# 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.

## History

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.
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.

## Accomplishments by the two rivals

The following summarizes the accomplishments of the two programs.
| Team | Illinois | Northwestern |
| National titles | 0 | 0 |
| Final Four appearances | 5 | 0 |
| NCAA Tournament appearances | 34 | 3 |
| NCAA Tournament record | 45-35 | 3-3 |
| Big Ten tournament titles | 4 | 0 |
| Big Ten regular season titles | 18 | 2 |
| Consensus First Team All-Americans | 16 | 4 |
| Naismith Players of the Year | 0 | 0 |
| Big Ten Players of the Year | 3 | 0 |
| Big Ten Medal of Honor Recipients | 19 | 17 |
| All-time program record | 1876-1054 | 1142-1585-1 |
| All-time winning percentage | .640 | .419 |
* Through March 18, 2023

### Game results

Winning team is shown. Ranking of the team at the time of the game by the AP poll is shown by the team name.
* *Denotes game played during the Big Ten tournament
| Illinois victories | Northwestern victories | Tie games |
| No. | Date | Location | Winner | Score |
| 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 | Northwestern | 23–21$^{OT}$ |
| 10 | February 29, 1916 | Kenney Gym | Northwestern | 25–16 |
| 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 | 36–35$^{OT}$ |
| 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 | Northwestern | 40–28 |
| 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 | 82–77$^{OT}$ |
| 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 |
| 96 | January 10, 1976 | Assembly Hall | Illinois | 74–69 |
| No. | Date | Location | Winner | Score |
| 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 Illinois | 88–75 |
| 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 Illinois | 60–59 |
| 161 | December 30, 2009 | Assembly Hall | Illinois | 89–83$^{OT}$ |
| 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 | 72–68$^{OT}$ |
| 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 | 74–69$^{OT}$ |
| 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, 202 1 | 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 | 96–91$^{OT}$ |
| 189 | December 6, 2024 | Welsh–Ryan Arena | Northwestern | 70–66$^{OT}$ |
| 190 | January 26, 2025 | State Farm Center | No. 17 Illinois | 83–74 |
| Series: Illinois leads 144–46 |||||

## Series statistics

* Series record: Illinois leads 144 to 46
* Current streak: Illinois, 1 win
* Illinois when ranked: 55–8
* Northwestern when ranked: 0–2
* When both teams are ranked: 0–0
* Illinois home record: 74–15
* Northwestern home record: 27–57
* Neutral site: Illinois leads 13–4
* In overtime games: tied 4–4
* Longest Illinois win streak: 16, twice (last, 2/4/1984 – 3/2/1991)
* Longest Northwestern win streak: 3, (3/8/1958 – 3/7/1959)
* Longest Illinois home win streak: 19, (1/5/1980 – 2/18/1998)
* Longest Northwestern home win streak: 3, (Last, 1/4/2023 – 12/6/2024)
* Longest Illinois road win streak: 8, (2/4/1984 – 3/2/1989)
* Longest Northwestern road win 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