Head coach Harry Combes experienced the worst record of his 20 years at the University of Illinois.

His Fighting Illini basketball team, for the second year in a row, played in a mid-season tournament.

The tournament they would compete in would be the Kentucky Invitational Tournament held at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Kentucky December 21–22.

The Illini also added sophomore Bob Starnes to their lineup.

The starting lineup included Bill Burwell at the center position, Bill Small and Jerry Colangelo at guard and Dave Downey and John Wessels at the forward slots.