Bob Asmussen | Gill all-in on another Illinois run – The News-Gazette

SAVOY — During the past four decades of Illinois men’s basketball, only two teams know what it is like the season AFTER the Final Four.

The most recent came during the 2005-06 season, when Dee Brown, James Augustine and friends followed the 2005 NCAA runner-up finish. That memorable season still remains the most successful squad in program history.

The 2005-06 Illinois team had to learn how to win without a pair of first-round NBA draft picks — Deron Williams and Luther Head — plus underrated starter Roger Powell Jr. All three were such vital cogs for the 37-2 Illini during the 2004-05 season.

Bruce Weber’s team climbed as high as No. 6 in the polls in the 2005-06 season. Among the highlights were a win at North Carolina, a 32-point victory against Missouri in the Braggin’ Rights game and a pair of victories against Top 10 Michigan State. The Spartans got revenge in the Big Ten tournament opener with a five-point win at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Illinois earned a No. 4 seed in the NCAA tournament and was sent to San Diego for its early-round games, with the Illini opening with a 78-69 win against Air Force in the first round.

In the second round against Washington and star Brandon Roy, Illinois held an 11-point lead in the second half. But the Huskies rallied to win 67-64, ending Brown’s decorated college career. The Illini finished 26-7 and ranked No. 13 in the final regular-season poll. Post-tournament polls weren’t added until 2024.

Big shoes to fill

Like in 2005-06, the 1989-90 Illini returned a star guard: Kendall Gill. Plus starter Stephen Bardo and sixth-man Marcus Liberty.

And just like in 2005-06, the Gill-led team lost a pair of NBA draft picks from the previous season: Nick Anderson and Kenny Battle.

Gill and Liberty were the only double-figure scorers, though Andy Kaufmann and Bardo were close.

Lou Henson’s team started the season 11-0, climbing to No. 4 in the national polls.

But a blowout 91-74 loss at Minnesota on Jan. 6 set up a rocky finish for Illinois. The team closed with a 10-8 stretch in the days before the Big Ten tournament.

Illinois entered the NCAA tournament as a No. 5 seed in the 64-team field. It was sent to Austin, Texas, where it fell 88-86 in an upset against No. 12 seed Dayton in the first round.

What went wrong?

“The year after our Final Four, we didn’t really follow the blueprint, but we didn’t have the same personnel either,” Gill said on Monday during his annual charity golf outing at the University of Illinois Orange and Blue courses. “We didn’t have guys who had 40-inch vertical jumps at every position. We had to somewhat change that style.”

What’s next?

Now, it is the current team’s job to follow one that reached the Final Four.

Five of the top-eight players are back, with three returning — Andrej Stojakovic, David Mirkovic and Tomislav Ivisic — who averaged in double figures for a 28-win Illini team last season.

Of course, leading scorer and NBA first-round pick Keaton Wagler is lighting it up at the next level with the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA Summer League. Kylan Boswell will be difficult to replace, too, not only for his offensive contributions but what the Champaign native brought from a defensive perspective and his locker-room leadership.

But Gill likes the current team’s chances to follow the national semifinal with more success. Possibly even a repeat Final Four trip when the 2027 national semifinals tip off next April at Ford Field in Detroit.

“They’re bigger than last year,” Gill said. “It’s going to be tough to reproduce Keaton and what he did. But if you can do it by committee, then you can be somewhat successful. Those guys know what it takes.”

His advice for the team: stay hungry and follow the blueprint.

The pain of the season-ending 71-62 loss to Connecticut at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis will serve the current Illini well.

Those who were in the building that night in early April and those who are just putting on an Illini jersey for the first time this upcoming season.

“In order to take the next step, you need to know what it feels like,” Gill said. “Hopefully, if we get back to the Final Four this year, that won’t be the prize. The prize will be the national championship. I give us a great shot.”