In the bracket of non-existent, 2009-2011 Illini basketball leadership has got to be a #1 seed. And I’m not singling out Coach Bruce Weber, or point guard/star player Demetri McCamey. I’m talking about the total team's overall tendency to just NOT get things done together as a team. If Notre Dame is Gestalt, and a cohesive unit playing well beyond the sum of their parts, … [Read more...] about Blame for Disappointing Illini Season Goes Well Beyond Senior Class
2011 Illinois Fighting Illini basketball
Five Worst Moments of the 2010-11 Illini Hoops Season
The Illinois Fighting Illini came into this year with across-the-board top 15 preseason national rankings. Yet here they are receiving no votes at all (deservedly so) in either poll for the past few weeks, under .500 in conference, and squarely on the NCAA bubble. In other words, grossly underachieving and not even remotely close to meeting expectations. And it’s not just … [Read more...] about Five Worst Moments of the 2010-11 Illini Hoops Season
Brokeback Illini
Sometimes, it's hard to realize you're in an abusive relationship. And that's not to diminish abuse, but sports relationships, emotionally, can be just as abusive to those who take sports seriously. And yes, I'm one of those people who take it too seriously. I know that. But it means a lot to me, and in a way that has nothing to do with work. I thought I could quit you, … [Read more...] about Brokeback Illini
Illini Crush Penn State, McCamey’s Final Battle with Talor
Two all-star senior point guards meeting for the final time...unless of course they square off in the Big Ten Tournament. But during the four years that Demetri McCamey manned the one for the Illini, and Talor Battle served in the same role for the Nittany Lions, Battle won the war 5-4. This is a substantial aberration, because Illinois has an all-time 22-10 advantage in the … [Read more...] about Illini Crush Penn State, McCamey’s Final Battle with Talor
Illinois’ Second Half Choke Not Surprising
There wasn't much you could say about the Illini and their fall to top-ranked Ohio State on Saturday afternoon. It was certainly disappointing. It was certainly a let down after building a lead. The one thing you really can't call it, and we all know it deep down inside, was all that surprising. … [Read more...] about Illinois’ Second Half Choke Not Surprising