Chambana Sun

One of the University of Illinois' most notable men's basketball teams will gather in Champaign this weekend to mark the 20th anniversary of their back-to-back Big Ten championships. The 2004 and 2005 Fighting Illini squads, led by coach Bruce Weber, achieved significant milestones including a trip to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2004 and an appearance in the National Championship game in 2005 after holding the No. 1 national ranking for much of that season.

Key players from those years include Deron Williams, who went on to have a long NBA career and win two Olympic gold medals, Dee Brown, named Big Ten Player of the Year in 2005, Luther Head, a second-team All-American, James Augustine, who holds the school record for career rebounds, as well as Roger Powell, now head coach at Valparaiso. Several other former players and coaches are also expected to attend.

The reunion events will begin Friday before the Illini football season opener against Western Illinois. Attendees will join fans at Grange Grove after the football team's arrival walk and participate in pre-game festivities such as sounding the air raid siren at Memorial Stadium and being recognized on Zuppke Field during a timeout.

On Saturday, returning team members will tour campus facilities including Ubben Basketball Complex and State Farm Center before attending a luncheon honoring both championship teams.

Former players set to return include starting five members Augustine, Brown, Head, Powell and Williams; Calvin Brock; Jerrance Howard; Jack Ingram; Rich McBride; Shaun Pruitt; Brian Randle; along with Coach Weber and his former assistants Chris Lowery, Gary Nottingham, Jay Price and Tracy Webster.