Illinois Apologizes After Upside Down Jersey Retirement for Terrence Shannon Jr.

During a halftime ceremony at the State Farm Center, the University of Illinois retired Terrence Shannon Jr.'s jersey, but the event was marred by an embarrassing mistake when the jersey was unveiled upside down, prompting gasps and laughter from the crowd. Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman publicly apologized for the mishap, acknowledging the significance of the moment and taking responsibility for the error. Shannon, who played two seasons at Illinois and is now with the Minnesota Timberwolves, took the incident in stride, expressing gratitude for the honor despite the blunder. The error overshadowed Illinois' 79-65 loss to No. 11 Michigan State that night, but the jersey placement was later corrected for photos with Shannon and his coach. Fans and social media users reacted sympathetically, with many expressing disappointment over the mistake. Whitman emphasized the importance of such moments and vowed to ensure they are handled better in the future.