Illinois basketball honored the legendary 2005 Final Four team during the season opener — a squad that went 37–2 and came one half away from a national championship. Deron Williams, Dee Brown, James Augustine, Roger Powell Jr., and Bruce Weber all returned to Champaign for a hero’s welcome.

In this episode of Locked On Illini, I explain why this moment was about more than just nostalgia: How the 2005 team defined Illinois basketball for a generation Why embracing history helps recruiting and builds tradition The impact of seeing stars like Ayo Dosunmu and Terrence Shannon Jr. back in Champaign Why honoring the past strengthens the present and future of Illinois athletics Illinois is finally leaning into its history — and that could be the key to staying nationally relevant. 

Welcome to Locked On Illini, your one-stop show for all things Illinois Fighting Illini football and basketball! Join host Sunny Verma as he brings you in-depth analysis, game previews, post-game breakdowns, and exclusive interviews with players, coaches, and insiders. Whether you're a die-hard Illini fan or just looking to stay updated on the latest in college sports, this is the podcast for you. Tune in on YouTube and your favorite audio platforms for fresh episodes and all the insights you need to stay ahead of the game. Get ready to be Locked On Illini! Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball and football! Email us at: talkillini@gmail.com FOLLOW OUR FACEBOOK PAGE! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564192637267 NEW ILLINI DISCORD: https://discord.gg/f8PfVrgf 

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