This Illini basketball game was a microcosm of the entire season! In Illinois 57-49 victory over Colorado, it was like the Michigan State, Indiana games etc. all over again. This Illini basketball tourney game in which Illinois was a #7 and the Buffaloes a #10 was quite reminiscent of a 2007 NCAA Tournament game when the Illini blew a double digit lead to VaTech. The Illini … [Read more...] about Illini basketball shows split personality in narrow NCAA victory over Colorado
illini basketball
Illini basketball resume looks very NCAA ready with Senior Day victory
Illini basketball (21-9, 8-8) celebrated the 50th anniversary of Assembly Hall (the REAL Assembly Hall, unlike the one where the Hoosiers play see the video of the renovation plans here) by squeaking by Big Ten doormat Nebraska 72-65 (13-16, 4-12). The senior day victory over the Cornhuskers is exactly 50 years from when the Assembly Hall first opened its doors on March 2, … [Read more...] about Illini basketball resume looks very NCAA ready with Senior Day victory
Illini basketball players Twitter dark; wisely avoiding haters and trolls
You may have wondered why no Illini basketball players have been tweeting lately. And it wasn't because they were on a hot streak. Illini basketball won five in a row before blowing a second half lead to the #7 Michigan Wolverines. And none of the players took to Twitter afterward. Illini basketball head coach John Groce decided to keep his players of Twitter on February … [Read more...] about Illini basketball players Twitter dark; wisely avoiding haters and trolls
Illini basketball barely escapes winless in conference Penn St
For Illini basketball fans, this was Norfolk St., Gardner-Webb, Western Carolina, Auburn and Hawaii all over again- a narrow win, 64-59 over a supremely inferior opponent. It was a foul fest that just would not end. Penn State (now 8-18; 0-14 Big Ten) was in foul trouble quite early. Illinois was hacking too. But the 52 fouls in this game was well short of the Illini … [Read more...] about Illini basketball barely escapes winless in conference Penn St
Possible sports photo of the year: Illini coach John Groce and son
I'm not talking about the picture above; I'm talking about the Chicago Tribune photo after the jump. It's Illini coach John Groce and his son embracing the moment after knocking off the #1 Indiana Hoosiers, their hated rival. Of course, there's conflict for Groce as he grew up a huge Hoosiers fan in Muncie, Indiana. And his wife went to IU as well. … [Read more...] about Possible sports photo of the year: Illini coach John Groce and son
9 things really wrong with Illini basketball right now
Last night the #23 Illini lost at home to a Northwestern team that has their coach squarely on the hot seat, is reeling from injuries and without their best player in Drew Crawford. The loss was the third in a row by double digits for the Illini, and the three defeats have been even more lopsided than the scores indicate. This shouldn't be happening to a team that was ranked in … [Read more...] about 9 things really wrong with Illini basketball right now
Illini guard D.J. Richardson can’t seem to find his shot
After starting 12-0 the Illinois Fighting Illini are 2-3 in their last 5. And one of those wins was rather ugly. A big reason for their recent struggles is the ramped up level of competition as Big Ten play has begun. But it's also they fact the team lives and dies by the three, and no one was more so than senior guard D.J. Richardson. Of all his field goal attempts on the … [Read more...] about Illini guard D.J. Richardson can’t seem to find his shot
#11 Illini crush #8 Ohio State, rebound literally and figuratively
This is what it's like to rebound: both winning the battle on the glass and coming back from a loss. In their last three games (Mizzou, Auburn and Purdue) the Illini got owned on the backboards and went 1-2. In their Big Ten opener Illinois got upset by a .500 Purdue team. The loss was shocking, but the #11 Illini recovered nicely, CRUSHING the #8 Ohio State Buckeyes 74-55 in … [Read more...] about #11 Illini crush #8 Ohio State, rebound literally and figuratively
#12 Illini struggle too often in beating bad teams
The 12th ranked Illinois Fighting Illini have struggled this pre-conference season in blowing out/closing out teams that are supposedly very inferior to them. When you're a top 15 ranked team, with very solid signature wins over #13 Gonzaga and #18 Butler, you should handle the mid-major and low-major scrubs very easily. But the Illini don't do that. They let bad teams hang … [Read more...] about #12 Illini struggle too often in beating bad teams
Illini seniors D.J. Richardson and Brandon Paul lead the way
The Illinois Fighting Illini suffered their first loss last night to Mizzou, but they're still 12-1. And nationally ranked. I think any Illinois fan would have taken 12-1 at this point when the season started. This Illini team will go as far as their seniors will take them. And I'm not talking about Tyler Griffey. Four year starter guards D.J. Richardson and Brandon Paul are … [Read more...] about Illini seniors D.J. Richardson and Brandon Paul lead the way