It was a pretty sweet NCAA Tourney win for the Illinois Fighting Illini last night. They absolutely crushed UNLV, and former Illinois Coach Lon Kruger in game that was much more lopsided than the final box score indicates. And it was their first Tournament win in a half decade. That pretty much makes this season the most successful one in Champaign since 2006. For one … [Read more...] about Illini get Tourney Win, Need to Beat a Higher Seed
illini basketball
Illinois Fighting Illini Choke Away BTT Game to Wolverines
There's only one program to have reached (or received a bye into) the Big Ten Tournament quarter-finals every year in the tourney's inception, and that's the Illinois Fighting Illini. In fact out of the 13 conference tourneys, they've reached the semi-finals in every year except one. Make it two after today's epic choke job. The Illini (who have the most BTT wins all time … [Read more...] about Illinois Fighting Illini Choke Away BTT Game to Wolverines
Illini Need to Play Loose (And Wiffleball) to Advance On
What did Yogi Berra once say about half of the game being 90% mental, or something thereabouts? For the Illini Fighting Illini to make a long run in March this college basketball season, it's all about getting/keeping their head right. And that means playing free and loose. Which means playing some wiffleball? "I think the biggest key to tonight's win was wiffleball last … [Read more...] about Illini Need to Play Loose (And Wiffleball) to Advance On
Blame for Disappointing Illini Season Goes Well Beyond Senior Class
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
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
Purdue Dominates Second Half in Win at Illinois, Boilers Seniors Own Illini Counterparts
A college basketball game like this, the one in which the Purdue Boilermakers absolutely took over the Illini in the second half, as their seniors played like seniors: guys who learn, develop and focus on progress. On the other side, the Illinois seniors regressed to historically epic proportions. But enough on that for now, believe me we'll have plenty on all that … [Read more...] about Purdue Dominates Second Half in Win at Illinois, Boilers Seniors Own Illini Counterparts
Why do the Illini have so Little Fight on the Road?
Following yet another disappointing road loss at Northwestern, Illinois Head Coach Bruce Weber talked about what he's tried to fix their 1-4 in conference play road woes. "We tried lineup changes, they all want to start, but step up and be a starter, make the plays. Billy (Cole) said it, we got to start the game with shutouts, we got to be determined, we can't let a … [Read more...] about Why do the Illini have so Little Fight on the Road?
Can this Illini Team, specifically the Seniors, Ever Wake Up?
“We have had people talk to them, and we did everything except electric shock [therapy] to get them going, Illini coach Bruce Weber said about his college basketball team. “They have to jolt themselves from the inside. We have to be determined and not let a team, especially on the road, jump on us.” Weber made this comment after his Illini team lost at Northwestern; despite … [Read more...] about Can this Illini Team, specifically the Seniors, Ever Wake Up?
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