Fansided

10 best Final Four teams that didn’t win the national championship

By Mike Phillips

02 APR 2005: Guard Luther Head (4) of Illinois drives the to the basket past Louisville's Taquan Dean (5) during the Division I Men's Final Four semi final game held the the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, MO. The University of Illinois went on to defeat Louisville 72-57 to advance to the championship game. Photo: Ryan McKee/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
02 APR 2005: Guard Luther Head (4) of Illinois drives the to the basket past Louisville's Taquan Dean (5) during the Division I Men's Final Four semi final game held the the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, MO. The University of Illinois went on to defeat Louisville 72-57 to advance to the championship game. Photo: Ryan McKee/NCAA Photos via Getty Images /
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NCAA College Basketball Championship – Illinois Roger Powell, Luther Head, Dee Brown against Wisconsin-Milwaukee Ed McCants, Joah Tucker, Adrian Tigert during the NCAA tournament regional semi-finals in Chicago, Ill., on March 24, 2005. Illinois won 77-63. (Photo by Sporting News/Sporting News via Getty Images)
NCAA College Basketball Championship – Illinois Roger Powell, Luther Head, Dee Brown against Wisconsin-Milwaukee Ed McCants, Joah Tucker, Adrian Tigert during the NCAA tournament regional semi-finals in Chicago, Ill., on March 24, 2005. Illinois won 77-63. (Photo by Sporting News/Sporting News via Getty Images) /

2. 2005 Illinois Fighting Illini

Illinois has struggled for the better part of the last decade-plus, but for one glorious season, the Fighting Illini were the talk of college hoops. Bruce Weber’s second season at the helm for Illinois would prove to be his finest as the Illini dominated the sport all season.

Led by a three-guard attack of Deron Williams, Dee Brown, and Luther Head the Illini were ruthless on offense, scoring a ton of points and playing excellent team basketball by leading the nation in assists. Illinois was also a rugged defensive team, allowing the eighth-fewest points per game in the country.

That brilliant combination made Illinois very tough to beat, and only Ohio State in the regular season finale did that as the Illini rolled to a 32-1 record, claiming both Big Ten titles in the process. Illinois received the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament and got to the championship game after a furious comeback vs. Arizona to get to the Final Four, setting up a showdown with North Carolina.

The Tar Heels pounded the ball in the paint in that game, with Sean May having a field day after Illini big men James Augustine and Jack Ingram into foul trouble. Illinois also had an uncharacteristically poor day from the perimeter, going 12-40 from beyond the arc in a 75-70 loss.

Sports Illustrated voted this edition of the Illini the best team not to win the NCAA Tournament.

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