alwood would enroll at the university of illinois in the fall of 1913 and join the varsity basketball team. his sophomore year would place him as a starting forward for the 1914-15 fighting illini team that would finish as the only team in illinois history with a perfect record, 16 wins and 0 losses. this team would not only be big ten conference champions, they would also be named helms national champions as well as premo-poretta national champions. this would be the university of illinois's first national championship. as a junior, alwood maintained his starting role with an illini team that would finish in second place in the conference with an overall record of 13 and 3. alwoods' senior season, while playing for hall-of-fame coach ralph jones, would bring the fighting illini an additional big ten conference championship. alwood would be named the team captain for the 1916-17 season and the illini would finish their schedule with an overall record of 13 wins and 3 losses and a conference record of 10 wins and 2 losses. the season would bring two prestigious awards to alwood, the big ten medal of honor, given to the one student-athlete