Illinois Fighting Illini Trivia Question

In the 2005 regular season, Illinois had an undefeated record until the final game. However, they suffered a close defeat with a score of 64-65. The team that defeated Illinois in this game was Ohio State.

Coach Bruce Weber replaced Bill Self at the University of Illinois.

Bruce Weber was disappointed by Eric Gordon's decision to play for Indiana instead of Illinois because Gordon was a highly talented basketball player who was originally committed to play for Illinois. Weber had likely invested a significant amount of time and effort in recruiting Gordon, and his decision to play for a rival school like Indiana would have been seen as a betrayal. Additionally, Gordon's choice to play for Indiana could have been seen as a missed opportunity for Illinois to strengthen their team and potentially achieve greater success in the sport.

The University of Illinois Fighting Illini gets its name from Chief Illiniwek. Chief Illiniwek was a symbol of the university's athletic teams from 1926 to 2007. He represented the Illini tribe, the original inhabitants of the state of Illinois. The use of Chief Illiniwek as a mascot was controversial and eventually retired due to concerns about cultural appropriation and stereotypes.

In 2005, Deron Williams was a finalist for the Wooden Award. The Wooden Award is a prestigious accolade given annually to the most outstanding college basketball player in the United States. Being a finalist for this award indicates that Williams was recognized as one of the top players in college basketball during that year.

The correct answer is Bob Cousy Award. The Bob Cousy Award is given annually to the top point guard in college basketball. Dee Brown, who played for Illinois, was awarded the Bob Cousy Award at the end of the 2006 season for his outstanding performance as a point guard.

The fans put on black shirts at the last performance by the Fighting Illini mascot on Feb. 21, 2007. This suggests that the fans wore black shirts as a way to show support or solidarity with the team or the mascot. Wearing black shirts could have been a coordinated effort by the fans to create a visual impact and demonstrate their enthusiasm for the team during the performance.

James Augustine was the first Fighting Illini to accumulate 1000 points and 1000 rebounds. This means that he scored over 1000 points and also grabbed over 1000 rebounds during his time playing for the Fighting Illini basketball team. This achievement showcases his skill and versatility on the court, as he was able to contribute both offensively and defensively.

Ben Wilson was a close friend and teammate of Nick Anderson who tragically lost his life at a young age. To honor his memory, Anderson chose to wear the number 25 on his jersey.

Kendall Gill is the correct answer because he is a former Fighting Illini athlete who transitioned into professional boxing at the age of 37.

In 1997, former Illini coach Lou Henson began interim coaching at New Mexico State for a salary of $1 per month. This extremely low salary suggests that Henson was not motivated by financial gain, but rather by a desire to continue coaching and contribute to the sport. It is possible that Henson had already amassed enough wealth throughout his coaching career and was willing to take on the position for a minimal salary as a gesture of goodwill or for personal fulfillment.

Mark Liberty's basketball coaching and training services company is called Liberty Sports.

Luther Head made a game-winning play against Purdue by throwing a half-court pass to Roger Powell.

Eddie Johnson, a former Fighting Illini, is known for regularly contributing to Hoopshype.com.