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d.j. richardson

Illini Hoops Want More Defense Behind Leaders Richardson, Paul

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One of the biggest reasons the Illini fell well short of preseason expectations last year was their lack of defensive heart and intensity. It isn't like a Bruce Weber coached team to not defend, and last year Illinois lost way too many games because their inability to get stops down the stetch and in crunch time. Especially on the road, Illinois would dig deep holes for … [Read more...] about Illini Hoops Want More Defense Behind Leaders Richardson, Paul

#36 Illinois Fighting Illini: College Basketball 111 in 111

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Welcome to The Sports Bank’s second annual college basketball season preview series.  Last year we looked at 99 teams in 99 days.  This year, we are being slightly more aggressive and expanding to 111 teams in 111 days.  We will rank the 74 power conference teams and top 37 mid-majors in reverse power ranking order.  We’ll break down rosters, non-conference schedules, and pick … [Read more...] about #36 Illinois Fighting Illini: College Basketball 111 in 111

Will The Real Fighting Illini Basketball Team Please Stand Up?

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Sometimes this job is easy. Sometimes it's really, really hard. Take the Illinois men's basketball team for instance. Many people are saying that the Illinois-Texas tilt, a game the Longhorns won 90-84 in overtime, is the best game of this young season so far. I can't possibly agree. I saw two teams playing disorganized, frantic, one-on-one basketball for much of the … [Read more...] about Will The Real Fighting Illini Basketball Team Please Stand Up?

D.J. Richardson, Illini Need to Bring More Defense to the Table

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As you might have noticed Thursday night, given you watched the #13 Illinois Fighting Illini in their 90-84 OT loss to #22 Texas in the 2K Challenge college basketball tournament benfitting Coaches vs. Cancer, Illinois has some problems stopping people. Sure the Longhorns went seven minutes without a field goal down the stretch, but that was more due to leading scorer Jordan … [Read more...] about D.J. Richardson, Illini Need to Bring More Defense to the Table

At Illini Madness, Joseph Bertrand Displays Regained Athleticism

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In the grand scheme of things, does Midnight Madness mean anything? Probably not. It is a marketing ploy to get students excited about the basketball season by allowing the players to show off absurd moves and dunks that likely have no place in a formal Bruce Weber practice. For example, D.J. Richardson tried to teach Huff Hall how to dougie at Illinois' Midnight Madness … [Read more...] about At Illini Madness, Joseph Bertrand Displays Regained Athleticism

Illinois Basketball’s Key: Improved Depth

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By Paul Schmidt A very different Illini team is taking the court this season in the Assembly Hall in Champaign, and this fact gives the Illini options a-plenty. Though defensively the team has seemed to take a step back, offensively they have as diverse and dynamic of an offense as the team has displayed in 20 years -- Yes, since the Flyin' Illini. One of the more … [Read more...] about Illinois Basketball’s Key: Improved Depth