The Illini defeated Louisville in the national semifinal to advance to the championship game for the first time in school history.

Illinois' effective offense was largely attributable to the team chemistry that had developed amongst the starting five, which had gone unchanged over the two previous seasons.

In blowout home games, 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) senior Nick Smith, the tallest player in University of Illinois basketball history, would take three-point shots from the top of the key.

After the win, the Illini took over the number 1 overall spot in the national polls and held it for the remainder of the regular season, a run of 15 straight weeks.

On January 25, 2005, Illinois defeated Wisconsin 75–65 at the Kohl Center, snapping the Badgers' nation-leading 38-game home court winning streak.

In the NCAA tournament, the overall number 1 seeded Illini won their first three games by double digits.

[citation needed] The Illini then defeated The University of Louisville 72–57, the team's largest margin of victory in the tournament, to move on to the 2005 National Championship Game against North Carolina.

North Carolina relied upon stellar post play from Sean May, who managed to get James Augustine and Jack Ingram into foul trouble, while Illinois struggled offensively with what had succeeded the rest of the season, converting only 12 of a championship game record 40 three-point field goal attempts.

Roster Sophomore Brian Randle took a medical redshirt after punching a wall in frustration and breaking his hand during preseason practice.