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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to 
3congratulate the University of Illinois Men's Basketball Team, 
4the Fighting Illini, on their historic 2025-26 season; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The Fighting Illini made it to the Final Four of 
6the 2026 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, 
7achieving this feat for the sixth time in program history; and
 
8    WHEREAS, The Fighting Illini reached the Final Four for 
9the third time since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 
101985, joining the 1988-89 team, the Flyin' Illini, and the 
112004-05 team, which won its first 30 games and reached the only 
12national title game in program history; and
 
13    WHEREAS, The Fighting Illini finished the regular season 
14with an overall record of 24 wins and 7 loses, the most 
15regular-season wins in the past 20 years, and a 15 and 5 Big 
16Ten Conference record, tying for the second-most conference 
17wins in program history; and
 
18    WHEREAS, The Fighting Illini team is one of only four 
19teams nationally to have 20+ regular season wins in each of the 
20last seven years, joining Gonzaga, Houston, and San Diego 
21State; and
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, The members of the Fighting Illini Men's 
2Basketball Team, including all student athletes, coaches, and 
3support staff, have demonstrated dedication, sportsmanship, 
4and academic commitment throughout the season; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The Fighting Illini team's run to the Final Four 
6energized alumni, students, and supporters across the State, 
7reinforcing the University of Illinois System's role as a 
8unifying source of pride and a driver of community, economic, 
9and cultural vitality; and
 
10    WHEREAS, The success of the Fighting Illini Men's 
11Basketball Program is further strengthened by the leadership 
12of Director of Athletics Josh Whitman, whose vision, 
13stewardship, and commitment to excellence continue to elevate 
14Illinois Athletics and support student athletes in achieving 
15success both on and off the court; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Fighting Illini Head Coach Brad Underwood now 
17holds the third and fifth spots of the top nine winningest Big 
18Ten seasons in school history; therefore, be it
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL 
20ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the 
21University of Illinois Men's Basketball Team, the Fighting 
 
 
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1Illini, on their historic 2025-26 season, and we wish them 
2many more successful seasons; and be it further
 
3    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
4presented to the Fighting Illini coaches and player as a 
5symbol of our respect and esteem.