Officials at the University of Illinois have issued an apology following a mishap where Terrence Shannon Jr.’s jersey was displayed incorrectly during a recent retirement ceremony.

During halftime of the game where Michigan State triumphed over Illinois, the crowd was taken aback as the jersey, set to be permanently displayed at State Farm Center, was unveiled in an upside-down manner as Shannon pulled the unveiling cord.

“Before we delve into tonight’s game, we must address the unfortunate incident regarding [Shannon’s] jersey retirement,” Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman remarked after the game. “This was clearly an unfortunate oversight. While I did not hang the jersey myself, I am ultimately responsible for all activities in this venue, and that incident falls on my shoulders. Mistakes happen, but certain moments must be honored correctly. Unfortunately, we diminished that celebration for [Shannon], and we have extended our apologies to him and his mother. We also want to apologize to our fans who were looking forward to this significant event.”

Last season, Shannon capped a challenging year by leading Illinois to the Elite Eight, a feat not accomplished in nearly two decades. He recorded an impressive average of 23.0 points per game under head coach Brad Underwood and earned a spot on The Associated Press All-America third team.

Shannon’s journey was not without difficulty; he faced suspension midseason due to charges related to a sexual assault case from an incident in Kansas. He was reinstated following a legal battle and returned to the team after missing several contests.

Ultimately found not guilty of rape and aggravated sexual assault during his trial last summer, Shannon was selected 27th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2024 NBA draft. This season, he is averaging 3.1 points per game across 16 games with the team.

Prior to the ceremony, Shannon expressed surprise at the decision to retire his jersey, considering he spent three years at Texas Tech before transferring to play his final two years at Illinois. “I was taken aback because my time here was only two years,” he shared with local reporters ahead of the event. “I feel immense gratitude for the chance to have my jersey honored.”

Whitman noted that the school had dedicated significant efforts towards planning the jersey retirement, making the mistake even more regrettable and “inexcusable.”

“We did get the jersey corrected and had the opportunity to get [Shannon] and [Underwood] together on the court for some photographs after the game,” Whitman added. “Nonetheless, we cannot recreate that moment. We fully acknowledge our mistake and know that certain errors should not occur. I had some intense discussions during the second half to ensure that the right individuals acknowledged our disappointment and frustration. We hope that, in the grand scheme of things, this will not overshadow [Shannon’s] achievements and the significance of this night for him and for the Illinois basketball legacy.”

In the aftermath of his team’s loss to Michigan State, which allowed Tom Izzo to break the record for most Big Ten wins over former Indiana coach Bob Knight, Underwood became emotional while reflecting on Shannon’s journey.

He remarked on how the challenges Shannon faced contributed to his legacy and journey towards “excellence.” “To have a jersey that will hang in the rafters means so much to our fans and to him; growing up in Chicago, I understand how significant this moment is for him. To be honored alongside so few others, words can hardly capture my pride,” Underwood concluded.