In the second battle between Chicago's two Big Ten college basketball teams, the outcome was drastically different from the first. Just how much of a disparity? It would be like comparing the body composition of Illini Center Mike Tisdale (7-1, very svelte) to that of Jersey Shore star Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi (4-8, very squished). In their first meeting in Champaign, … [Read more...] about Northwestern Closes Out Illini, Illinois Road Woes Continue
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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
Chicago’s Gene Pingatore to Coach McDonald’s All-American Game
You might have seen Gene Pingatore, Coach of St. Joseph High School in Westchester, Illinois in the 1994 documentary “Hoop Dreams,” which followed two high school students with dreams of playing in the NBA. Or perhaps on the Big Ten Network, catching up with former players: 2010 College Basketball Player of the Year and second overall pick in the NBA Draft Evan Turner … [Read more...] about Chicago’s Gene Pingatore to Coach McDonald’s All-American Game
Jereme Richmond Doesn’t Play in Illini Loss at Wisconsin
Despite the presence of two nationally ranked teams, exciting and entertaining college basketball this was not. The game being played in this Big Ten basketball contest was like the slush, snow, ice and stagnant dirty water outside the Kohl Center- slow, hard to navigate, sludge and drudgery.For the Illini at least, there was never any flow. As unexciting as the first … [Read more...] about Jereme Richmond Doesn’t Play in Illini Loss at Wisconsin
Illini Whip Northwestern; Wildcats in 0-3 in Big Ten
Last year's game was A BIT closer than this. When the Illinois Fighting Illini took on their rival Northwestern Wildcats for the first time in 2010, the annual meeting in Champaign resulted in an exciting and very high-scoring overtime thriller in which the Cats took care of the ball astonishingly well, committed very few mistakes, but fell just short. This battle to be … [Read more...] about Illini Whip Northwestern; Wildcats in 0-3 in Big Ten
Illini Demetri McCamey Earns National Player of the Week Award
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected Illinois guard Demetri McCamey as its Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, Jan. 2. The USBWA's weekly honor is presented by Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook and will be handed out each Tuesday through Feb. 22 this season. As the Big Ten Conference Co-Player of the Week, … [Read more...] about Illini Demetri McCamey Earns National Player of the Week Award
North Carolina All-American Latest of Many to Praise Demetri McCamey
During his college basketball career, Illinois point guard has received a lot of hype from the media, but also a fair amount of criticism. Illini fans have similarly (perhaps even more so) had a disjointed, and almost bi-polar assessment of Meechi. This year however, it's become increasingly clear that Demetri McCamey IS good. Period. Yes, his defense can still be a … [Read more...] about North Carolina All-American Latest of Many to Praise Demetri McCamey
Demetri McCamey’s NBA Draft Stock Rises with Illini Wins
When Illini point guard Demetri McCamey was a freshman, he was a highly regarded recruit with a few explosive games but also terrible choice in shot selection. His sophomore year, the Illini needed a leader and a closer and McCamey developed into that go-to-scorer. He developed immensely on offense, but was still non-existent on defense. Meechi's junior season, he pretty … [Read more...] about Demetri McCamey’s NBA Draft Stock Rises with Illini Wins
Illini Need to Rock the Mike (Tisdale, Davis) Right this Season
During the last Illinois Fighting Illini season, they were too many college basketball games in which Bruce Weber could have described Demetri McCamey by a familiar rock anthem. The Cars': "you're all I've got tonight. I need you. Tonight!" If there's one thing I do know, it's that Big Ten and NCAA expectations at Illinois will only materialize if that song becomes played … [Read more...] about Illini Need to Rock the Mike (Tisdale, Davis) Right this Season
Illini Hoops Media Day Notable Quotables (Videos)
Last season, the Illinois Fighting Illini were one of the most schizophrenic teams in the Big Ten, if not the nation. They beat Michigan State, a Final Four team in an emotional ESPN College Gameday event, and won at Wisconsin's Kohl Center, where almost no one beats the Badgers. They also had Ohio State, a #2 seed in the NCAA Tournament on the ropes in the conference … [Read more...] about Illini Hoops Media Day Notable Quotables (Videos)