 They advanced in the NCAA Tournament to the national championship, but lost to North Carolina, 75–70, and ended the season 

Nine years later in 2014, "Sports Illustrated" voted the 2005 Illinois team as the best ever not to win a national title.Illinois celebrated its 100th season of varsity basketball in 2004-05.In his second season as head coach at Illinois, Bruce Weber’s Illini put together the most successful season in "U of I" history.