1989–90 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team

Coming off the Final Four season a year earlier, Illinois went 21-8 overall, 11-7 in the Big Ten in 1990. Kendall Gill, a senior, became the first player since Ken Norman in 1987 to average 20 points per game. Gill was named a First-Team All-American by UPI. Gill led the Big Ten in scoring and was a finalist for the John Wooden Player of the Year Award. He was the fifth overall pick in the NBA draft, going to the Charlotte Hornets.

{{CBB roster/Header|year=1989|team=Illinois Fighting Illini|teamcolors=y|high_school=yes}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Tim|last=Geers|num=3|pos=F|ft=6|in=5|lbs=195|class=FR|rs=|home=Chicago, Illinois|high_school=De La Salle High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Brooks|last=Taylor|num=4|pos=G|ft=6|in=4|lbs=170|class=FR|rs=|home=Chicago, Illinois|high_school=De La Salle High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=P.J.|last=Bowman|num=10|pos=G|ft=5|in=10|lbs=175|class=SR|rs=|home=Champaign, Illinois|high_school=Centennial High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Travis|last=Smith|num=12|pos=G|ft=6|in=1|lbs=175|class=SR|rs=|home=Ridgway, Illinois|high_school=Gallatin High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Kendall|last=Gill|num=13|pos=G|ft=6|in=5|lbs=195|class=SR|rs=|home=Matteson, Illinois|high_school=Rich Central High School|link=y|note=C}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Ken|last=Gibson|num=20|pos=G|ft=6|in=2|lbs=195|class=FR|rs=|home=Bloomington, Illinois|high_school=Bloomington High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Rodney|last=Jones|num=21|pos=F/C|ft=6|in=7|lbs=210|class=JR|rs=|home=Philadelphia, PA|high_school=West Philadelphia High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Larry|last=Smith|num=23|pos=G|ft=6|in=4|lbs=190|class=SR|cur_rs=yes|inj=y|home=Alton, Illinois|high_school=Alton High School|link=y|alt=Larry Smith (basketball, born 1968)}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Ervin|last=Small|num=24|pos=F|ft=6|in=7|lbs=222|class=SR|rs=|home=Chicago, Illinois|high_school=Simeon High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Deon|last=Thomas|num=25|pos=F|ft=6|in=8|lbs=200|class=FR|cur_rs=yes|home=Chicago, Illinois|high_school=Simeon High School|link=y}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Marcus|last=Liberty|num=30|pos=G|ft=6|in=8|lbs=210|class=JR|rs=|home=Chicago, Illinois|high_school=King High School|link=y}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Tom|last=Michael|num=32|pos=F|ft=6|in=8|lbs=190|class=FR|cur_rs=yes|home=Hoffman, Illinois|high_school=Carlyle High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Andy|last=Kaufmann|num=34|pos=F|ft=6|in=6|lbs=220|class=SO|rs=|home=Jacksonville, Illinois|high_school=Jacksonville High School|link=y}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Stephen|last=Bardo|num=35|pos=G/F|ft=6|in=6|lbs=200|class=SR|rs=|home=Carbondale, Illinois|high_school=Carbondale Community High School|link=y|note=C}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Matt|last=Schnaderbeck|num=40|pos=F|ft=6|in=5|lbs=190|class=SO|rs=|home=Des Plaines, Illinois|high_school=Maine West High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Brian|last=O'Connell|num=42|pos=G/F|ft=6|in=4|lbs=195|class=SR|rs=|home=Schaumburg, Illinois|high_school=Schaumburg High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Andy|last=Kpedi|num=50|pos=C|ft=6|in=7|lbs=215|class=JR|rs=|home=Warri, Nigeria|high_school=Kankakee Community College|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Footer

|head_coach=

• Lou Henson (New Mexico State University) (15th year)

|asst_coach=

• Jimmy Collins (New Mexico State) (7th year)
• Dick Nagy (Hardin-Simmons University) (11th year)
• Mark Coomes (New Mexico State) (5th year)

|roster_url=https://fightingillini.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/1989-90

|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 = 11/28/1989

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 8

|nonconf = yes

|away=yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1989|team=Ole Miss Rebels|title=Mississippi}}

| site_stadium = Tad Smith Coliseum

| site_cityst = Oxford, Mississippi

| gamename =

| score = 83-72

| overtime =

| attend = 8,439

| record = 1-0 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/2/1989

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 8

|nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1989|team=Chicago State Cougars|title=Chicago State}}

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, Illinois

| gamename =

| score = 82-62

| overtime =

| attend = 15,940

| record = 2-0 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/5/1989

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 7

|nonconf = yes

|opprank=25

|away=yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1989|team=Florida Gators|title=Florida}}

| site_stadium = O'Connell Center

| site_cityst = Gainesville, Florida

| gamename =

| score = 74-69

| overtime =

| attend = 11,929

| record = 3-0 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/8/1989

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 7

|nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1989|team=Indiana State Sycamores|title=Indiana State}}

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, Illinois

| gamename = Illini Classic

| score = 93-59

| overtime =

| attend = 16,111

| record = 4-0 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/9/1989

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 7

|nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1989|team=Metro State Roadrunners|title=Metro State}}

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign

| gamename = Illini Classic

| score = 96-62

| overtime =

| attend = 16,016

| record = 5-0 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/16/1989

|time = no

|tv = ABC

|rank = 5

|nonconf = yes

| opponent = Temple

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign

| gamename =

| score = 78-61

| overtime =

| attend = 16,034

| record = 6-0 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/20/1989

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 5

|nonconf = yes |opprank=4|neutral=yes

| opponent = Missouri

| site_stadium = St. Louis Arena

| site_cityst = St. Louis, Missouri

| gamename = Braggin' Rights

| score = 101-93

| overtime =

| attend = 18,398

| record =7-0 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/23/1989

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 5

|nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1989|team=Green Bay Phoenix|title=Wisconsin-Green Bay}}

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, Illinois

| gamename =

| score = 71-47

| overtime =

| attend = 15,530

| record = 8-0}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/29/1989

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 4

|nonconf = yes |neutral=yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1989|team=Grambling State Tigers|title=Grambling}}

| site_stadium = Rosemont Horizon

| site_cityst = Rosemont, Illinois

| gamename = Old Style Classic

| score = 97-73

| overtime =

| attend = 10,009

| record = 9-0}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/30/1989

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 4

|nonconf = yes |opprank=15|neutral=yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1989|team=Memphis Tigers|title=Memphis State}}

| site_stadium = Rosemont Horizon

| site_cityst = Rosemont, Illinois

| gamename = Old Style Classic

| score = 83-71

| overtime =

| attend = 13,103

| record = 10-0}}

|-

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

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/4/1990

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 4

|nonconf = no

| opponent = Wisconsin

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, Illinois

| gamename =

| score = 73-59

| overtime =

| attend = 15,636

| record = 11-0 |conference=1-0}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/6/1990

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 4

|nonconf = no

|away=yes

| opponent = Minnesota

| site_stadium = Williams Arena

| site_cityst = Minneapolis

| gamename =

| score = 74-91

| overtime =

| attend = 16,545

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

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/13/1990

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 8

|nonconf = no

|away=yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1989|team=Northwestern Wildcats|title=Northwestern}}

| site_stadium = Welsh-Ryan Arena

| site_cityst = Evanston, Illinois

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 85-78

| overtime =

| attend = 8,117

| record = 12-1 |conference=2-1}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/15/1990

|time = no

|tv = ESPN

|rank = 7

|nonconf = no |opprank=6

| opponent = Michigan

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, Illinois

| gamename =

| score = 70-74

| overtime =

| attend = 16,136

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

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/18/1990

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 7

|nonconf = no

| opponent = Michigan State

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, Illinois

| gamename =

| score = 73-64

| overtime =

| attend = 16,037

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

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/20/1990

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 7

|nonconf = no |opprank=24|away=yes

| opponent = Purdue

| site_stadium = Mackey Arena

| site_cityst = West Lafayette, Indiana

| gamename =

| score = 68-81

| overtime =

| attend = 14,123

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

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/25/1990

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 10

|nonconf = no|away=yes

| opponent = Wisconsin

| site_stadium = Wisconsin Field House

| site_cityst = Madison, Wisconsin

| gamename =

| score = 66-63

| overtime =

| attend = 11,666

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

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/27/1990

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 10

|nonconf = no

| opponent = Ohio State

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, Illinois

| gamename =

| score = 92-81

| overtime =

| attend = 16,154

| record = 15-3 |conference=5-3}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/29/1990

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 10

|nonconf = no|away=yes

| opponent = Iowa

| site_stadium = Carver–Hawkeye Arena

| site_cityst = Iowa City, Iowa

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 67-69

| overtime =

| attend = 15,500

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

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/4/1990

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 11

|nonconf = no |opprank=22

| opponent = Indiana

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, Illinois

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 70-65

| overtime =

| attend = 16,289

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

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/8/1990

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 12

|nonconf = no |opprank=17

| opponent = Minnesota

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, Illinois

| gamename =

| score = 99-72

| overtime =

| attend = 16,105

| record = 17-4 |conference=7-4}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/11/1990

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 12

|nonconf = no |opprank=7|away=yes

| opponent = Michigan

| site_stadium = Crisler Arena

| site_cityst = Ann Arbor, Michigan

| gamename =

| score = 79-93

| overtime =

| attend = 13,609

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

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/14/1990

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 15

|nonconf = no

| opponent = Northwestern

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, Illinois

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 88-75

| overtime =

| attend = 16,108

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

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/17/1990

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 15

|nonconf = no |opprank=21|away=yes

| opponent = Michigan State

| site_stadium = Breslin Student Events Center

| site_cityst = East Lansing, Michigan

| gamename =

| score = 63-70

| overtime =

| attend = 15,138

| record = 18-6 |conference=8-6}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/21/1990

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 19

|nonconf = no |opprank=9

| opponent = Purdue

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, Illinois

| gamename =

| score = 90-78

| overtime =

| attend = 16,218

| record = 19-6 |conference=9-6}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/21/1990

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 19

|nonconf = no|away=yes

| opponent = Ohio State

| site_stadium = St. John Arena

| site_cityst = Columbus, Ohio

| gamename =

| score = 80-86

| overtime =

| attend = 13,276

| record = 19-7 |conference=9-7}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 3/4/1990

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 18

|nonconf = no

| opponent = Iowa

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, Illinois

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 118-85

| overtime =

| attend = 16,219

| record = 20-7 |conference=10-7}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 3/11/1990

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 20

|nonconf = no|away=yes

| opponent = Indiana

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Bloomington, Indiana

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 69-63

| overtime =

| attend = 17,228

| record = 21-7 |conference=11-7}}

|-

!colspan=9 style="text-align: center; background:#DF4E38"|NCAA tournament

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 3/15/1990

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 18

|nonconf = yes|neutral=yes|seed=5 MW|oppseed=12 MW

| opponent = Dayton

| site_stadium = Frank Erwin Center

| site_cityst = Austin, Texas

| gamename = First Round

| score = 86-88

| overtime =

| attend = 11,578

| record = 21-8}}

|-

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

• Kendall Gill
• Consensus 2nd team All-American
• United Press International 1st team All-American
• Associated Press 3rd team All-American
• National Association of Basketball Coaches 3rd team All-American
• 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=2013-01-15 |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 }}
• Fighting Illini All-Century team (2005)
• Deon Thomas
• Fighting Illini All-Century team (2005)

• Midwest
• Dayton 88, Illinois 86

[http://www.databasesports.com/ncaab/tourney.htm?yr=1990 1990 NCAA Tournament]

{{main|1989–90 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings}}

{{Reflist}}

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

{{DEFAULTSORT:1989-90 Illinois Fighting Illini Men's Basketball Team}}

Illinois Fighting Illini

Category:Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball seasons

Illinois

Category:1989 in sports in Illinois

Brad