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1954–55 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team

1954–55 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball
1954–55 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team.jpg
Conference Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches No. 16
AP No. 18
1954–55 record 17–5 (10-4 Big Ten)
Head coach Harry Combes
Assistant coach Howie Braun
MVP Paul Judson
Captain Morris Sterneck
Home arena Huff Hall
Seasons
← 1953–54
1955–56 →
1954–55 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings
Conf     Overall
Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT
#5 Iowa 11 3   .786     19 7   .731
#18 Illinois 10 4   .714     17 5   .773
#11 Minnesota 10 4   .714     15 7   .682
Michigan State 8 6   .571     13 9   .591
Northwestern 7 7   .500     12 10   .545
Purdue 5 9   .357     12 10   .545
Michigan 5 9   .357     11 11   .500
Wisconsin 5 9   .357     10 12   .455
Indiana 5 9   .357     8 14   .364
Ohio State 4 10   .286     10 12   .455
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1954–55 Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball team represented the University of Illinois.

Head coach Harry Combes, in his eighth year at Illinois, directed a youthful team with only three returning seniors, none of which were regular players. Combes' team, once again, was primarily made of sophomores and juniors recruited from the state of Illinois.

The 1954-55 team had some talented juniors including the return of twin brothers, Paul and Phil Judson from Hebron, Illinois, Bruce Brothers and Bill Ridley. It also added sophomores George Bon Salle, Bill Altenberger, Hiles Stout, and future Illini head coach, Harv Schmidt. Exactly like the previous season, the Illini finished with a conference record of 10 wins and 4 losses, finishing in a 2nd place tie in the Big Ten. Unfortunately the Illini would lose 5 total games with three of the five losses coming at the hands of ranked opponents. The starting lineup included George Bon Salle at the center position, Bill Ridley and Bill Altenberger at guard and Bruce Brothers and Paul Judson at the forward slots. The team also included former University of Minnesota head coach Jim Dutcher.

Bold Italic connotes conference game


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