The Sweet 16 is just days away, and the Illinois basketball team gets a chance to compete for the first time in nearly 20 years.

The most recent installment of the Illinois basketball team playing in the Sweet 16 will take place on Thursday.

It has been a long time since the Illini have played in the Sweet 16. The last time this happened was nearly 20 years ago. The program has changed dramatically since then.

Illinois is poised to make a deep run in the 2024 NCAA tournament, though. The Sweet 16 tips off on Thursday, as the Illini take on No. 2 Iowa State at roughly 9:20 p.m. CT on TBS/TruTV.

Here is the Illinois basketball all-time Sweet 16 history

No. 3 Illinois basketball vs. No. 2 Iowa State – March 28, 2024

No. 1 Illinois basketball 77 vs. No. 12 Milwaukee 63 – March 24, 2005

Illinois had a magical run to the national championship in 2005. We entered the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 seed and kind of struggled against No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson. The same could be said for the second round against No. 9 Nevada. Thankfully, Illinois won both games, which set up a Sweet 16 matchup against No. 12 Milwaukee. Illinois came alive in this game, taking a seven-point halftime lead and expanding on it. The Illini ended up beating the Panthers, 77-63.

No. 5 Illinois basketball 62 vs. No. 1 Duke 72 – March 26, 2004

This was the year before the year. Illinois’ young talent was starting to mature, but they weren’t quite there yet. As a No. 5 seed, Illinois played well in the first two rounds, winning by double-digit points. A loaded No. 1 Duke team was our Sweet 16 opponent, though. They had six future NBA players and a roster that had eight top-30 recruits. We held our own, only down 31-30 at halftime. Duke was just too much, though. The Blue Devils wielded their power and beat Illinois, 72-62.

No. 4 Illinois basketball 69 vs. No. 1 Kansas 73 – March 22, 2002

Illinois had a talented team in 2002. This was a building program, and we had been to great heights the year before. The Illini earned the No. 4 seed in the NCAA tournament. We beat No. 13 San Diego State and No. 12 Creighton by double-digits in the first two rounds. No. 1 Kansas awaited in the Sweet 16. The Jayhawks were a year more experienced than the previous season, but this was a great matchup. Kansas had the lead at halftime by six points, but Illinois kept the game close throughout. Sadly, the Illini fell just short, 73-69.

No. 1 Illinois basketball 80 vs. No. 4 Kansas 64 – March 23, 2001

It had been over a decade since Illinois made the Sweet 16. In 2001, the Illini put together one of the best teams I have ever seen in Champaign. Illinois entered the NCAA tournament as a No. 1 seed and swept through No. 16 Northwestern State and No. 9 Charlotte with ease. No. 4 Kansas was the opponent in the Sweet 16. That was a really good Kansas team, but Illinois dismantled the Jayhawks. We had a double-digit lead at halftime and increased that lead in the second half. Illinois ended up beating Kansas, 80-64.