Wikipedia

Illinois–Northwestern men's basketball rivalry

The Illinois–Northwestern men's basketball rivalry is an intra-Big Ten Conference, college sports rivalry between the Illinois Fighting Illini and Northwestern Wildcats. Multiple factors have played into the creation of the games between the two schools; Illinois and Northwestern are both located within the state of Illinois and are located about 157 miles (253 km) apart, and they share recruiting ground.

Illinois–Northwestern men's basketball rivalry
Illinois Fighting Illini
Northwestern Wildcats
SportCollege basketball
First meetingMarch 7, 1908
Illinois 18 – Northwestern 13
Latest meetingJanuary 24, 2024
Northwestern 96 – Illinois 91
Next meetingDecember 6, 2024
Evanston, Illinois
StadiumsState Farm Center,
Welsh–Ryan Arena
Statistics
Meetings total188
All-time seriesIllinois leads, 143–45
Largest victoryIllinois, 42, twice
(86-44), 1943 at NU
(99-57), 1995 at IL
Longest win streakIllinois, 16 twice
(1947-1955 & 1984-1991)
Current win streakNorthwestern, 1 (2024–present)
Map
About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
50km
30miles
Northwestern
.
Illinois
Locations of Illinois and Northwestern

History

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Main articles: Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball and Northwestern Wildcats men's basketball

Illinois and Northwestern first met on March 7, 1908, with an Illinois victory, 18–13. The teams would continue to compete annually with the exception of 12 seasons. Since the two teams are both in the Big Ten Conference, they meet at least once per season. The location of the game alternates between State Farm Center, formerly Assembly Hall, in Champaign, and in Evanston at Welsh–Ryan Arena. There have only been a total of five neutral site games in this series with Illinois winning all of those games. Illinois leads the series 137–43.[1][2]

Occasional feuds and incidents between the schools' programs have fueled the competition over the years. Illinois has the advantage in the history of the Big Ten tournament. Of the 20+ years the conference tournament has been held, Illinois and Northwestern have played a total of 3 times. Illinois holds the record of 3–0 over Northwestern.[3]

Accomplishments by the two rivals

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The following summarizes the accomplishments of the two programs.

Team Illinois Northwestern
National titles[4][5] 0 0
Final Four appearances[6][7] 5 0
NCAA Tournament appearances[6][7] 33 2
NCAA Tournament record[6][7] 42-34 2-2
Big Ten tournament titles[8] 4 0
Big Ten regular season titles[9] 18 2
Consensus First Team All-Americans[10] 16 4
Naismith Players of the Year[11] 0 0
Big Ten Players of the Year[12] 3 0
Big Ten Medal of Honor Recipients[13] 19 17
All-time program record[6][7] 1876-1054 1142-1585-1
All-time winning percentage[6][7] .640 .419

Game results

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Winning team is shown. Ranking of the team at the time of the game by the AP poll is shown by the team name.[16][17]

Illinois victoriesNorthwestern victoriesTie games
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
1 March 7, 1908 Patten Gymnasium Illinois 18–13
2 February 27, 1909 Patten Gymnasium Illinois 35–4
3 February 25, 1911 Patten Gymnasium Illinois 26–15
4 March 2, 1912 Kenney Gym Illinois 25–10
5 March 9, 1912 Patten Gymnasium Illinois 30–19
6 February 14, 1913 Kenney Gym Illinois 23–22
7 March 15, 1913 Patten Gymnasium Northwestern 20–18
8 February 14, 1914 Kenney Gym Illinois 35–15
9 February 12, 1916 Kenney Gym Northwestern23–21OT
10 February 29, 1916 Kenney Gym Northwestern25–16
11 January 12, 1917 Kenney Gym Illinois 45–17
12 March 2, 1917 Patten Gymnasium Illinois 21–12
13 February 9, 1918 Kenney Gym Illinois 38–22
14 March 2, 1918 Patten Gymnasium Northwestern 29–14
15 January 17, 1924 Kenney Gym Illinois 38–18
16 March 4, 1924 Patten Gymnasium Illinois 36–35OT
17 January 14, 1925 Patten Gymnasium Illinois 27–16
18 February 12, 1925 Huff Gym Illinois 30–20
19 January 9, 1927 Patten Gymnasium Illinois 27–23
20 February 16, 1927 Kenney Gym Illinois 46–32
21 February 8, 1928 Huff Gym Illinois 32–20
22 March 1, 1928 Patten Gymnasium Northwestern 39–31
23 February 10, 1930 Patten Gymnasium Illinois 30–24
24 February 22, 1930 Huff Gym Northwestern 34–32
25 January 12, 1931 Huff Gym Northwestern 29–27
26 February 16, 1931 Patten Gymnasium Illinois 35–28
27 January 7, 1933 Huff Gym Illinois 27–25
28 January 27, 1933 Patten Gymnasium Northwestern 30–27
29 January 20, 1934 Huff Gym Illinois 34–20
30 February 19, 1934 Patten Gymnasium Northwestern 32–25
31 January 18, 1936 Huff Gym Northwestern40–28
32 February 17, 1936 Patten Gymnasium Illinois 39–38
33 January 4, 1937 Huff Gym Northwestern 47–38
34 March 6, 1937 Patten Gymnasium Illinois 32–26
35 February 27, 1939 Patten Gymnasium Northwestern 36–34
36 February 12, 1940 Huff Gym Northwestern 33–25
37 January 18, 1941 Patten Gymnasium Illinois 42–41
38 February 7, 1942 Huff Gym Illinois 41–33
39 February 28, 1942 Chicago Stadium Illinois 63–49
40 February 1, 1943 Huff Gym Illinois 68–51
41 February 27, 1943 Chicago Stadium Illinois 86–44
42 February 11, 1944 Chicago Stadium Northwestern 42–29
43 February 25, 1944 Chicago Stadium Illinois 50–47
44 January 19, 1945 Huff Gym Illinois 51–42
45 February 24, 1945 Chicago Stadium Northwestern 57–45
46 January 14, 1946 Huff Gym Illinois 45–38
47 February 16, 1946 Chicago Stadium Northwestern 48–43
48 January 11, 1947 Huff Gym Illinois 55–40
49 February 22, 1947 Chicago Stadium Illinois 52–51
50 January 5, 1948 Huff Gym Illinois 52–47
51 February 28, 1948 Chicago Stadium Illinois 60–43
52 February 7, 1949 Huff Gym No. 4 Illinois 85–66
53 February 26, 1949 Chicago Stadium No. 4 Illinois 81–64
54 January 16, 1950 Huff Gym Illinois 76–50
55 March 4, 1950 Chicago Stadium Illinois 69–52
56 March 3, 1951 Chicago Stadium No. 6 Illinois 80–76
57 March 3, 1952 Huff Gym No. 2 Illinois 95–74
58 January 12, 1953 Huff Gym No. 4 Illinois 83–58
59 March 9, 1953 McGaw Memorial Hall No. 10 Illinois 86–70
60 January 4, 1954 McGaw Memorial Hall No. 8 Illinois 66–65
61 March 1, 1954 Huff Hall No. 20 Illinois 84–82
62 February 5, 1955 Huff Gym No. 10 Illinois 104–89
63 March 5, 1955 McGaw Memorial Hall No. 17 Illinois 81–69
64 March 5, 1956 McGaw Memorial Hall Northwestern 83–82
65 February 11, 1957 Huff Gym No. 15 Illinois 104–97
66 February 1, 1958 Huff Gym Illinois 102–98
67 March 8, 1958 McGaw Memorial Hall Northwestern 88–72
68 February 7, 1959 McGaw Memorial Hall Northwestern 88–79
69 March 7, 1959 Huff Gym Northwestern 84–81
70 December 29, 1959 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena No. 8 Illinois 92–79
71 March 5, 1960 McGaw Memorial Hall Illinois 84–77
72 February 18, 1961 Huff Gym Northwestern 78–72
73 February 12, 1962 Huff Gym Illinois 88–70
74 March 10, 1962 McGaw Memorial Hall Illinois 73–69
75 January 14, 1963 McGaw Memorial Hall No. 5 Illinois 78–76
76 March 4, 1963 Assembly Hall No. 6 Illinois 79–73
77 February 1, 1964 Assembly Hall Illinois 73–71
78 March 2, 1965 McGaw Memorial Hall Illinois 93–70
79 February 7, 1966 Assembly Hall Northwestern 80–77
80 March 7, 1966 McGaw Memorial Hall Northwestern 84–76
81 January 10, 1967 McGaw Memorial Hall Northwestern 104–96
82 February 4, 1967 Assembly Hall Illinois 93–83
83 February 10, 1968 McGaw Memorial Hall Northwestern 78–71
84 February 24, 1968 Assembly Hall Illinois 62–61
85 January 11, 1969 McGaw Memorial Hall No. 4 Illinois 82–77OT
86 March 8, 1969 Assembly Hall No. 20 Illinois 78–68
87 January 13, 1970 McGaw Memorial Hall No. 17 Illinois 101–80
88 March 9, 1971 Assembly Hall Northwestern 85–70
89 January 8, 1972 McGaw Memorial Hall Illinois 67–63
90 February 5, 1972 Assembly Hall Illinois 68–59
91 February 5, 1973 McGaw Memorial Hall Illinois 84–77
92 March 5, 1973 Assembly Hall Illinois 77–76
93 February 16, 1974 McGaw Memorial Hall Northwestern 86–75
94 January 11, 1975 Assembly Hall Illinois 64–60
95 February 8, 1975 McGaw Memorial Hall Northwestern 51–47
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
96 January 10, 1976 Assembly Hall Illinois 74–69
97 February 7, 1976 McGaw Memorial Hall Illinois 61–55
98 January 24, 1977 Assembly Hall Illinois 71–68
99 February 10, 1977 McGaw Memorial Hall Illinois 65–63
100 January 21, 1978 Assembly Hall Illinois 73–64
101 February 9, 1978 McGaw Memorial Hall Northwestern 72–61
102 January 6, 1979 McGaw Memorial Hall No. 4 Illinois 74–56
103 March 1, 1979 Assembly Hall Northwestern 71–64
104 January 5, 1980 Assembly Hall No. 20 Illinois 81–71
105 February 28, 1980 McGaw Memorial Hall Illinois 90–66
106 January 8, 1981 McGaw Memorial Hall No. 12 Illinois 88–64
107 March 7, 1981 Assembly Hall No. 16 Illinois 98–76
108 January 7, 1982 McGaw Memorial Hall Illinois 60–50
109 March 6, 1982 Assembly Hall Illinois 85–65
110 February 5, 1983 Assembly Hall Illinois 78–62
111 February 10, 1983 Welsh-Ryan Arena Northwestern 58–55
112 February 4, 1984 Welsh–Ryan Arena No. 8 Illinois 71–52
113 February 8, 1984 Assembly Hall No. 8 Illinois 73–49
114 January 19, 1985 Welsh–Ryan Arena No. 11 Illinois 55–43
115 February 14, 1985 Assembly Hall No. 17 Illinois 64–42
116 January 18, 1986 Assembly Hall Illinois 72–46
117 February 13, 1986 Welsh–Ryan Arena Illinois 75–52
118 January 10, 1987 Welsh–Ryan Arena No. 12 Illinois 76–69
119 February 5, 1987 Assembly Hall No. 14 Illinois 72–43
120 January 23, 1988 Assembly Hall No. 13 Illinois 79–48
121 March 12, 1988 Welsh–Ryan Arena No. 19 Illinois 79–74
122 January 19, 1989 Welsh–Ryan Arena No. 2 Illinois 75–70
123 February 11, 1989 Assembly Hall No. 7 Illinois 86–69
124 January 13, 1990 Welsh–Ryan Arena No. 8 Illinois 85–78
125 February 14, 1990 Assembly Hall No. 15 Illinois88–75
126 February 4, 1991 Assembly Hall Illinois 73–59
127 March 2, 1991 Welsh–Ryan Arena Illinois 91–81
128 February 1, 1992 Welsh–Ryan Arena Northwestern 46–43
129 February 26, 1992 Assembly Hall Illinois 92–65
130 January 7, 1993 Welsh–Ryan Arena Illinois 81–71
131 February 6, 1993 Assembly Hall Illinois 82–67
132 January 12, 1994 Assembly Hall Illinois 81–53
133 February 12, 1994 Welsh–Ryan Arena Northwestern 79–68
134 January 7, 1995 Welsh–Ryan Arena Illinois 82–55
135 March 8, 1995 Assembly Hall Illinois 99–57
136 January 27, 1996 Welsh–Ryan Arena Illinois 74–62
137 February 14, 1996 Assembly Hall Illinois 93–62
138 February 5, 1997 Assembly Hall Illinois 70–58
139 January 10, 1998 Welsh–Ryan Arena Illinois 59–44
140 February 18, 1998 Assembly Hall No. 23 Illinois 69–57
141 January 9, 1999 Assembly Hall Northwestern 59–46
142 February 17, 1999 Welsh–Ryan Arena Illinois 69–63
143 February 19, 2000 Welsh–Ryan Arena Illinois 63–30
144 March 4, 2000 Assembly Hall No. 25 Illinois 73–44
145 January 17, 2001 Welsh–Ryan Arena No. 11 Illinois 63–49
146 February 3, 2001 Assembly Hall No. 6 Illinois 84–59
147 February 23, 2002 Welsh–Ryan Arena No. 16 Illinois 56–41
148 February 22, 2003 United Center No. 20 Illinois 73–61
149 March 14, 2003* United Center No. 13 Illinois 94–65
150 January 14, 2004 Welsh–Ryan Arena Northwestern 70–60
151 February 28, 2004 Assembly Hall No. 23 Illinois 66–56
152 January 15, 2005 Welsh–Ryan Arena No. 1 Illinois 78–66
153 February 23, 2005 Assembly Hall No. 1 Illinois 84–48
154 March 11, 2005* United Center No. 1 Illinois 68–51
155 January 21, 2006 Welsh–Ryan Arena No. 7 Illinois 58–47
156 February 15, 2006 Assembly Hall No. 14 Illinois 63–47
157 February 7, 2007 Welsh–Ryan Arena Illinois 58–43
158 February 18, 2007 Assembly Hall Illinois 48–37
159 January 27, 2008 Assembly Hall Illinois 70–37
160 February 12, 2009 Welsh–Ryan Arena No. 22 Illinois60–59
161 December 30, 2009 Assembly Hall Illinois 89–83OT
162 January 23, 2010 Welsh–Ryan Arena Northwestern 73–68
163 January 2, 2011 Assembly Hall No. 20 Illinois 88–63
164 February 5, 2011 Welsh–Ryan Arena Northwestern 71–70
165 January 4, 2012 Welsh–Ryan Arena Illinois 57–56
166 February 5, 2012 Assembly Hall Northwestern 74–70
167 January 17, 2013 Assembly Hall Northwestern 68–54
168 February 17, 2013 Welsh–Ryan Arena Illinois 62–41
169 January 12, 2014 Welsh–Ryan Arena Northwestern 49–43
170 January 14, 2015 Welsh–Ryan Arena Illinois 72–67
171 February 28, 2015 State Farm Center Illinois 86–60
172 February 13, 2016 Welsh–Ryan Arena Northwestern 58–56
173 February 7, 2017 Welsh–Ryan Arena Illinois 68–61
174 February 21, 2017 State Farm Center Illinois 66–50
175 December 1, 2017 Rosemont Horizon Northwestern 72–68OT
176 January 6, 2019 Welsh–Ryan Arena Northwestern 68–66
177 March 3, 2019 State Farm Center Illinois 81–76
178 March 13, 2019* United Center Illinois 74–69OT
179 January 18, 2020 State Farm Center No. 24 Illinois 75–71
180 February 27, 2020 Welsh–Ryan Arena Illinois 74–66
181 January 7, 2021 Welsh–Ryan Arena No. 12 Illinois 81–56
182 February 16, 2021 State Farm Center No. 5 Illinois 73–66
183 January 29, 2022 Welsh–Ryan Arena No. 24 Illinois 59–56
184 February 13, 2022 State Farm Center No. 12 Illinois 73–66
185 January 4, 2023 Welsh–Ryan Arena Northwestern 73–60
186 February 23, 2023 State Farm Center Illinois 66–62
187 January 2, 2024 State Farm Center No. 9 Illinois 96–66
188 January 24, 2024 Welsh-Ryan Arena Northwestern 96–91OT
Series: Illinois leads 143–45

Series statistics

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  • Series Record: Illinois leads 143 to 45
  • Current Streak: Northwestern, 1 win
  • Illinois when ranked: 54-6
  • Northwestern when ranked: 0-2
  • When both teams are ranked: 0-0
  • Illinois Home Record: 73-15
  • Northwestern Home Record: 26-57
  • Neutral site: Illinois leads 13-4
  • In overtime games: Illinois leads 4-3
  • Longest Illinois W-Streak: 16, twice (last, 2/4/1984-3/2/1991)
  • Longest Northwestern W-Streak: 3, (3/8/1958-3/7/1959)
  • Longest Illinois Home W-Streak: 19, (1/5/1980-2/18/1998)
  • Longest Northwestern Home W-Streak: 2, five times (Last, 1/4/2023-1/24/2024)
  • Longest Illinois Road W-Streak: 8, (2/4/1984-3/2/1989)
  • Longest Northwestern Road W-Streak: 3, (1/18/1936-2/12/1940)
  • Largest Illinois Home Win Margin: 42, (99-57), 3/8/1995
  • Largest Illinois Road Win Margin: 42, (86-44), 2/27/1943
  • Largest Northwestern Home Win Margin: 16, (88-72), 3/8/1958
  • Largest Northwestern Road Win Margin: 15, (29-14), 3/2/1917[18]

References

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  1. ^ News-Gazette.com
  2. ^ BTPowerhouse.com
  3. ^ 2019-20 Big Ten Media Guide
  4. ^ "Illinois Fighting Illini Men's Basketball School History". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  5. ^ "Northwestern Wildcats Men's Basketball School History". Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Illinois Fighting Illini Index". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Northwestern Wildcats Index". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com.
  8. ^ "Big Ten tournament All-Time Results" (PDF). BigTen.org. Big Ten Conference. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 30, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  9. ^ "Big Ten Conference Sports References". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  10. ^ "NCAA College Basketball AP All-America Teams". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  11. ^ "Naismith Award Records". NaismithTrophy.com. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  12. ^ "Big Ten Player of the Year" (PDF). BigTen.org. Big Ten Conference. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 30, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  13. ^ "Big Ten Medal of Honor" (PDF). BigTen.org. Big Ten Conference. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 30, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  14. ^ "Illinois Fighting Illini Index". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  15. ^ "Northwestern Wildcats Index". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  16. ^ FightingIllini.com
  17. ^ NUSports.com
  18. ^ Sports-Reference.com
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