Illinois Fighting Illini The Fighting Illini ( also known as The Illini ) are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign . The University offers 10 men ' s and 11 women ' s varsity sports . The University operates a number of athletic facilities , including Memorial Stadium for football , the Assembly Hall for both men ' s and women ' s basketball , and the Atkins Tennis Center for men ' s and women ' s tennis . The Fighting Illini lay claim to over twenty - five National Championships dating back to 1900 . However , the Illini have won just two National Championships since 1958 — Men ' s Tennis in 2003 and Men ' s Gymnastics in 1989 . The men ' s basketball team finished as National runner - up in 2005 , falling just short in the championship game . Organization . The University ' s Division of Intercollegiate Athletics administers the official athletics teams of the University . All of the University ' s athletics teams participate in the NCAA ' s Division I , and form the Big Ten Conference with 11 other primarily midwestern universities . The football team participates in a subdivision within the Division I known as the Football Bowl Subdivision ( FBS ) . Men ' s Sports . Baseball , basketball , cheerleading , cross country , football , golf , gymnastics , tennis , track and field , and wrestling . Women ' s Sports . Basketball , cheerleading , cross country , golf , gymnastics , soccer , softball , swimming and diving , tennis , track and field , and volleyball . Athletic Accomplishments . Track and Field : Men . INDOOR OUTDOOR Track and Field : Women . INDOOR OUTDOOR Famous athletes . Men ' s Basketball : 1988 – 1989 season . Notable Players : Story : Ranked # 1 during the regular season . Known for their athletic style . Defeated in the Final Four of the 1989 NCAA Tournament , by the Michigan Wolverines even though they had defeated them twice during the regular season . Michigan went on to win the National Championship . Men ' s Basketball : 2004 – 2005 season . Starters : Story : The first Illinois men ' s basketball team to be ranked number one in the polls since Lou Henson ' s " Flyin ' Illini " of 1989 . Illinois won the Big Ten Tournament and were the overall number one seed in the 2005 NCAA Tournament , eventually losing to the University of North Carolina , the number two overall seed , in the finals , 75 – 70 . This Illinois team tied the NCAA record at that time for most wins in a season with 37 and was undefeated until losing the final game of the regular season at Ohio State by the score of 64 – 65 , on a three pointer by Matt Sylvester in the final seconds of the game . Controversy . A symbol / mascot of the University ' s athletic teams was , from 1926 – 2007 , a Native American figure , Chief Illiniwek , who sparked significant controversy beginning in the 1980s . Critics of the Chief claimed that it was a racist stereotype and a symbol of the oppression to Native Americans that took place in past American history . Supporters claimed that it was inoffensive and a source of pride and reverence to the Native American heritage of Illinois Past Sioux elder , Frank Fools Crow , made and sold an authentic ceremonial costume and headdress to the university ; recently , the Oglala Sioux tribe demanded the costume and headdress back from the university , though this move was opposed by one of Fools Crow ' s descendants . The University was ( and is ) deeply divided on this issue ; while some of the faculty condemned the symbol , the administration remained supportive of it . The University Board of Trustees announced on February 16 , 2007 , that the Chief ' s last public performance would be the final home game of the 2006 – 2007 Men ' s Basketball season . The name " Fighting Illini " was retained , as the NCAA rescinded its criticism of the use of the term . The name " Fighting Illini " pre - dates the Chief Illiniwek symbol and was bestowed upon the team in honor of Illinoisans who fought in World War I ; the use of the name " Illini " dates to the 19th century .