The Illini played their home games at Assembly Hall and were members of the Big Ten Conference.

Six true freshman; Tracy Abrams, Myke Henry, Devin Langford, Nnanna Egwu, Mike Shaw, and Ibby Djimde as well as one transfer senior, Sam Maniscalco joined the 2011–12 team.

Because Bradley did not offer the graduate program he enrolled in at Illinois, Maniscalco was eligible to play immediately.

[1] Sources: Prior to the start of fall semester classes, the team embarked on a 10-day international tour of Italy in August, 2011.

With stops in Rome, Florence, Venice, and Como the trip was a combination of basketball, sightseeing, and team-building.