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Embattled Illini avoid first winless February since 1907

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The college basketball season is only five months long, so any time you're talking about a winless month, it's not a good sign. And in their seventh and final game of the year's shortest month, the Illini would not come up short. They picked up a 65-54 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes, avoiding the February donut, which hasn't happened to the program since 1907. The Illini also … [Read more...] about Embattled Illini avoid first winless February since 1907

Illini basketball season summarized in one photo

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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

Hoosiers Cody Zeller is Superior to Illini Meyers Leonard

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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

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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

Just how shaky is Illini coach Bruce Weber’s Job Security?

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The Assembly Hall crowd in Champaign called for Bruce Weber's head. Illini fans in B Section screamed "pack your bags" and "I can draw up a better offense." This has gone on for years, except this time there was one major difference- No one in the orange and blue crowd stuck up for Bruce. And this happened during one of this year's signature wins, a victory over a top ten … [Read more...] about Just how shaky is Illini coach Bruce Weber’s Job Security?

Spartans’ Leading Scorer/Rebounder Draymond Green Leaves Game With Serious Leg Injury

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The Big Ten's leading rebounder, and best player on the nation's 9th ranked team may be out for awhile. Michigan State forward Draymond Green seriously hurt his left leg in tonight's mild upset loss to the Illini, and left the game with 3:50 left, unable to walk on his own power. Green was down on the Assembly Hall floor in Champaign for quite awhile, and after examination … [Read more...] about Spartans’ Leading Scorer/Rebounder Draymond Green Leaves Game With Serious Leg Injury

Illini Get Grindy Road Win at Northwestern, Snap Chicago Area Losing Streak

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Lots of cliches applied in this college basketball game "tale of two halves," "halftime adjustments" "wining ugly" "blue-collar"  I could go on and on, but I've tortured you enough already. In the battle to be "Chicago's Big Ten team" Illinois defeated Northwestern 57-56 in the same manner they won this year's college football meeting- starting slow, having to come back in … [Read more...] about Illini Get Grindy Road Win at Northwestern, Snap Chicago Area Losing Streak

Illini Outlast Gophers in Never Ending Big Ten Opener

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One of my all time favorite The Simpsons quotes: "Mr. Simpson, this is the biggest case of false advertising since my suit against the film the Never Ending Story" --Lionel Hutz The legendary lawyer played by the late, great Phil Hartman refers to a 1984 film with a running time of 94 minutes. Illinois escaping 81-72 in 2 OT over the Minnesota Golden Gophers ran about 2 … [Read more...] about Illini Outlast Gophers in Never Ending Big Ten Opener

Illini Show they’re Still “Fighting,” Give #9 Mizzou a True Scare

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If you're an Illini basketball fan, you've got to feel much better about this loss 78-74 to #9 12-0 Missouri Tigers team than you do about the last three wins. I'll repeat and explain because I know it's a very odd sounding sentence. You've got to feel much better about this Illinois game tonight when they were down double digits to an undefeated, top ten team yet clawed … [Read more...] about Illini Show they’re Still “Fighting,” Give #9 Mizzou a True Scare