2015 – 16 Illinois Fighting Illini men 's basketball team represented the University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign in the 2015 – 16 NCAA Division I men 's basketball season . Led by fourth year head coach John Groce , the Illini played their home games at State Farm Center and were members of the Big Ten Conference . In November 2015 , the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield , Illinois hosted Illinois Fighting Illini men 's basketball for five games while renovations to the State Farm Center were completed . They finished the season 15 – 19 , 5 – 13 in Big Ten play to finish in 12th place . The Illini defeated Minnesota and Iowa to advance to the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament , where they lost to Purdue
Big Ten Tournament
2016 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
2015–16 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team