High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The 2004–05 Illinois Fighting Illini, the 100th season of men`s basketball at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, enjoyed one of the most successful seasons in recent college history. After starting the regular season with a record of 29–0, dominating opponents throughout, and winning the Big Ten Conference regular season title outright, the Illini were Big Ten Tournament champions and advanced in the 2005 NCAA Division I Men`s Basketball Tournament to the National Championship, where they lost to the University of North Carolina 75–70. They ended the season with an overall record of 37–2, tying the NCAA record for most wins in a season, and a conference record of 15–1.