Illinois legend Kendall Gill was back in Central Illinois for his annual golf outing that raises funds for the Cunningham Children’s Home.
Before the event started, the media was able to meet with him.
I asked him, if you could recreate the 1989 team in today’s world.
He had his doubts.
The entire roster was from the State of Illinois — in today’s world, recruiting is more national, less Illinois high schoolers finish their careers in the state, and the transfer portal and NIL often breaks up rosters.
He also thinks, 1989 was the best Illinois team yet — topping the 2005 and 2026 Final Four squads.
“We beat two number one picks in Syracuse’s Derek Coleman and Louisville’s Pervis Ellison in the tournament to get there, and a lot of people forget we weren’t 100% healthy when we beat those teams,” Gill told me.
“But that was back in the era where everybody stayed in school. So I don’t think we’ll ever see that again, where you have top players who are number one picks stay in school until their junior, senior year,” Gill added.
The 1989 team — Lou Henson’s only Final Four team — was a fast paced offensive unit who finished 31-5, and when healthy, didn’t really lose.
The only 1-seed from the Big Ten, they finished 12-2 vs. ranked teams and made it to the Final Four in Seattle, and faced 3-seed Michigan, who had an interim coach and was 0-2 vs. Illinois.
However, Illinois lost the semi-final game, and Michigan won the national title.
Gill makes a compelling case why his team was the top in Illinois history.
However, it can feel like splitting hairs. The 2005 team went 37-2 and nearly beat North Carolina to win the title. And the 2026 team put together a strong NCAA Tournament and had the sport’s best offense for much of the season behind freshman lottery pick Keaton Wagler.
If Illinois wins the national title in 2027, could that change Gill’s mind? Illinois returns major players from the 2026 run and reloaded at the guard positions with 5-star Quentin Coleman and Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks.
Gill was an elite player for Illinois, playing for Henson for four seasons. He scored 15 PPG in 1989 and followed it up with 20 PPG in 1990.
In 1989-1990, Illinois was pre-season No. 8 but fell in the Round of 64 in a 5-12 upset to Dayton.
Leave a Reply