Illinois Apologizes for Jersey Mishap During Terrence Shannon Jr.’s Ceremony
In a moment that was supposed to be a celebration of a remarkable college basketball career, Illinois school officials found themselves issuing apologies after a significant blunder during the jersey retirement ceremony for former star Terrence Shannon Jr. on Saturday. The ceremony, held at halftime of the Michigan State game, took an unexpected turn when Shannon’s jersey was unveiled upside down, leaving fans in the State Farm Center gasping in disbelief.
Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman addressed the mishap after the game, expressing his regret over the incident. “Before we get into the substance of the game tonight, obviously, we had a regrettable situation at halftime with the jersey around [Shannon’s] celebration,” Whitman stated. “Obviously, a really regrettable moment. It’s a shame that it happened that way.”
Whitman took full responsibility for the error, acknowledging that while he did not personally hang the jersey, he is ultimately accountable for everything that occurs within the building. “We need to make sure we understand that in life, mistakes happen. But there are also certain moments where mistakes can’t happen. And tonight, we stole that moment from [Shannon] and that’s on us and something that we have apologized to him for, apologized to his mom. We want to make sure that we apologize to our fans and everybody who was excited to be a part of this experience tonight,” he added.
Shannon, who led Illinois to the Elite Eight last season for the first time in nearly 20 years, was a key player for coach Brad Underwood’s squad, averaging 23 points per game and earning a spot on The Associated Press All-America third team. Despite his on-court success, Shannon’s year was not without controversy. He faced a midseason suspension after being charged with sexual assault in Kansas, a charge from which he was later acquitted. Following a legal challenge, Shannon was reinstated and allowed to return to the program after missing several games.
In the 2024 NBA draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Shannon as the 27th pick. This season, he is averaging 3.1 points over 16 games. Despite his relatively short tenure at Illinois, having transferred from Texas Tech for his final two years, Shannon expressed surprise and gratitude for the honor of having his jersey retired. “I was shocked because I was only here for two years,” he told local media before the ceremony. “I was just happy. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to get my jersey up there.”
Whitman emphasized the effort put into planning the ceremony, which made the mistake even more embarrassing and “inexcusable.” He noted, “We did get the jersey right-sided and have a chance to get [Shannon] with [Underwood] on the court to take some pictures after the game was over. But nothing we can do to recreate that moment. We recognize that. We own it. There’s certain mistakes that can’t happen.”
During the second half of the game, Whitman had “spirited conversations” to ensure that the right people understood the level of disappointment and frustration felt over the incident. He expressed hope that, in the long run, the mishap would not overshadow Shannon’s accomplishments and the intended significance of the evening for him and the legacy of Illinois basketball.
Following Illinois’ loss to Michigan State, which marked a historic win for Tom Izzo, giving him the record for most wins in Big Ten history over former Indiana coach Bob Knight, coach Underwood became emotional when discussing Shannon. He highlighted the adversity Shannon faced as a crucial part of his legacy, which ultimately led him to “excellence.”
- Shannon’s jersey retirement was marred by an upside-down unveiling.
- Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman took responsibility for the error.
- Shannon was a standout player, leading Illinois to the Elite Eight.
- He faced legal challenges but was acquitted and reinstated to the team.
- Shannon was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2024.
Underwood expressed his pride in Shannon’s achievements, stating, “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 watching this — and to be up there with so few others, there’s not enough adjectives, there’s not enough words, for how proud I am.”
Originally Written by: Myron Medcalf
