# Illinois–Iowa men's basketball rivalry

The Illinois–Iowa men's basketball rivalry is an intra-Big Ten Conference, college sports rivalry between the Illinois Fighting Illini and Iowa Hawkeyes. Multiple factors have played into the creation of the games between the two schools; Illinois and Iowa share a state border and are located about 242 miles (389 km) apart, and they share recruiting ground. The rivalry has been evidenced both on the court and off the court. Among the off the court elements of the rivalry, recruiting of basketball talent has resulted in battles for specific athletes. The most notable battle turned into the Pearl/Thomas Incident which began when both schools sought the services of Deon Thomas and resulted in recruiting restrictions and a one-year post-season ban for Illinois.

## History

Illinois and Iowa first met on February 14, 1908 with an Iowa victory, 46–36. The teams would not meet again until 1913 in Urbana, Illinois, however, after 1924 the teams would play every year with the exception of six 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 Iowa City at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. There have been a total of six neutral site games in this series. Illinois leads the series 94-77.

### Pearl/Thomas incident

In 1986 head coach Tom Davis took over an Iowa team from George Raveling that included two key forwards, Ed Horton and Kevin Gamble, each from Lanphier High School in Springfield, Illinois. Utilizing the success of those players, Bruce Pearl, assistant coach and key recruiter for Iowa, was working the state of Illinois to acquire Deon Thomas, a highly talented Chicago Public League player from Simeon High School. Simultaneously, Jimmy Collins, assistant coach to Lou Henson and the Fighting Illini, was also attempting to acquire Thomas. Pearl brought allegations to the NCAA that Illinois assistant coaches had acted improperly in the recruitment of Thomas, including secretly tape-recorded phone conversations with Thomas that were used in the investigation. While the allegations of improper conduct were unfounded by the NCAA, the investigation did uncover other violations that cost the University of Illinois with restrictions in football and basketball in the manner of limiting scholarships, recruiting and tournament participation.

### Coleman/McCaffery Incident

In a game played in Iowa City on February 2, 2020, after an intensely physical game which saw 14 lead-changes and 8 ties, the Hawkeyes would come out on top with a final score of 72–65. During the closing seconds of the game, with Illinois' defense willing to let the final 12 seconds expire, sophomore guard Joe Wieskamp dunked to extend the Iowa lead to 10 points. This appeared to agitate the Illini players and, after a 3-point field goal by Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu, with four seconds left, the Hawkeyes in-bounded the ball to CJ Fredrick and it appeared that Illinois was trying to intentionally foul. Fredrick kicked it out to Connor McCaffery, who was hugged by Dosunmu. Mike Eades, an official for the game, elected not to call the foul as the clock expired. The exchanges between both teams spilled over into the post-game handshake line when Illinois assistant coach Ron Coleman took exception to Joe Wieskamp's dunk with 12 seconds left to give the Hawkeyes a double-digit lead. Coleman shouted profanities in the direction of coach McCaffery, leading the coach to shout back at Coleman and instruct his Hawkeyes to head to the locker room, skipping the handshake line. The Illini staff eventually held their players near the scorer's table to let the Iowa players get to the tunnel to the locker room and off the court.

### Ticket scandal

On February 1, 2023, a student spirit group known as "Orange Krush" from the University of Illinois, had 200 tickets to the game taking place on February 4, 2023 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, rescinded with the $5,400 purchase price returned to the organization. The reason for the denial was due to the leader of the Orange Krush claiming they were being purchased for the Boys and Girls Club of Champaign, a non-profit organization who would get a discounted rate for the 200 tickets. The Iowa Athletic Department deemed this purchase to be under false pretenses, allowing them the right to deny the Orange Krush the opportunity to enter the game and barcodes for the tickets blocked, thus denying them the attempt to make the 20th annual road trip for the group. Because the order was made in September 2022, the Orange Krush had procured donations that could be utilized for charter bus transportation from Champaign to Iowa City. The denial of entry cost the Orange Krush $6,000 that had been paid towards the prearranged transportation. As for the 200 tickets retained by the Iowa Athletic Department, those were donated to the Boys and Girls Club of Cedar Rapids.

### Other

Occasional feuds and incidents between the schools' programs have fueled the competition over the years. Neither team has the advantage in the history of the Big Ten tournament. Of the 20+ years the conference tournament has been held, Illinois and Iowa have played a total of six times, with each team winning three games. In the 2016 Big Ten tournament the Hawkeyes were the fifth seed and the Illini, who were seeded twelfth, faced each other in the second round with Illinois upsetting Iowa 68–66. Illinois and Iowa squared off in the 2021 Big Ten tournament semi-final where Illinois would win and later go on to win their third tournament title.

## Accomplishments by the two rivals

The following summarizes the accomplishments of the two programs.
| Team | Illinois | Iowa |
| National titles | 0 | 0 |
| Final Four appearances | 5 | 3 |
| NCAA Tournament appearances | 34 | 29 |
| NCAA Tournament record | 45-35 | 31-31 |
| Big Ten tournament titles | 4 | 3 |
| Big Ten regular season titles | 18 | 8 |
| Consensus First Team All-Americans | 16 | 4 |
| Naismith Players of the Year | 0 | 1 |
| Big Ten Players of the Year | 3 | 1 |
| Big Ten Medal of Honor Recipients | 19 | 18 |
| All-time program record | 1876-1054 | 1740-1217-1 |
| All-time winning percentage | .640 | .588 |
* Through March 16, 2023

## Game results
### Games with both teams ranked

(Rankings are from AP Poll)
Winning team is shown. Ranking of the team at the time of the game by the AP poll is shown under the team name.
| Date | Illinois rank | Iowa rank | Winner | Score |
| February 9, 1952 | 3 | 9 | Iowa | 73–68 |
| February 23, 1952 | 5 | 4 | Illinois | 78–62 |
| January 17, 1955 | 7 | 19 | Iowa | 92–80 |
| February 21, 1955 | 14 | 15 | Iowa | 85–77 |
| March 3, 1956 | 2 | 10 | Iowa | 96–72 |
| January 3, 1980 | 20 | 10 | Iowa | 72–71 |
| February 7, 1981 | 18 | 15 | Iowa | 72–66 |
| January 14, 1987 | 8 | 2 | Iowa | 91–88$^{OT}$ |
| February 14, 1987 | 11 | 4 | Iowa | 66–61 |
| January 21, 1988 | 13 | 19 | Iowa | 93–79 |
| February 5, 1989 | 2 | 9 | Iowa | 86–82 |
| March 8, 1989 | 4 | 15 | Illinois | 118–94 |
| January 15, 2002 | 11 | 17 | Illinois | 77–66 |
| January 20, 2005 | 1 | 23 | Illinois | 73–68$^{OT}$ |
| February 25, 2006 | 8 | 20 | Illinois | 71–59 |
| February 2, 2020 | 19 | 18 | Iowa | 72–65 |
| March 8, 2020 | 23 | 18 | Illinois | 78–76 |
| January 29, 2021 | 19 | 7 | Illinois | 80–75 |
| March 13, 2021 | 3 | 5 | Illinois | 82–71 |
| March 6, 2022 | 20 | 24 | Illinois | 74–72 |

### Series 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.
| Illinois victories | Iowa victories | Tie games |
| No. | Date | Location | Winner | Score |
| 1 | February 14, 1908 | Iowa Armory | Iowa | 46–36 |
| 2 | January 18, 1913 | Kenney Gym | Illinois | 35–9 |
| 3 | February 22, 1924 | Iowa Armory | Illinois | 26–14 |
| 4 | February 29, 1924 | Kenney Gym | Illinois | 38–19 |
| 5 | January 24, 1925 | Kenney Gym | Illinois | 23–15 |
| 6 | February 27, 1925 | Iowa Armory | Iowa | 33–25 |
| 7 | January 22, 1927 | Huff Gym | Illinois | 40–33 |
| 8 | February 12, 1927 | Iowa Armory | Iowa | 26–24 |
| 9 | January 13, 1928 | Iowa Field House | Iowa | 36–30 |
| 10 | February 24, 1928 | Huff Gym | Iowa | 41–27 |
| 11 | February 14, 1931 | Iowa Field House | Illinois | 26–23 |
| 12 | February 28, 1931 | Huff Gym | Illinois | 31–13 |
| 13 | February 27, 1933 | Iowa Field House | Iowa | 30–27 |
| 14 | March 4, 1933 | Huff Gym | Illinois | 44–16 |
| 15 | January 15, 1934 | Iowa Field House | Iowa | 36–14 |
| 16 | February 26, 1934 | Huff Gym | Illinois | 35–31 |
| 17 | January 11, 1936 | Iowa Field House | Iowa | 27–26 |
| 18 | February 10, 1936 | Huff Gym | Illinois | 36–14 |
| 19 | January 16, 1937 | Huff Gym | Illinois | 42–28 |
| 20 | February 27, 1937 | The Field House | Illinois | 40–29 |
| 21 | February 6, 1939 | Huff Gym | Illinois | 34–26 |
| 22 | March 2, 1940 | Iowa Field House | Iowa | 62–47 |
| 23 | February 17, 1941 | Huff Gym | Illinois | 56–53 |
| 24 | January 19, 1942 | Huff Gym | Illinois | 42–35 |
| 25 | March 2, 1942 | Iowa Field House | Iowa | 46–32 |
| 26 | January 16, 1943 | Huff Gym | Illinois | 61–41 |
| 27 | January 18, 1943 | Huff Gym | Illinois | 66–34 |
| 28 | January 21, 1944 | Iowa Field House | Iowa | 56–51 |
| 29 | January 22, 1944 | Iowa Field House | Iowa | 53–44 |
| 30 | January 26, 1945 | Huff Gym | Illinois | 43–42 |
| 31 | March 3, 1945 | Iowa Field House | Iowa | 43–37 |
| 32 | December 22, 1945 | Iowa Field House | Iowa | 41–39 |
| 33 | February 23, 1946 | Huff Gym | Illinois | 57–51 |
| 34 | February 8, 1947 | Huff Gym | Illinois | 45–36 |
| 35 | February 9, 1948 | Iowa Field House | Iowa | 70–61 |
| 36 | February 21, 1949 | Huff Gym | No. 4 Illinois | 80–61 |
| 37 | February 11, 1950 | Iowa Field House | Iowa | 70–65 |
| 38 | January 8, 1951 | Iowa Field House | Illinois | 72–65 |
| 39 | January 20, 1951 | Huff Gym | No. 14 Illinois | 69–53 |
| 40 | February 9, 1952 | Iowa Field House | No. 9 Iowa | 73–68 |
| 41 | February 23, 1952 | Huff Gym | No. 5 Illinois | 78–62 |
| 42 | February 14, 1953 | Huff Gym | No. 5 Illinois | 80–63 |
| 43 | February 21, 1953 | Iowa Field House | Iowa | 67–62 |
| 44 | January 18, 1954 | Huff Hall | Iowa | 79–70 |
| 45 | February 20, 1954 | Iowa Field House | Illinois | 74–51 |
| 46 | January 17, 1955 | Iowa Field House | No. 19 Iowa | 92–80 |
| 47 | February 22, 1955 | Huff Gym | No. 15 Iowa | 89–70 |
| 48 | March 3, 1956 | Iowa Field House | No. 10 Iowa | 92–72 |
| 49 | January 7, 1957 | Huff Gym | No. 5 Illinois | 81–70 |
| 50 | January 6, 1958 | Huff Gym | Iowa | 70–68 |
| 51 | February 22, 1958 | Iowa Field House | Iowa | 83–79 |
| 52 | January 12, 1959 | Huff Gym | No. 20 Illinois | 103–97 |
| 53 | February 28, 1959 | Iowa Field House | Illinois | 72–70 |
| 54 | February 27, 1960 | Huff Gym | No. 20 Illinois | 85–70 |
| 55 | January 16, 1961 | Iowa Field House | No. 6 Iowa | 78–71 |
| 56 | February 10, 1962 | Iowa Field House | Illinois | 91–81 |
| 57 | March 3, 1962 | Huff Gym | Iowa | 88–78 |
| 58 | January 5, 1963 | Iowa Field House | No. 3 Illinois | 85–76 |
| 59 | March 9, 1963 | Assembly Hall | No. 8 Illinois | 73–69 |
| 60 | January 11, 1964 | Iowa Field House | Illinois | 87–70 |
| 61 | March 4, 1964 | Assembly Hall | Illinois | 90–67 |
| 62 | February 23, 1965 | Assembly Hall | Illinois | 97–80 |
| 63 | March 6, 1965 | Iowa Field House | Iowa | 94–84 |
| 64 | March 5, 1966 | Assembly Hall | Illinois | 106–90 |
| 65 | February 7, 1967 | Iowa Field House | Iowa | 96–89 |
| 66 | February 3, 1968 | Assembly Hall | Illinois | 66–63 |
| 67 | March 2, 1968 | Iowa Field House | Iowa | 61–56 |
| 68 | February 8, 1969 | Assembly Hall | No. 10 Illinois | 98–69 |
| 69 | February 25, 1969 | Iowa Field House | Iowa | 74–53 |
| 70 | February 17, 1970 | Assembly Hall | No. 11 Iowa | 83–81 |
| 71 | March 2, 1971 | Iowa Field House | Iowa | 92–84 |
| 72 | February 15, 1972 | Iowa Field House | Iowa | 87–84 |
| 73 | March 7, 1972 | Assembly Hall | Illinois | 91–84 |
| 74 | January 13, 1973 | Assembly Hall | Illinois | 80–78 |
| 75 | March 10, 1973 | Iowa Field House | Iowa | 93–76 |
| 76 | February 23, 1974 | Assembly Hall | Illinois | 91–84 |
| 77 | January 4, 1975 | Iowa Field House | Iowa | 95–70 |
| 78 | March 8, 1975 | Assembly Hall | Iowa | 73–70 |
| 79 | January 3, 1976 | Iowa Field House | Iowa | 84–60 |
| 80 | March 6, 1976 | Assembly Hall | Iowa | 82–70 |
| 81 | January 15, 1977 | Assembly Hall | Iowa | 84–81$^{OT}$ |
| 82 | February 24, 1977 | Iowa Field House | Iowa | 76–64 |
| 83 | January 26, 1978 | Iowa Field House | Illinois | 70–61 |
| 84 | February 18, 1978 | Assembly Hall | Illinois | 77–76 |
| 85 | January 25, 1979 | Iowa Field House | Iowa | 58–52 |
| 86 | February 17, 1979 | Assembly Hall | No. 14 Iowa | 67–53 |
| No. | Date | Location | Winner | Score |
| 87 | January 3, 1980 | Assembly Hall | No. 10 Iowa | 72–71 |
| 88 | March 1, 1980 | Iowa Field House | Iowa | 75–71 |
| 89 | January 31, 1981 | Assembly Hall | Illinois | 79–66 |
| 90 | February 7, 1981 | Iowa Field House | No. 15 Iowa | 72–66 |
| 91 | January 9, 1982 | Iowa Field House | No. 7 Iowa | 56–50 |
| 92 | March 4, 1982 | Assembly Hall | Illinois | 73–67$^{OT}$ |
| 93 | February 3, 1983 | Assembly Hall | Illinois | 62–61 |
| 94 | February 12, 1983 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | No. 20 Iowa | 68–66 |
| 95 | February 2, 1984 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | No. 8 Illinois | 54–52$^{OT}$ |
| 96 | February 12, 1984 | Assembly Hall | No. 8 Illinois | 73–53 |
| 97 | January 5, 1985 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | Iowa | 64–60 |
| 98 | March 7, 1985 | Assembly Hall | No. 14 Illinois | 59–53$^{OT}$ |
| 99 | January 4, 1986 | Assembly Hall | Iowa | 60–59 |
| 100 | March 6, 1986 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | Iowa | 57–53 |
| 101 | January 14, 1987 | Assembly Hall | No. 8 Iowa | 91–88$^{OT}$ |
| 102 | February 14, 1987 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | No. 4 Iowa | 66–61 |
| 103 | January 21, 1988 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | No. 19 Iowa | 93–79 |
| 104 | March 6, 1988 | Assembly Hall | Illinois | 94–81 |
| 105 | February 5, 1989 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | No. 9 Iowa | 86–82 |
| 106 | March 8, 1989 | Assembly Hall | No. 4 Illinois | 118–94 |
| 107 | January 29, 1990 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | Iowa | 69–67 |
| 108 | March 4, 1990 | Assembly Hall | No. 18 Illinois | 118–85 |
| 109 | January 28, 1991 | Assembly Hall | Illinois | 53–50 |
| 110 | February 23, 1991 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | Illinois | 79–74 |
| 111 | January 15, 1992 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | Iowa | 74–69 |
| 112 | February 23, 1992 | Assembly Hall | Illinois | 77–72$^{OT}$ |
| 113 | February 4, 1993 | Assembly Hall | Illinois | 78–77 |
| 114 | March 13, 1993 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | No. 17 Iowa | 63–53 |
| 115 | January 19, 1994 | Assembly Hall | Illinois | 105–90 |
| 116 | February 19, 1994 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | Iowa | 83–69 |
| 117 | February 1, 1995 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | Illinois | 79–74 |
| 118 | February 11, 1995 | Assembly Hall | Illinois | 104–97$^{OT}$ |
| 119 | January 18, 1996 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | No. 16 Iowa | 82–79 |
| 120 | February 24, 1996 | Assembly Hall | Illinois | 91–86 |
| 121 | January 29, 1997 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | Iowa | 82–65 |
| 122 | February 9, 1997 | Assembly Hall | Illinois | 66–51 |
| 123 | January 8, 1998 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | Illinois | 76–64 |
| 124 | February 22, 1998 | Assembly Hall | No. 23 Illinois | 79–72 |
| 125 | January 7, 1999 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | No. 17 Iowa | 84–62 |
| 126 | February 21, 1999 | Assembly Hall | No. 20 Iowa | 78–72 |
| 127 | January 26, 2000 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | Illinois | 69–58 |
| 128 | February 12, 2000 | Assembly Hall | Illinois | 78–50 |
| 129 | January 11, 2001 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | Iowa | 78–62 |
| 130 | February 24, 2001 | Assembly Hall | No. 3 Illinois | 89–63 |
| 131 | January 15, 2002 | Assembly Hall | No. 11 Illinois | 77–66 |
| 132 | January 15, 2003 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | Iowa | 68–61 |
| 133 | January 17, 2004 | Assembly Hall | No. 25 Illinois | 88–82 |
| 134 | February 25, 2004 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | No. 23 Illinois | 78–59 |
| 135 | January 20, 2005 | Assembly Hall | No. 1 Illinois | 73–68$^{OT}$ |
| 136 | February 19, 2005 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | No. 1 Illinois | 75–65 |
| 137 | January 7, 2006 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | Iowa | 63–48 |
| 138 | February 25, 2006 | Assembly Hall | No. 8 Illinois | 71–59 |
| 139 | January 10, 2007 | Assembly Hall | Illinois | 74–70 |
| 140 | March 3, 2007 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | Iowa | 60–53 |
| 141 | March 1, 2008 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | Illinois | 58–47 |
| 142 | February 1, 2009 | Assembly Hall | No. 19 Illinois | 62–54 |
| 143 | January 5, 2010 | Assembly Hall | Illinois | 59–42 |
| 144 | February 3, 2010 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | Illinois | 57–49 |
| 145 | December 29, 2010 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | No. 23 Illinois | 87–77 |
| 146 | February 26, 2011 | Assembly Hall | Illinois | 81–68 |
| 147 | February 26, 2012 | Assembly Hall | Illinois | 65–54 |
| 148 | March 8, 2012* | Bankers Life Fieldhouse | Iowa | 64–61 |
| 149 | March 5, 2013 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | Iowa | 63–55 |
| 150 | February 1, 2014 | State Farm Center | No. 15 Iowa | 81–74 |
| 151 | March 8, 2014 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | Illinois | 66–63 |
| 152 | February 25, 2015 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | Iowa | 68–60 |
| 153 | February 7, 2016 | State Farm Center | No. 5 Iowa | 77–65 |
| 154 | March 10, 2016* | Bankers Life Fieldhouse | Illinois | 68–66 |
| 155 | January 25, 2017 | State Farm Center | Illinois | 76–64 |
| 156 | February 18, 2017 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | Illinois | 70–66 |
| 157 | January 11, 2018 | State Farm Center | Iowa | 104–97$^{OT}$ |
| 158 | February 28, 2018* | Madison Square Garden | No. 12 Iowa | 96–87 |
| 159 | January 20, 2019 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | No. 23 Iowa | 95–71 |
| 160 | March 14, 2019* | United Center | No. 6 Iowa | 83–62 |
| 161 | February 2, 2020 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | No. 18 Iowa | 72–65 |
| 162 | March 8, 2020 | State Farm Center | No. 23 Illinois | 78–76 |
| 163 | January 29, 2021 | State Farm Center | No. 19 Illinois | 80–75 |
| 164 | March 13, 2021* | Lucas Oil Stadium | No. 3 Illinois | 82–71 |
| 165 | December 6, 2021 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | Illinois | 87–83 |
| 166 | March 6, 2022 | State Farm Center | No. 20 Illinois | 74–72 |
| 167 | February 4, 2023 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | Iowa | 81–79 |
| 168 | February 24, 2024 | State Farm Center | No. 12 Illinois | 95–85 |
| 169 | March 10, 2024 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | No. 12 Illinois | 73–61 |
| 170 | February 25, 2025 | State Farm Center | Illinois | 81–61 |
| 171 | March 16, 2025* | Gainbridge Fieldhouse | No. 24 Illinois | 106–94 |
| Series: Illinois leads 94–77 |||||
* *Denotes game played during the Big Ten tournament

## Series statistics

* Series Record: Illinois leads 94 to 77
* Current Streak: Illinois, 4 wins
* Illinois when ranked: 31-22
* Iowa when ranked: 24-16
* When both teams are ranked: Iowa leads 11-9
* Illinois when unranked: 62-54
* Iowa when unranked: 52-72
* When both teams are unranked: Illinois leads 51-40
* In overtime games: Illinois leads 6-3
* Neutral site: tied 3-3
* Longest Illinois W-Streak: 7 (3/1/2008-2/26/2012)
* Longest Iowa W-Streak: 6 (1/4/1975-2/24/1977)
* Longest Illinois Home W-Streak: 17 (2/28/1931-2/14/1953)
* Longest Iowa Home W-Streak: 10 (3/6/1965-2/24/1977)
* Longest Illinois Road W-Streak: 3, twice (last, 3/1/2008-12/29/2010)
* Longest Iowa Road W-Streak: 3 (3/8/1975-1/15/1977)
* Largest Illinois Win Margin: 33 (118-85), 3/4/1990 at ILL
* Largest Illinois Road Win Margin: 23 (74-51), 2/20/1954
* Largest Iowa Win Margin: 25 (95-70), 1/4/1975 at IOWA
* Largest Iowa Road Win Margin: 19 (89-70), 2/21/1955