The St. Louis Cardinals are huge in Champaign-Urbana. They compete with primarily the Chicago Cubs, but also the White Sox to be the favorite MLB team in the community dominated by the University of Illinois campus. The Cards do come first though, and perhaps Illini coach Bruce Weber knew that when he made his appeal to Illini Nation that his team's post-season chances aren't … [Read more...] about St. Louis Cardinals postseason inspiration for Illini NCAA Tournament hopes
illini basketball
Illini partnering up with Chicago White Sox, Fire
On the heels of yesterday's deal with the Chicago White Sox, the University of Illinois and Chicago Fire Soccer Club have formed a cross-promotional partnership where Illini fans will receive special offers for Fire events, including pre-arranged behind-the-scene tours of Toyota Stadium and unique events like breakfast in the clubhouse. Illini fans who purchase Fire season … [Read more...] about Illini partnering up with Chicago White Sox, Fire
Former Illini, NBA Draft bust Jereme Richmond finds “professional” team
The only McDonald's All-American to be recruited by Bruce Weber, and the 2010 state of Illinois Mr. Basketball Jereme Richmond has finally found a place to play basketball again, in the Premier League. No, not that Premier League, the world's finest soccer association in England. The ex-Illini forward will play for the Sauk Valley Predators in the Premier Basketball League, … [Read more...] about Former Illini, NBA Draft bust Jereme Richmond finds “professional” team
Illini basketball season summarized in one photo
What can be said of the 2011-12 Illinois Fighting Illini? I've already talked about how the coach, Bruce Weber, is 99% gone at the end of the season, I've highlighted how the current college basketball collapse closely mirrors the college football cave-in during the exact same academic year. I've even mentioned how the current team has numerous stylistic and composition … [Read more...] about Illini basketball season summarized in one photo
Illini basketball season follows same depressing path as Illini football season
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." For Illini fans in 2011-12, both were true. In both revenue producing sports. On the college football gridiron, Illinois started 6-0, on the strength of some ugly wins: (Northwestern, Western Michigan), and ascended to #16 in the nation. They lost as favorites to Ohio State, then became the first team in FBS … [Read more...] about Illini basketball season follows same depressing path as Illini football season
Illini Coach Bruce Weber clarifies, apologies for defeatist comments last night
Illinois Coach Bruce Weber sounded like a dead man walking last night in his post game press conference. Following the Illini home loss to Purdue, which effectively killed his team's NCAA Tournament at-large chances, Weber sounded very defeatist when meeting the media. He called out some of his own players (Meyers Leonard, for his body language specifically), gushed over … [Read more...] about Illini Coach Bruce Weber clarifies, apologies for defeatist comments last night
Hoosiers Cody Zeller is Superior to Illini Meyers Leonard
In the Big Ten, there are two centers 0f attention that have separated themselves from the pack. And that makes sense as there are just fewer and fewer true centers these days; especially at the NBA level. And where would the NBA get such beings? When college basketball is seeing the decline of the big man too. The two main big men in the Big Ten are Cody Zeller at Indiana, … [Read more...] about Hoosiers Cody Zeller is Superior to Illini Meyers Leonard
Hoosiers’ rivalry with Illinois moving more towards Indiana’s Favor
Overshadowed this week by UNC-Duke, the best rivalry in college basketball and Syracuse-Georgetown, the greatest in the Big East, is Illini vs. Hoosiers, a great rivalry in itself. The all time series was tied at 83 entering tonight. However, Illinois was 5-1 in their last 6 versus IU. And that one loss in Bloomington last year was extremely fluky to say the least. After … [Read more...] about Hoosiers’ rivalry with Illinois moving more towards Indiana’s Favor
’11-’12 Illini Bare Disturbing Resemblance to ’98-’99 Team
Bruce Weber has his 2011-12 Fighting Illini in real good shape to make the NCAA Tournament, with his third big, signature win coming just the other night over Michigan State. Yet he's on both the hot seat and the bad side of Illini Nation. (Much more on this in a quickly upcoming post) Why? Style points. Illini basketball is "sexy" alright, sexy as Camryn Manheim or Kathy … [Read more...] about ’11-’12 Illini Bare Disturbing Resemblance to ’98-’99 Team
Illini Guard Brandon Paul is National College Hoops Player of the Week
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected Illinois guard Brandon Paul as its Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week. And of course he's the Big Ten Player of the Week as well. Paul, a 6-4 junior from Gurnee, Ilinois (Warren high school), led the Illini to a 79-74 win over #5 Ohio State, scoring 43 points to go with eight rebounds and four blocks. The 43-point … [Read more...] about Illini Guard Brandon Paul is National College Hoops Player of the Week