2016 – 17 Illinois Fighting Illini men 's basketball team represented the University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign in the 2016 – 17 NCAA Division I men 's basketball season . Led by fifth-year head coach John Groce , the Illini played their home games at State Farm Center as members of the Big Ten Conference . They finished the season 20 – 15 , 8 – 10 in Big Ten play to finish in ninth place . They lost in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament to Michigan . They received an invitation to the National Invitation Tournament where they defeated Valparaiso and Boise State before losing in the Quarterfinals to UCF
Big Ten Tournament
2017 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
2016–17 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team