lbs=185|class=SR|rs=|home=Chicago, Illinois|high_school=Crane High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Ken|last=Ferdinand|num=12|pos=F|ft=6|in=6|lbs=200|class=FR|rs=|home=Urbana, Illinois|high_school=Urbana High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Dennis|last=Graff|num=20|pos=G|ft=6|in=1|lbs=170|class=SR|rs=|home=Gibson City, Illinois|high_school=Gibson City High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Larry|last=Lubin|num=23|pos=G|ft=6|in=0|lbs=175|class=FR|rs=|home=Glencoe, Illinois|high_school=New Trier High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Tom|last=Gerhardt|num=24|pos=F|ft=6|in=5|lbs=210|class=SO|rs=|home=Chicago, Illinois|high_school=De La Salle High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Otho|last=Tucker|num=33|pos=G|ft=6|in=6|lbs=200|class=SR|rs=y|home=Paris, Illinois|high_school=Paris High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Rick|last=Leighty|num=34|pos=G/F|ft=6|in=3|lbs=180|class=SO|rs=|home=Lawrenceville, Illinois|high_school=Lawrenceville High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Rich|last=Adams|num=40|pos=F|ft=6|in=8|lbs=200|class=SO|rs=|home=Cincinnati, Ohio|high_school=Colerain High School|link=y}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Tim|last=Bushell|num=42|pos=G/F|ft=6|in=6|lbs=195|class=JR|rs=|home=Lincoln, Illinois|high_school=Lincoln Community High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Audie|last=Matthews|num=44|pos=G/F|ft=6|in=5|lbs=180|class=SO|rs=|home=Chicago Heights, Illinois|high_school=Bloom High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Bill|last=Rucks|num=53|pos=C|ft=7|in=0|lbs=250|class=SR|rs=|home=Waukegan, Illinois|high_school=Waukegan High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Mike|last=Washington|num=54|pos=C|ft=6|in=8|lbs=195|class=SO|rs=|home=Chicago, Illinois|high_school=Morgan Park High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Footer

|head_coach=

• Lou Henson (New Mexico State University) (1st year)

|asst_coach=

• Tony Yates (University of Cincinnati) (2nd year)
• Les Wothke (Greenville University) (1st year)

|roster_url=https://fightingillini.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/1975-76

|accessdate=

}}

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

|-

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

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 11/28/1975

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = no

|nonconf = yes |away=yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1975|team=Nebraska Cornhuskers|title=Nebraska}}

| site_stadium = Nebraska Coliseum

| site_cityst = Lincoln, NE

| gamename =

| score = 60-58

| overtime =

| attend = 6,235

| record = 1 - 0 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/1/1975

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = no

|nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1975|team=Kent State Golden Flashes|title=Kent State}}

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 73-54

| overtime =

| attend = 5,007

| record = 2 - 0 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/4/1975

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = no

|nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1975|team=Missouri S&T Miners|title=Missouri-Rolla}}

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 67-65

| overtime =

| attend = 5,050

| record = 3 - 0 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/6/1975

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = no

|nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1975|team=New Mexico Lobos|title=New Mexico}}

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 67-66

| overtime = OT

| attend = 5,684

| record = 4 - 0 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/8/1976

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = no

|nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1975|team=North Dakota State Bison|title=North Dakota State}}

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 90-73

| overtime =

| attend = 3,016

| record = 5 - 0 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/11/1975

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = no

|nonconf = yes |away=yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1975|team=Furman Paladins|title=Furman}}

| site_stadium = Greenville, South Carolina

| site_cityst = Greenville, SC

| gamename =

| score = 73-75

| overtime =

| attend = 2,579

| record = 5 - 1 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/13/1975

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = no

|nonconf = yes |away=yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1975|team=USC Trojans|title=Southern California}}

| site_stadium = Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena

| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA

| gamename =

| score = 58-62

| overtime =

| attend = 4,458

| record = 5 - 2 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/20/1975

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = no

|nonconf = yes

| opponent = Arizona

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 66-60

| overtime =

| attend = 6,115

| record = 6 - 2 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/22/1975

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = no

|nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1975|team=Rice Owls|title=Rice}}

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 106-64

| overtime =

| attend = 6,192

| record = 7 - 2 }}

|-

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

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/3/1976

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = no

|nonconf = no |away=yes

| opponent = Iowa

| site_stadium = Iowa Field House

| site_cityst = Iowa City, IA

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 60-84

| overtime =

| attend = 13,171

| record = 7 - 3 |conference= 0 - 1 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/8/1976

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = no

|nonconf = no

|opprank=17|away=yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1975|team=Minnesota Golden Gophers|title=Minnesota}}

| site_stadium = Williams Arena

| site_cityst = Minneapolis, MN

| gamename =

| score = 68-77

| overtime =

| attend = 10,062

| record = 7 - 4 |conference= 0 - 2 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/10/1976

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = no

|nonconf = no

| opponent = Northwestern

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 74-69

| overtime =

| attend = 5,547

| record = 8 - 4 |conference= 1 - 2 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/12/1976

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = no

|nonconf = no

| opponent = Wisconsin

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 71-61

| overtime =

| attend = 6,968

| record = 9 - 4 |conference= 2 - 2 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/17/1976

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = no

|nonconf = no

|opprank=1

| opponent = Indiana

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 55-83

| overtime =

| attend = 16,128

| record = 9 - 5 |conference= 2 - 3 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/19/1976

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = no

|nonconf = no|away=yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1975|team=Ohio State Buckeyes|title=Ohio State}}

| site_stadium = St. John Arena

| site_cityst = Columbus, OH

| gamename =

| score = 63-64

| overtime =

| attend = 5,715

| record = 9 - 6 |conference= 2 - 4 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/24/1976

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = no

|nonconf = no

| opponent = Michigan State

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 63-74

| overtime =

| attend = 6,975

| record = 9 - 7 |conference= 2 - 5 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/26/1976

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = no

|nonconf = no

|opprank=17

| opponent = Michigan

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 76-75

| overtime =

| attend = 5,863

| record = 10 - 7 |conference= 3 - 5 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/31/1976

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = no

|nonconf = no

| opponent = Purdue

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 71-63

| overtime =

| attend = 8,467

| record = 11 - 7 |conference= 4 - 5 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/2/1976

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = no

|nonconf = no

| opponent = Minnesota

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 62-72

| overtime =

| attend = 7,317

| record = 11 - 8 |conference= 4 - 6 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/7/1976

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = no

|nonconf = no |away=yes

| opponent = Northwestern

| site_stadium = McGaw Memorial Hall

| site_cityst = Evanston, IL

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 61-55

| overtime =

| attend = 4,228

| record = 12 - 8 |conference= 5 - 6 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/9/1976

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = no

|nonconf = no |away=yes

| opponent = Wisconsin

| site_stadium = Wisconsin Field House

| site_cityst = Madison, WI

| gamename =

| score = 70-59

| overtime =

| attend = 3,883

| record = 13 - 8 |conference= 6 - 6 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/14/1976

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = no

|nonconf = no

|opprank=1|away=yes

| opponent = Indiana

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Bloomington, IN

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 48-58

| overtime =

| attend = 17,759

| record = 13 - 9 |conference= 6 - 7 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/16/1976

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = no

|nonconf = no

| opponent = Ohio State

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 91-73

| overtime =

| attend = 8,087

| record = 14 - 9 |conference= 7 - 7 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/21/1976

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = no

|nonconf = no |away=yes

| opponent = Michigan State

| site_stadium = Jenison Fieldhouse

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| gamename =

| score = 59-69

| overtime =

| attend = 4,227

| record = 14 - 10 |conference= 7 - 8 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/23/1976

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = no

|nonconf = no

|opprank=15|away=yes

| opponent = Michigan

| site_stadium = Crisler Center

| site_cityst = Ann Arbor, MI

| gamename =

| score = 75-90

| overtime =

| attend = 8,121

| record = 14 - 11 |conference= 7 - 9 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/28/1976

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = no

|nonconf = no |away=yes

| opponent = Purdue

| site_stadium = Mackey Arena

| site_cityst = West Lafayette, IN

| gamename =

| score = 62-81

| overtime =

| attend = 13,729

| record = 14 - 12 |conference= 7 - 10 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 3/6/1976

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = no

|nonconf = no

| opponent = Iowa

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 70-82

| overtime =

| attend = 10,028

| record = 14 - 13 |conference= 7 - 11 }}

|-

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

• Nate Williams
• 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=2013-10-08 |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 }}

{{main|1975–76 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings}}

{{Reflist}}

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

{{DEFAULTSORT:1975-76 Illinois Fighting Illini Men's Basketball Team}}

Illinois Fighting Illini

Category:Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball seasons

Category:1975 in sports in Illinois

Category:1976 in sports in Illinois