2004 – 05 Illinois Fighting Illini men 's basketball team , the 100th season of men 's basketball at the University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign , enjoyed one of the most successful seasons in recent college history . After starting the regular season with a record of 29 – 0 and winning the Big Ten Conference regular season title outright at 15 – 1 , the Illini were Big Ten Tournament champions . 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
Big Ten Tournament champions
2005 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
2004–05 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team