1999–2000 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team

In 2000, for the third time in four seasons, Illinois advanced to the NCAA tournament, this time as a #4 seed. After defeating Penn in the opening round, the Illini season ended with a defeat to eventual national runner-up Florida. The Fighting Illini spent much of the season ranked in the Top 25, climbing as high as No. 15 in late December. An early three-game losing streak in Big Ten play put the Illini in a hole to start league play at 1–3. But, Illinois went on to win 10 of the last 12 league games before finishing second in the Big Ten tournament. During the February 19th game vs. Northwestern, the Illini would set an NCAA record fewest points allowed in the first half of a game by giving up only 6 points.[http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/2015/DivI.pdf NCAA Division I record book pg. 5] Cory Bradford earned second-team All-Big Ten honors after leading Illinois in scoring and the Big Ten in three-point field goals. Forward Brian Cook was named Co-Freshman of the Year in the conference and earned All-Tournament honors with strong play in the Big Ten tournament.

{{CBB roster/Header|year=1999|team=Illinois Fighting Illini|teamcolors=y|high_school=yes}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Victor|last=Chukwudebe|num=00|pos=F|ft=6|in=7|lbs=230|class=SR|rs=|home=Springfield, Illinois|high_school=Lanphier High School|link=n|note=C}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Gareth|last=Breunlin|num=3|pos=G|ft=6|in=0|lbs=180|class=FR|cur_rs=yes|home=La Grange, Illinois|high_school=Lyons Township High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Nate|last=Mast|num=5|pos=G|ft=5|in=11|lbs=160|class=JR|rs=|home=Champaign, Illinois|high_school=Champaign Central High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Joe|last=Cross|num=12|pos=G|ft=6|in=2|lbs=205|class=JR|rs=|home=Carbondale, Illinois|high_school=Carbondale Community High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Cory|last=Bradford|num=13|pos=G|ft=6|in=3|lbs=200|class=SO|rs=Yes|home=Memphis, Tennessee|high_school=Raleigh Egypt High School|link=y}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Robert|last=Archibald|num=21|pos=F/C|ft=6|in=11|lbs=230|class=SO|rs=|home=Ballwin, Missouri|high_school=Lafayette High School|link=y}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Lucas|last=Johnson|num=22|pos=F|ft=6|in=8|lbs=215|class=SO|rs=|home=Des Plaines, Illinois|high_school=Maine West High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Sean|last=Harrington|num=24|pos=G|ft=6|in=3|lbs=185|class=FR|rs=|home=Bartlett, Illinois|high_school=Elgin High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Jerrance|last=Howard|num=25|pos=G|ft=6|in=1|lbs=180|class=FR|cur_rs=yes|home=Peoria, Illinois|high_school=Peoria High School|link=y}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Frank|last=Williams|num=30|pos=G|ft=6|in=3|lbs=200|class=FR|rs=yes|home=Peoria, Illinois|high_school=Manual High School|link=y|alt=Frank Williams (basketball)}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Cleotis|last=Brown|num=32|pos=F|ft=6|in=5|lbs=220|class=SR|rs=|home=Pittsview, Alabama|high_school=Russell County High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Damir|last=Krupalija|num=33|pos=F|ft=6|in=9|lbs=215|class=SO|rs=|home=Rockford, Illinois|high_school=Rockford Boylan High School|link=y}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Brian|last=Cook|num=34|pos=F|ft=6|in=10|lbs=220|class=FR|rs=|home=Lincoln, Illinois|high_school=Lincoln Community High School|link=y|alt=Brian Cook (basketball)}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Sergio|last=McClain|num=40|pos=F|ft=6|in=4|lbs=220|class=JR|rs=|home=Peoria, Illinois|high_school=Manual High School|link=y|note=}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Clayton|last=Thomas|num=42|pos=F|ft=6|in=6|lbs=210|class=FR|rs=|home=Elgin, Illinois|high_school=Larkin High School|link=n|note=W}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Marcus|last=Griffin|num=52|pos=F|ft=6|in=9|lbs=235|class=JR|rs=|home=Peoria, Illinois|high_school=Manual High School/Lincoln College|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Footer

|head_coach=

• Lon Kruger (Kansas State) (4th year)

|asst_coach=

• Rob Judson (University of Illinois) (4th year)
• Robert McCullum (Seminole State) (4th year)
• Steve Henson (Kansas State) (3rd year)

|roster_url=https://fightingillini.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/1999-00

|accessdate=

}}

{{CBB schedule start|attend=yes|rank=yes|tv=|gamehighs=|time=}}

|-

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

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 11/19/1999

|time =

|tv = ESPN+

|rank = 17

|nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1999|team=Western Illinois Leathernecks|title=Western Illinois}}

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 76–53

| overtime =

| attend = 14,421

| record = 1–0 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 11/22/1999

|time =

|tv = MVCN

|rank = 15

|nonconf = yes

|away=yes

| opponent ={{cbb link|1999|team=Bradley Braves|title=Bradley}}

| site_stadium = Carver Arena

| site_cityst = Peoria, IL

| gamename =

| score = 72–62

| overtime =

| attend = 11,430

| record = 2–0 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 11/30/1999

|time =

|tv = ESPN

|rank = 16

|nonconf = yes

|neutral=yes

|opprank=17

| opponent = Duke

| site_stadium = United Center

| site_cityst = Chicago, IL

| gamename = Big Ten-ACC Challenge

| score = 69–72

| overtime =

| attend = 20,143

| record = 2–1 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/4/1999

|time =

|tv = MASN

|rank = 16

|nonconf = yes

|neutral=yes

| opponent = Maryland

| site_stadium = Verizon Center

| site_cityst = Washington, D.C.

| gamename = BB&T Classic Basketball Tournament

| score = 67–69

| overtime =

| attend = 13,536

| record = 2–2 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/5/1999

|time =

|tv =

|rank = 16

|nonconf = yes

|neutral=yes

| opponent = Seton Hall

| site_stadium = Verizon Center

| site_cityst = Washington, D.C.

| gamename = BB&T Classic Basketball Tournament

| score = 72–61

| overtime =

| attend = 13,703

| record = 3–2 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/8/1999

|time =

|tv =

|rank =

|nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1999|team=Texas–Pan American Broncs|title=Texas-Pan American}}

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 98–61

| overtime =

| attend = 11,705

| record = 4–2 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/11/1999

|time =

|tv = ESPN2

|rank = 22

|nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1999|team=Kansas State Wildcats|title=Kansas State}}

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 81–48

| overtime =

| attend = 14,022

| record = 5–2 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/18/1999

|time =

|tv = ESPN

|rank = 20

|nonconf = yes

|neutral=yes

|opprank=8

| opponent = Kansas

| site_stadium = United Center

| site_cityst = Chicago, IL

| gamename =

| score = 84–70

| overtime =

| attend = 16,714

| record = 6–2}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/21/1999

|time =

|tv = ESPN+

|rank = 15

|nonconf = yes

|neutral=yes

| opponent = Missouri

| site_stadium = Scottrade Center

| site_cityst = St. Louis, MO

| gamename = Braggin' Rights

| score = 72–78

| overtime =

| attend = 22,484

| record = 6–3}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/28/1999

|time =

|tv =

|rank = 20

|nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1999|team=Bethune-Cookman Wildcats|title=Bethune-Cookman}}

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 97–47

| overtime =

| attend = 12,070

| record = 7–3}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/30/1999

|time =

|tv =

|rank = 20

|nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1999|team=Loyola Ramblers|title=Loyola (Chicago)}}

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 107–71

| overtime =

| attend = 12,462

| record = 8–3}}

|-

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

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/6/2000

|time =

|tv = ESPN

|rank = 19

|nonconf =

|opprank=13

| opponent = Ohio State

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 80–77

| overtime =

| attend = 13,756

| record = 9–3

|conference=1–0 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/8/2000

|time =

|tv = Raycom

|rank = 19

|nonconf =

|away=yes

| opponent = Wisconsin

| site_stadium = Kohl Center

| site_cityst = Madison, WI

| gamename =

| score = 59–63

| overtime =

| attend = 17,142

| record = 9–4

|conference=1–1 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/12/2000

|time =

|tv = ESPN2

|rank = 22

|nonconf =

| opponent = Purdue

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 66–69

| overtime =

| attend = 15,473

| record = 9–5

|conference=1–2 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/16/2000

|time =

|tv = CBS

|rank = 22

|nonconf =

|away=yes

| opponent = Michigan

| site_stadium = Crisler Arena

| site_cityst = Ann Arbor, MI

| gamename =

| score =91–95

| overtime = ot

| attend = 11,367

| record = 9–6

|conference=1–3 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/22/2000

|time =

|tv = ESPN+

|rank =

|nonconf =

| opponent = {{cbb link|1999|team=Penn State Nittany Lions|title=Penn State}}

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 87–76

| overtime =

| attend = 16,038

| record = 10–6

|conference=2–3 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/26/2000

|time =

|tv = ESPN+

|rank =

|nonconf =

|away=yes

| opponent = Iowa

| site_stadium = Carver–Hawkeye Arena

| site_cityst = Iowa City, IA

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 69–58

| overtime =

| attend = 15,500

| record = 11–6

|conference=3–3 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/30/2000

|time =

|tv = CBS

|rank =

|nonconf =

|away=yes

|opprank=9

| opponent = Michigan State

| site_stadium = Breslin Student Events Center

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| gamename =

| score = 66–91

| overtime =

| attend = 14,659

| record = 11–7

|conference=3–4 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/2/2000

|time =

|tv = ESPN+

|rank =

|nonconf =

| opponent = {{cbb link|1999|team=Minnesota Golden Gophers|title=Minnesota}}

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 73–59

| overtime =

| attend = 12,977

| record = 12–7

|conference=4–4 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/6/2000

|time =

|tv = ESPN+

|rank =

|nonconf =

|away=yes

| opponent = Penn State

| site_stadium = Bryce Jordan Center

| site_cityst = University Park, PA

| gamename =

| score = 51–50

| overtime =

| attend = 13,001

| record = 13–7

|conference=5–4 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/9/2000

|time =

|tv =

|rank =

|nonconf =

| opponent = Michigan

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score =75–59

| overtime =

| attend = 15,539

| record = 14–7

|conference=6–4 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/12/2000

|time =

|tv = IowaSports

|rank =

|nonconf =

| opponent = Iowa

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 78–50

| overtime =

| attend = 16,450

| record = 15–7

|conference=7–4 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/17/2000

|time =

|tv = ESPN

|rank =

|nonconf =

|away=yes

| opponent = Minnesota

| site_stadium = Williams Arena

| site_cityst = Minneapolis, MN

| gamename =

| score = 89–80

| overtime =

| attend = 13,795

| record = 16–7

|conference=8–4 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/19/2000

|time =

|tv = ESPN+

|rank =

|nonconf =

|away=yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1999|team=Northwestern Wildcats|title=Northwestern}}

| site_stadium = Welsh-Ryan Arena

| site_cityst = Evanston, IL

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 63–30

| overtime =

| attend = 8,117

| record = 17–7

|conference=9–4 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/22/2000

|time =

|tv = ESPN

|rank =

|nonconf =

|opprank=16

| opponent = Indiana

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 87–63

| overtime =

| attend = 16,450

| record = 18–7

|conference=10–4 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/27/2000

|time = 4:00 pm

|tv = CBS

|rank =

|nonconf =

|away=yes

|opprank=6

| opponent = Ohio State

| site_stadium = Value City Arena

| site_cityst = Columbus, OH

| gamename =

| score = 51–64

| overtime =

| attend = 19,100

| record = 18–8

|conference=10–5 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 3/4/2000

|time =

|tv = ESPN+

|rank = 25

|nonconf =

| opponent = Northwestern

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 73–44

| overtime =

| attend = 16,450

| record = 19–8

|conference=11–5 }}

|-

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

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 3/10/2000

|time =

|tv = ESPN2

|rank = 21

|neutral=yes

|opprank=13

|oppseed=5

|seed=4

| opponent = Indiana

| site_stadium = United Center

| site_cityst = Chicago, IL

| gamename = Quarterfinals

| score = 72–69

| overtime =

| attend = 21,141

| record = 20–8}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 3/11/2000

|time = 2:30 pm

|tv = CBS

|rank = 21

|neutral=yes

|oppseed=9

|seed=4

| opponent = Penn State

| site_stadium = United Center

| site_cityst = Chicago, IL

| gamename = Semifinals

| score = 94–84

| overtime =

| attend = 22,011

| record = 21–8}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 3/12/2000

|time = 4:00 pm

|tv = CBS

|rank = 21

|neutral=yes

|opprank=5

|oppseed=2

|seed=4

| opponent = Michigan State

| site_stadium = United Center

| site_cityst = Chicago, IL

| gamename = Championship

| score = 61–76

| overtime =

| attend = 19,663

| record = 21–9}}

|-

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

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 3/17/2000

|time =

|tv = CBS

|rank = 21

|seed=4E

|oppseed=13E

|neutral=yes

| opponent = Penn

| site_stadium = Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum

| site_cityst = Winston-Salem, NC

| gamename = First Round

| score = 68–58

| overtime =

| attend = 14,252

| record = 22–9}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 3/19/2000

|time =

|tv = CBS

|neutral=yes

|rank = 21

|seed=4E

|oppseed=5E

| opponent = Florida

| site_stadium = Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum

| site_cityst = Winston-Salem, NC

| gamename = Second Round

| score = 76–93

| overtime =

| attend = 14,252

| record = 22–10}}

|-

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

• East regional
• Illinois 68, Pennsylvania 58
• Florida 93, Illinois 76

[http://www.databasesports.com/ncaab/tourney.htm?yr=2000 2000 NCAA Tournament]

• Frank Williams
• Fighting Illini All-Century team (2005)
• Brian Cook
• Big Ten Freshman of the Year
• Fighting Illini All-Century team (2005)
• Cory Bradford
• 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 }}

{{main|1999–2000 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings}}

{{Reflist}}

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

{{DEFAULTSORT:1999-2000 Illinois Fighting Illini Men's Basketball Team}}

Illinois Fighting Illini

Category:Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball seasons

Illinois

Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team

Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team