the 1949–50 season was the worst of sunderlage's three varsity seasons of illini basketball. the absence of dike eddleman's 329 points from the previous season left the illini with a fourth-place finish in the conference at 7 wins and 5 losses while finishing the regular season with an overall record of 14 wins and 8 losses. after the season, sunderlage would be named captain for the following season on a team that would be adding future all-americans jim bredar and irv bemoras. even with the lack of overall success by the team, sunderlage would win the ralph woods memorial free throw trophy in 1950