Illini sorry for jersey gaffe in Shannon ceremony

• Myron MedcalfFeb 16, 2025, 10:11 AM ET Close Covers college basketball

• Joined ESPN.com in 2011
• Graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato

Illinois school authorities have asked forgiveness after previous star Terrence Shannon Jr.’s jersey was upside down throughout a retirement event Saturday.At halftime of Michigan State’s win over Illinois, fans in the crowd gasped after the jersey, which will hang in the rafters at the State Farm Center, was not effectively positioned when Shannon pulled a cable to reveal it.

“Before we enter into the compound of the game tonight, undoubtedly, we had a regrettable situation at halftime with the jersey around [Shannon’s] event,” Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman said after the game. “Undoubtedly, a really regrettable minute. It’s a pity that it took place that way.

“Naturally, I didn’t hang the jersey, but I’m ultimately responsible for everything that takes place in this building and eventually that indicates that was on me tonight. We require to make certain we understand that in life, mistakes occur. However there are likewise specific moments where errors can’t take place. And tonight, we took that moment from [Shannon] and that’s on us and something that we have actually asked forgiveness to him for, asked forgiveness to his mother. We want to make certain that we say sorry to our fans and everyone who was excited to be a part of this experience tonight.”

Terrence Shannon Jr.’s jersey was hung upside down when it was revealed throughout a retirement event, which Illinois called a “regrettable” mistake. Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Last season, Shannon led Illinois to the Elite Eight for the very first time in almost twenty years. He averaged 23 points per game for coach Brad Underwood’s squad and made The Associated Press All-America third team.But it was

an unstable year for Shannon, who was suspended midseason after he was charged with sexual assault stemming from a supposed event in Kansas. He was ultimately renewed following a legal obstacle from his lawyers and permitted to return to the program after missing numerous games.At his trial last summer, Shannon was discovered not guilty of rape and worsened sexual assault. The Minnesota Timberwolves made Shannon the 27th pick in the 2024 NBA draft. He is balancing 3.1 points in 16 games this season.Before Saturday’s game, Shannon said he was surprised Illinois would retire his jersey, due to the fact that he played 3 years at Texas Tech before he transferred for the final 2 years of collegiate career.” I was surprised because I was just here for 2 years,”he told local

media before the event. “I was simply happy. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to get my jersey up there. “Editor’s Picks Whitman said the school invested a lot of energy to plan Saturday’s retirement event, which made

the gaffe a lot more awkward and”inexcusable.””We did get the jersey right-sided and have an opportunity to get [Shannon] with [Underwood] on the court to take some pictures after the game was over,”Whitman said. “But absolutely nothing we can do to recreate that minute. We recognize that. We own it. There’s certain mistakes that can’t take place.”I had some perky discussions throughout the 2nd half [so] that the best people knew the level of disappointment and disappointment we felt because minute. Ideally, in the lens of history, that will not do anything to reduce, of course, what [Shannon] achieved here and what this evening was indicated to be for him and for the tradition of Illinois basketball. “Following his group’s loss to Michigan State, which gave Tom Izzo the record for a lot of wins in Huge 10 history over former Indiana coach Bob Knight, Underwood got emotional as he spoke about Shannon.He stated the misfortune Shannon dealt with is a part of a tradition that helped him find “quality.” “To have a jersey that will hang

— and I know how important it is to the fans here and I know important it is for him; he’s from Chicago, he grew up seeing this– and to be up there with so couple of others, there’s insufficient adjectives, there’s insufficient words, for how happy I am, “Underwood said.