John Groce — Record in Close Games (Margin ≤ 5)
28–15
65.1%
win rate
+0.9
avg margin
43
games
Games (43)
| # | Date | Season | School | Opponent | Opp. Conf. | Loc | W/L | Score | Type | Arena |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2012-11-17 | 2012–13 | Illinois | Hawaii | Big West | Away | W | 78–77 OT | Regular | Stan Sheriff Center |
| 2 | 2012-11-25 | 2012–13 | Illinois | Gardner-Webb | Big South | Home | W | 63–62 | Regular | State Farm Center |
| 3 | 2012-12-29 | 2012–13 | #12 Illinois | Auburn | SEC | Neutral | W | 81–79 | Regular | United Center |
| 4 | 2013-01-31 | 2012–13 | #23 Illinois | #13 Michigan State | B10 | Away | L | 75–80 | Regular | Breslin Events Center |
| 5 | 2013-02-07 | 2012–13 | #23 Illinois | #1 Indiana | B10 | Home | W | 74–72 | Regular | State Farm Center |
| 6 | 2013-02-10 | 2012–13 | #23 Illinois | #18 Minnesota | B10 | Away | W | 57–53 | Regular | Williams Arena |
| 7 | 2013-02-21 | 2012–13 | #23 Illinois | Penn State | B10 | Home | W | 64–59 | Regular | State Farm Center |
| 8 | 2013-03-14 | 2012–13 | #23 Illinois | Minnesota | B10 | Neutral | W | 51–49 | Conf. Tourn. | United Center |
| 9 | 2013-03-24 | 2012–13 | #23 Illinois | #5 Miami (FL) | ACC | Neutral | L | 59–63 | NCAA | Frank Erwin Center |
| 10 | 2013-11-26 | 2013–14 | Illinois | Nevada-Las Vegas | Mountain West | Away | W | 61–59 | Regular | Thomas & Mack Center |
| 11 | 2013-11-29 | 2013–14 | Illinois | Purdue Fort Wayne | Summit | Home | W | 57–55 | Regular | State Farm Center |
| 12 | 2013-12-03 | 2013–14 | Illinois | Georgia Tech | ACC | Away | L | 64–67 | Regular | McCamish Pavilion |
| 13 | 2013-12-21 | 2013–14 | Illinois | #23 Missouri | SEC | Neutral | W | 65–64 | Regular | Enterprise Center |
| 14 | 2013-12-31 | 2013–14 | Illinois | Indiana | B10 | Home | W | 83–80 OT | Regular | State Farm Center |
| 15 | 2014-02-09 | 2013–14 | #23 Illinois | Penn State | B10 | Away | W | 60–55 | Regular | Bryce Jordan Center |
| 16 | 2014-03-08 | 2013–14 | #23 Illinois | #24 Iowa | B10 | Away | W | 66–63 | Regular | Carver-Hawkeye Arena |
| 17 | 2014-03-14 | 2013–14 | #23 Illinois | #8 Michigan | B10 | Neutral | L | 63–64 | Conf. Tourn. | Gainbridge Fieldhouse |
| 18 | 2014-03-19 | 2013–14 | #23 Illinois | Boston University | Patriot | Away | W | 66–62 | NIT | Agganis Arena |
| 19 | 2014-03-23 | 2013–14 | #23 Illinois | Clemson | ACC | Away | L | 49–50 | NIT | Littlejohn Coliseum |
| 20 | 2014-12-20 | 2014–15 | #24 Illinois | Missouri | SEC | Neutral | W | 62–59 | Regular | Enterprise Center |
| 21 | 2015-01-14 | 2014–15 | #24 Illinois | Northwestern | B10 | Away | W | 72–67 | Regular | Welsh–Ryan Arena |
| 22 | 2015-01-31 | 2014–15 | #24 Illinois | Penn State | B10 | Home | W | 60–58 | Regular | State Farm Center |
| 23 | 2015-02-07 | 2014–15 | #24 Illinois | Michigan State | B10 | Away | W | 59–54 | Regular | Breslin Events Center |
| 24 | 2015-03-07 | 2014–15 | #24 Illinois | Purdue | B10 | Away | L | 58–63 | Regular | Mackey Arena |
| 25 | 2015-11-18 | 2015–16 | Illinois | Providence | Big East | Away | L | 59–60 | Regular | Amica Mutual Pavilion |
| 26 | 2015-11-21 | 2015–16 | Illinois | Chattanooga | SoCon | Neutral | L | 77–81 | Regular | Bank of Springfield Center |
| 27 | 2015-11-23 | 2015–16 | Illinois | Chicago State | WAC | Neutral | W | 82–79 | Regular | Bank of Springfield Center |
| 28 | 2015-12-02 | 2015–16 | Illinois | Notre Dame | ACC | Home | L | 79–84 | Regular | State Farm Center |
| 29 | 2015-12-09 | 2015–16 | Illinois | Yale | Ivy | Home | W | 69–65 | Regular | State Farm Center |
| 30 | 2015-12-12 | 2015–16 | Illinois | Illinois-Chicago | Horizon | Neutral | W | 83–79 | Regular | United Center |
| 31 | 2015-12-23 | 2015–16 | Illinois | Missouri | SEC | Neutral | W | 68–63 | Regular | Enterprise Center |
| 32 | 2016-01-03 | 2015–16 | Illinois | Ohio State | B10 | Away | L | 73–75 | Regular | Value City Arena |
| 33 | 2016-01-23 | 2015–16 | Illinois | Minnesota | B10 | Away | W | 76–71 OT | Regular | Williams Arena |
| 34 | 2016-01-28 | 2015–16 | Illinois | Ohio State | B10 | Home | L | 63–68 OT | Regular | State Farm Center |
| 35 | 2016-02-13 | 2015–16 | Illinois | Northwestern | B10 | Away | L | 56–58 | Regular | Welsh–Ryan Arena |
| 36 | 2016-03-10 | 2015–16 | Illinois | #20 Iowa | B10 | Neutral | W | 68–66 | Conf. Tourn. | Gainbridge Fieldhouse |
| 37 | 2016-11-21 | 2016–17 | Illinois | Winthrop | Big South | Home | L | 80–84 OT | Regular | State Farm Center |
| 38 | 2016-12-17 | 2016–17 | Illinois | Brigham Young | WCC | Neutral | W | 75–73 | Regular | United Center |
| 39 | 2017-01-01 | 2016–17 | Illinois | Ohio State | B10 | Home | W | 75–70 | Regular | State Farm Center |
| 40 | 2017-01-28 | 2016–17 | Illinois | Penn State | B10 | Away | L | 67–71 | Regular | Bryce Jordan Center |
| 41 | 2017-02-18 | 2016–17 | Illinois | Iowa | B10 | Away | W | 70–66 | Regular | Carver-Hawkeye Arena |
| 42 | 2017-03-01 | 2016–17 | Illinois | Michigan State | B10 | Home | W | 73–70 | Regular | State Farm Center |
| 43 | 2017-03-04 | 2016–17 | Illinois | Rutgers | B10 | Away | L | 59–62 | Regular | Jersey Mike's Arena |