Mixed basketball memories from the early 2000s will be revived when the Illini play an early-season game next season against Arizona in Tucson.
A nationally-covered feud began with a rough-and-tumble clash in Hawaii in November 2001. Luke Walton blocked Cory Bradford's corner trey in the closing seconds to save a 79-76 win for the No. 1-ranked Wildcats.
Bill Self's Illini got even in Chicago a month later, 81-73, after which coach Lute Olson complained loudly to the media about the physicality of Lucas Johnson and his rambunctious teammates (those two nonconference games saw 118 free throws).
Then, with a Final Four slot on the line in San Antonio that March, officials ceded to Olson's protestations as the Wildcats shot an NCAA tourney record 56 free throws, converting 43 in an 87-81 win.