Illinois' 15-point comeback vs. Arizona in 2005 Elite Eight

In the 2005 Elite Eight, Illinois trailed Arizona 75-60 before closing the final four minutes of regulation on a 20-5 run. The Fighting Illini then won 90-89 in OT. Watch the amazing comeback here.
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[@cockybalboa2]

The big 3 for Illinois were absolutely amazing in the last several minutes of regulation. Great memories re-watching this!

[@PeeedaPan]

Bill Murray losing his mind in the stands, the camera shaking from all the noise in the crowd. This is the most epic comeback in NCAA history

[@jasonh5547]

I suppose it was the greatest moment in Illinois basketball history. However, to Elite North Carolina Illinois was their opponent for their 4th NCAA Championship. (UNC has 6 now)

[@TickleMeElmo55]

What does that have to do with what the poster said? The NC game wasn't even a comeback as well. You NC Tarheel fans are still the same as I remember since 2005 - insufferable.@@jasonh5547

[@bretthayward4981]

@@jasonh5547 Thanks dork

[@georgesouthwick7000]

Deron Williams performance in this game is absolutely amazing. With the season on the line, he literally put the team on his back and willed them to victory.

[@whitegoosejuvy]

Illinois is and will always be my team. This game was the greatest game I have ever seen. The team was the most perfect smart unselfish team that I ever got to watch. I wish we got players like this again

[@brandontrice1741]

So excited for this years illini team, coaches and fans. ILL!!!!

[@brandontrice1741]

Do you watch basketball? We are definitely still getting players like this. Go watch the post game locker room after osu game yesterday. If Illini is your team you know we are gnna be a 1 seed this year.

[@garetwilliams6011]

Hope you’re out there HYPED for this Illinois team right now! We’re ready as ever for the B1G tournament!

[@dancrews7769]

Same here

[@everettjohnson4498]

What about the '19 Virginia team.

[@kimscreen7242]

As an IL grad living in GA. I screamed silently watching this game so as to not wake up my family. Watching this made my heart pound knowing the outcome. The greatest college game I've ever watched. Loved these guys.

[@howardoller443]

March 26, 2005. Hard to believe this incredible game was 19 years ago.

[@royalnpoison1547]

Greatest Comeback in March Madness History

[@5roductionz1466]

Texas A and M vs UNI is a greater comeback but this game actually meant something so yeah it is the best.

[@iDominatemkwii]

@@5roductionz1466 Refs helped Texas A&M so much though. I recently watched the highlights of that comeback and A&M got one of the worst and 1 calls I've ever seen

[@5roductionz1466]

@@iDominatemkwii I agree but just said that the Illinois one was the better come back.

[@joed2818]

Agreed. Texas A&M game was fixed too all day long.

[@thebigbadbluntbeats5116]

Absolutely not Texas a and m came back against northern Iowa

[@nickotine7285]

I remember this game like it was yesterday. I still get goosebumps.

[@rodneyjohnson4530]

Yes, Maybe the Most Memorable Game in NCAA History - PERIOD !!!

[@jasonh5547]

lol; North Carolina sure did not care.

[@howardoller443]

@@jasonh5547 Neither snarkiness nor sarcasm are virtues.

[@sheepshead17]

It’s funny that as recent as 2005, it was still considered “settling” for 3’s.

[@HawksFan5884]

Yeah funny how the game has changed. Personally I like the various styles from the 80’s, 90’s, & early 2000’s that were more balanced & physical, more so than the run & gun & chuck up 3’s from 8ft behind the arc style of play from the last decade. But that’s just my opinion

[@cedrickcarson]

@@HawksFan5884I’m with you! 💯

[@franklinrogers6388]

This taught me to never assume it's over.

[@GaryWillke-lj6wg]

My 10 year old son wanted to turn off the TV when we got behind by 15 points with 4 minutes left in the game. I think I told him that we can’t give up. Meanwhile, my wife was listening to the game on our car radio and she said the announcers were going crazy!

[@temp229009]

I still remember the tv i watched this on, thats how insane it was

[@jasonh5547]

I remember the game a week later that had a final score of 75-70.

[@kimscreen7242]

I still get goosebumps over this game

[@illini00711]

“Luther Head… ohhhh, my!!!”

[@R.I.P.]

Nobody should ever forget what Jack Ingram did in this game after Auggie " fouled out" ... I remember this like it was yesterday .. I had turned the game off thinking it was over with about 5 mins left .. then the phone rang and it was my dad ... he said " are you seeing this"? I said yep "it's over " .. he then said " you better turn the TV back on" !! I honestly could not believe what I was witnessing ... This will forever be "The Comeback" ... I-L-L ...

[@djbeezy]

I-N-I!!!!

[@ginacocogliato4155]

He got that tip steal and set a great screen to free dwill for that pivotal three

[@ericdailey8587]

Yeah, you can't overlook what Ingram did.

[@GeoAce777]

UNSUNG

[@cedrickcarson]

This Illinois team really lived and died by the three. Especially in this game. 16/35 shooting the 3 (46%). Then defensively they played fearlessly. Not worried bout getting called for a foul. Just sitting in that chair 🪑 not allowing Arizona to dribble the clock away or score however they wanted. Also I think the trio of DWill x Dee Brown x Luther Head should get more flowers 💐 for what they did not just for Illinois but for college basketball in the 2000s.

[@cclappe]

What I want to know is what Adams was thinking at the end? What was the speech like during that timeout on both sides. By the way, go Illini!

[@pioneerlady1042]

I was at this game. It was incredible. I actually twisted an ankle whilst jumping up and down in excitement during the comeback. Lol

[@drewvmouseton3036]

I love that the ad at the end covers the last second shot. Awesome.

[@MarchMadness]

Thanks for pointing that out. You should be able to watch the last second shot with ease now.

[@davidcastro2000]

I cry still watching this video.

[@metarosetorchia1954]

Ditto

[@sumdude4281]

Here in 2021...go Illini!

[@Richard__Cranium]

D-Will had such a beautiful jumper.

[@mickeygallz5483]

Never forget best game in Illini history for me !! D Wills 3 at the end so memorable !!! Let's go 2021 team let's being this school back to the top !!

[@jasonh5547]

The next week Elite North Carolina took home the trophy.

[@illini00711]

RIP Mr. Enberg

[@millypoo7713]

More impressive was Illinois coming back down 8 with one minute and 3 seconds left.

[@jasonh5547]

and the next week Illinois was just a steppingstone to Elite North Carolinas fourth NCAA championship trophy.

[@ginacocogliato4155]

@@jasonh5547doesn’t change the fact that this games an all timer

[@jasonh5547]

@@ginacocogliato4155 The game is irrelevant to me since I am a fan of Elite North Carolina basketball. 75-70.

[@ChiefBlue4298]

This game is now Arizona’s legacy, labeled as choke artists

[@vinceniederman]

One of The Craziest If Not The Craziest Comeback in March Madness History and I Feel Heartbroken For Arizona and Their Fans!

[@GeoAce777]

'Ohhhhh my!' classic ;-)

[@tperk]

Considering the noise in the arena, the drama of the comeback that sent it into OT, Illinois riding the momentum. No words. As a bonus the announcers stayed off mic until Arizona scored the and-1 at the other end.

[@Random103100]

Deron Williams made himself a bag with this tournament and specifically this game

[@djbeezy]

I had completely forgot this game went into overtime. I watched almost every Illinois basketball game that year. Man that was such a fun ride. Anyway, I completely forgot this game went into overtime because the end of regulation was so intense.

[@ericdailey8587]

I remember watching this game and getting despondent seeing Arizona pulling away from Illinois and outplaying them like no other team had done all season, and then . . . It was scary at the end as Arizona had so much time to pull ahead but just choked under the Illinois defense (and Brown almost gave the game away with that bad pass near the end of regulation). What a season. Too bad it had to end against a very solid UNC team.

[@DopeItzTheeOne]

That Illinois team will always be one of my favorites I still load up ESPN 2K5 college hoops just to play with them.

[@jasonh5547]

ROFL.

[@Will-fk2dk]

Was playing in a Poker game at my best friend's house when this game was airing. I was pretty mad because I LOVE Illinois Basketball (I worshiped that "Flyin' Illini" Team in 1989... Anyway, we had the game on while we were playing, and ther 16 people in this Poker Tournament my friend hosted, right. So, me and my younger Brother as well as maybe 3 other guys were huge NCAA/NBA Basketball fans, while the rest were either passive fans or couldn't care less at all. Well, with about 6 minutes left, we turned the TV off. I was truly devestated, even though I was 2nd in chips in the poker tournament with only 6 players left... Then we here it! The guys who were out of the tournament went upstairs to watch the game, and we here a huge SCREAM!! "YEAH! YES! YES! HOLY S**T!!" We IMMEDIATELY stopped the poker game, ran upstairs to see that the Illini had cit the lead to 7 with a couple minutes left. I think the screams came after the sequence of Luther Head 3-pointer, Dee Brown in the paint, Luther Head Steal and bucket... I think. Anyway, we sat there for the rest of that game and none of us could believe what we were watching. Here we were, 16 fully grown Men screaming our heads of, and more than half the guys couldnt tell you one player on the Illinois team! But man, when Williams tied the game after the out of bounds play by Arizona... We were jumping up and down, yelling, screaming, high-fiving, hugging rach other as if The Chicago Bears had just won the Super Bowl (yeah, I know... like THAT will ever happen again in my lifetime). I have never seen a game like it. Not one in which a team that I loved so much, and with so much riding on the outcome, came back from what seemednlike an insurmountable deficit, and WON! Now, if the refs had just called the fouls on Sean May, Illinois could have won their 2nd Natty.

[@pookied.7738]

Nobody saw the Illini coming in 2005. Nobody was ready for this team. Gotta say I absolutely love the team on the sidelines absolutely unable to contain themselves. Loooove it. I could listen to that I-L-L ... I-N-I chant all day long.

[@philb.954]

Clutch block from Head before the end of regulation after Dee's outlet pass was deflected. Fearless. Wanted to try and win it before OT

[@jasonh5547]

ROFL. Thank goodness for Elite North Carolina.

[@forgotaboutbre]

8:15 I love this pass by Williams

[@guyincognito320]

8 point lead with 1:03 to go. Once Head hit the first 3 at that point, I kind of knew they'd just will this one to a W. I watched this live on a tube TV and it was as a blurry as this clip.

[@patrickgrimm6146]

I grew up 30mins from Champaign, IL and was fortunate enough to attend the UofI basketball camp in the summer of 2004. I got personally coached by all the players as well as Bruce Webber who helped me perfect my free throw. It was an amazing experience that I'll always remember. I wasn't destined for college basketball being only 6'2" playing PF and not having amazing ball skills. My skills lied on the defensive side as I could block any shot taken near me given my reach. So I focused on school and graduated at the top of my class while still playing basketball and football. But it was an honor meeting this team and getting to actually play basketball with them. To this day I still regard this team as one of the best Illini teams of the current era (can't forget the flying Illini).

[@dapper892]

They looked dead. I ordered 3 shots of Jameson at the bar. Couldn’t believe what happened right after I took em…Illini’s with one of greatest comebacks ever.

[@jasonh5547]

and then the next week Elite North Carolina did not care and took home their fourth national title trophy.

[@kenharris3444]

Dee Brown and Luther Head (great roundball names).

[@sameeknowsitall]

My dad played with luther head back in middle school

[@mattieaflo]

All zona had to do was hold the ball until 10 seconds on the shot clock each time

[@ChiefBlue4298]

They wanted to be cute and sexy but forgot the basic fundamentals of winning basketball games

[@j.d.akachitodee3350]

It’s 2021 and this still hurts

[@Datboy_BJ_313]

Go Illini

[@Nyfancam01]

GO TAR HEELS! 😂​@@Datboy_BJ_313

[@christosdimas8930]

If only they could’ve come back against loyola

[@GeoAce777]

Illini respect at 1:03

[@jasonh5547]

75-70. UNC sure did not care about the AZ/ILL game.

[@juliuscaesart]

As an AZ fan this broke my heart. One of the best game I’ve seen ever

[@Datboy_BJ_313]

As a Illinois fan GG

[@sameeknowsitall]

My dad played against luther head back in middle school!

[@nicudetailer4352]

Incredible game, Big time game with big time play by play, RIP e enberg.

[@gregrice3138]

I still can't believe Illinois never one a title great teams they had

[@jasonh5547]

75-70.

[@Nino_J]

This was basically a home game for the Illini. Talk about home court advantage

[@markbrowning4334]

If I remember correctly, the way the sites worked out for Illinois, the entire tournament was a home court advantage for Illinois. I'm so bummed they didn't close it out against UNC.

[@Nino_J]

@@markbrowning4334 yep, the championship game was in STL. Right next to Illinois, my older brother was there, said 90% of the crowd were Illini fans

[@edupbeat]

@@Nino_J my cousin from Carbondale went to the game. NC was just too big but this will always be my fav college team!

[@Nino_J]

@@edupbeat yeah, that 05’ team was exciting to watch. Haven’t really followed college ball since then.

[@shawnyoung8752]

Kentucky and acc teams in 70s and esrly 80s. Kentucky played numerous times in Lexington as a 1 seed. It was east, southeast, midwest, west. I think it was 81 vs illini and 84 vs illini that ncaa stopped having teams playing on home court.

[@GeoAce777]

Joker makes an appearance 17:08

[@gregrice3138]

it's so weird watching this stuff great memories

[@jasonh5547]

75-70 was a great memory.

[@ChiefBlue4298]

Arizona is just Gonzaga but with a national championship banner

[@9kevtorres]

this was one of the worst nights in my childhood.

[@GeoAce777]

lols I think Dee Brown travelled on that rebound 😅

[@vickilockeby3172]

I’ll never forget this and i’m back after Illini make it to the sweet 16 finally once again in 2024! OSKEWAWA!

[@rickroberts7611]

Elite 8

[@bradleyboyer9979]

Thry made up 15 points in 4 minutes, but its even more impressive that they made up 9 points in 1 minute.

[@greyfox37]

That was the death of Arizona basketball right there

[@lakerskid2013]

Yep, they’ve never been the same since this loss, even with getting back to the Elite 8 a few times.

[@millypoo7713]

I dislike U of A very much, but your comment is asinine.

[@markbrowning4334]

Well, that and Lute Olson retiring. There's always been something "off" with the basketball programs west of the Rockies. Arizona seemed to keep the west relevant for years, but since they went away, its just wierd out there.

[@edupbeat]

@@markbrowning4334 so true, I don’t even know how Olsen was getting kids to commit to Tucson all those years! It’s pretty boring there.

[@sentihcn]

28-3 this year

[@millypoo7713]

Stoudemire gave up the ball on that last possession. He passes it and then runs away to hide. He didn't want to take the last shot.

[@jasonh5547]

75-70.

[@mattsean6164]

Dee Browns steal to make it a 3 point game would 1000% be called a foul in todays game. Cannot stand the refs nowadays. Let’s go Illini

[@asthomse5]

100 percent. Today it's tough to watch. Its always the extreme of 'let them play' or a barrage of ticky tak fouls. No in-between.

[@markbrowning4334]

My biggest problem with today's officiating is the high frequency of offensive fouls(charging). When players are working on their flop technique in practice, its being called too often. Its a player control foul on the offensive player that should only be called when he's out of control and not just because the defender fell down.

[@GeoAce777]

​@@asthomse5more the latter, extremely ticky tack😔

[@joeblow166]

The most wonderful thing about this 2005 Illiini team is that, outside the state of Illinois, they are just another forgotten team that failed to win the NCAA championship.

[@jasonh5547]

Just another National Championship for North Carolina in 2005 amongst their NCAA record most Final Fours.

[@dionshorter22]

This game was 1 of 1.

[@columbusohio72]

2020-2021 team reminds me of this

[@djbeezy]

Yeah and it ended in a 2nd round exit. I don't expect a whole lot from this years team because they are so young but man the next couple of years are going to be fun I hope. I would love another fun ride like the 2004-2005 team was.

[@jasonh5547]

@@djbeezy Illinois no Sweet 16 still since 2005.

[@djbeezy]

I hate that youtube puts up recommendations at the end of the vido!video!! It totally covers up the best part!!

[@sentihcn]

The red jerseys were always a curse

[@illini-100kb8]

I don’t care what a lot of Ills and subjective ( innuendo or random (shortsighted) fans may have believed; but, BRUCE WEBER brought his heart and SOUL TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS. He 1st, after making the sweet 16 in his 1st year- win the Big Ten. Had 3 great players and they played like it every y

[@jasonh5547]

75-70.

[@dawesomelm1917]

Just imagine this but this year

[@shawnyoung8752]

Like 89 flying illini. These were kids who were not d1 players cause of size. Head played center and foward in HS. Powell a bluecollar guy. Brown was good but not shot made him not taken as a d1 guy. These 2 teams were top 10 recruits or 15 20. Out of illinois. So illinois had 2 final four teams with the b and c team guys.

[@jasonh5547]

North Carolina has 21 Final Fours!

[@egseven]

That camera shook when d will hit that three to tie it. Wow

[@jasonh5547]

75-70.

[@egseven]

The went that went 80-80 from 80-77. That's how loud the crowd, man imagine being a college kid and experiencing that.

[@jasonh5547]

@@egseven Imagine the joy of being a fan of an actual program that has experienced much success and that program hoisting up the national championship trophy in 2005. That same UNC program has won yet another two national titles since then while Illinois has not made it back to the Sweet 16 since 2005. I could not imagine what it would be like to cheer for a program like Illinois to where an Arizona Elite Eight comeback is arguably the pinnacle great moment of the program.

[@egseven]

@@jasonh5547 yeah I'm happy they gave deron and the team a platform to succeed

[@jasonh5547]

@@egseven The difference between 2005 Ilinois and 2005 UNC is that the advantage that UNC had in the interior paint was greater than the advantage that Illinois had on the perimeter. I do think that 1989 Illinois could have defeated 2005 UNC.

[@chrismarsh438]

My brother in law left his friends house with 3 minutes left and found out ilini won when he got home 😅😅

[@kendallruff8090]

Dick Enberg was the best

[@gregrice3138]

hats off to illinois

[@louieakporji980]

Upset they didn't get the chip that year

[@bosoxfan131]

UNC ran em😎

[@sheepshead17]

@@bosoxfan131 more like the refs ran augustine to the bench, allowing that slob may to have a game.

[@bpeav4347]

@@sheepshead17 🙌

[@NEEKZ81]

Refs f*cked us bad that game😑

[@mobstakon1]

@@bosoxfan131 you spelled robbed em wrong. Refs did Illinois dirty af that game

[@josemurillo5641]

Great game , but my heels would end up winning the 2005 ncca basketball championship

[@mobstakon1]

Based on God awful officiating. Illinois was robbed in that game. Worst called college game I have ever watched

[@jasonh5547]

@@mobstakon1 75-70

[@jasonh5547]

@@mobstakon1 The reason UNC was the better team than Illinois is because the inside post advantage UNC had over Illinois was greater than the perimeter advantage Illinois had over North Carolina. North Carolina was almost just as good as Illinois on the perimeter.

[@jasonh5547]

@@mobstakon1 moving screens?

[@toddjohnson7572]

Did Illinois win?

[@Datboy_BJ_313]

Ya think??

[@merher]

I wonder what the cheerleaders are plotting in their huddle @20:56

[@JasonMarquisHater]

The coaching job done her by AZ is absolutely abysmal how does the ball not touch Channing Fryes hands at all in that final possession

[@HawksFan5884]

Good point. Ball probably should’ve touched Frye’s hands at some point. It was likely b/c even though he was the best overall player on that team Stoudamire & Adams were thought of more as the stars of that team. Plus they were the 2 guards & Frye was the center so the ball always went through them first

[@ChiefBlue4298]

Lute Olsen is a little overrated

[@GeoAce777]

If I'm the coach I make it simple, drive hard to the rack to draw a foul.

[@hshah2757]

The crowd and refs helped the Illini big time in this, although the players stepped up to take advantage. The referees let the crowd dictate their calls and that momentum kept snowballing, which is what I believe helped the Illini pull off the comeback. For example, the steal against Shakur followed by an easy layup was a clear hack but the refs let it go, and the jersey holding and push against Frye for another steal was an inexcusable no-call. Can't blame the Illini, though, because they took advantage of the situation and hit the big shots nearly every time they were handed gifts for their aggression, while the Wildcats seemed to be simply trying to hold on for the win. The crowd influenced the refs, which influenced the calls, and the Illini players aggressively took advantage while not allowing the Wildcats to passively hold on for what would have been an easy win for Arizona had this been at a different venue. This game was a perfect example of how home court advantage can dictate the outcome of a game.

[@mobstakon1]

Still not as bad as the officiating in the 05 national championship game. This is how momentum works. A "let em play" rule comes into effect during points like this.

[@renecarteir8092]

😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣😂😂🤣😂🤣😂 wasn't even a home game. You're done!

[@TeamHeapMI]

Bruce webber

[@markbrowning4334]

He seems like a nice enough guy, but I don't think he can coach or recruit. He took over a solid Southern Illinois team that Matt Painter built, and under Weber it eroded a bit until he moved on. Then he takes a loaded Illinois team, compliments of Bill Self. The Illini program declines under Weber's watch. Then he goes to an up and up K State, but where are they now?

[@jonathanvelasquez5490]

😭

[@jad5418]

I know I am biased, but it still strikes me that Illinois fans cannot see how the refs got caught up in the comeback just as much as they did. Arizona COMPLETELY blew it, but there's no excuse whatsoever for the lack of whistles on some of the contact creating turnovers.

[@waynedavis3572]

If that’s your view, you have to see it the other way with Auggie fouling out early. 2-3 of those calls on him were nit pick fouls and helped AZ build their lead up. Goes both ways

[@jad5418]

@@waynedavis3572 fine, but those are spread out over a more lengthy period of time, and his fouls were not compressed into a four minute span that saw a fifteen point swing occur… pretty big difference, and exactly what I meant by them “getting caught up”

[@mobstakon1]

In moments like this u less it's flagrant you have to let them play.

[@jad5418]

@@mobstakon1 I think that very much depends on your perspective

[@renecarteir8092]

😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣😂🤣🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂 you're done!

[@zgillet]

do you believe in miracles

[@gregrice3138]

I thought Arizona could of beat nc

[@jakelucas3965]

Channing frye shouldve taken the last shot…

[@jasonmilly3320]

There was another huge comeback on this very same day. Louisville came back from down 20 to West Virginia in the Elite 8 and won in OT. But you all don't post Louisville games, so I figured I'd shout them out myself.

[@daviddaugherty5528]

They truly did. I watched that game thought WVU had it but the 'Ville came through.

[@whitegoosejuvy]

Did pitino take the boys out for a night on the town after the win. Doesn’t matter Illinois put them down the next game

[@MustacheDLuffy]

They actually mention it in the video when the game went into OT that the game between West Virginia and Louisville went into OT just like this one

[@farmthug0085]

Yeah but they didn't do that in the last 3 minutes of the game. This was significantly more impressive. Illinois also beat Louisville the next round

[@Davis_Carlton]

CHIEF!!!!!

[@antonioalibionasario324]

1

[@lilacwang2571]

The mushy lute postnatally consist because refrigerator sequently kneel towards a rebel desire. polite, ablaze chicken

[@NEEKZ81]

Truer words never said🙌🏽😄

[@dgo65]

SeConD HehEHE

[@Syzygy88]

F#%& this game

[@132byrdman]

Refs forgot they could call a foul. Arizona players getting mugged out there. Unc made it right in the final tho.

[@odellbeckham7907]

2024 let’s go Illinois beat Uconn

[@jacobmcglaughlin2165]

I still get chills and anxiety from this game. Of all sports, of every decade, of every accomplishment; this will always be my favorite Team. 🧩🧿🧩

[@jasonh5547]

ROFL. Thank goodness for Elite North Carolina.