Illinitalk

A Tale of Two Teams...

2009-12-09T23:34:00.002-06:00

Ron Zook and the Illini football team started the 2009 season with high expectations and several big questions.

Bruce Weber and the Illini basketball team started the 2009-10 season with optimistic expectations and several big questions.

Zook had an experienced team with strong senior leadership.

Weber had a young team with a need for upperclassmen to step into leadership.

Zook's boys came out in St. Louis and took a sucker punch to the gut against Missouri. They staggered and didn't really recover until late in the season. After good games against Michigan and Minnesota, the Illini stumbled again. However, the Illini offense played well in losing efforts against undefeated Cincinatti and Fresno State.

Weber's boys came out in Las Vegas and took a sucker punch to the gut against Utah, after letting a big lead disappear in the final seconds. They staggered, losing to Bradley and looking dazed during a 10- to 12-minute stretch against Clemson. But then the Illini came roaring back with a stong showing in the second half of a game they went on to win in the final minutes.

So many similiarities. Such different results (so far). Why?

Initially, I would have expected the more experienced football team to recover from such a tough loss more quickly. But although the football team had experience winning (see 2007 season), they also had plenty of experience not winning (see recent Illini football history). The Illini basketball team has talented freshman players with plenty of AAU experience, who are just learning to play at the college level. They may not know how devestating those two losses should be. And the team as a whole has more experience exceeding expectations that failing to meet them (see recent Illini basketball history). Coaching is another factor. Zook's teams lack consistency, while Weber's teams consistently perform above their talent level.

The final play of the Fresno State game expressed the Illini football season perfectly. The Illini allowed themselves to get in a tough position, and although they did all they could, they just couldn't win. A 2-point conversion by a lineman on a deflected pass from a QB who was going to the ground...yeah, that's about right.

Let's hope the second half of the Clemson game and the entire Vanderbilt game express the Illini basketball season. If that's the case, Weber's boys should be able to write a much more exciting ending to their season tale.

But whatever happens, go Illini!

Oh -- and let's not forget the Illini volleyball team. Kevin Hambly's girls will face Hawaii in the Sweet Sixteen on Friday.

Juice Williams

2009-12-08T20:50:00.006-06:00

Isaiah "Juice" Williams' senior season was not the one he had hoped for nor one that Illini fans were expecting. Although it was a challenging finish to his college career, I hope all of the Illini faithful will applaud Juice for his effort and how he represented the University of Illinois. He was a key early recruit for Ron Zook and had some terrific moments in the Illini uniform. For more on Juice, take a look at this excellent article from the Chicago Tribune.

A Tale of Two Halves...

2009-12-03T22:53:00.007-06:00

Wow! That was fun! An Illini comeback worth getting excited about. And proof that, despite the disappointment in Vegas, the ’09-’10 Illini basketball team will be exciting to watch. Not always easy to watch, but certainly exciting.

This game is a perfect example
It was the worst of times (during the second 10-12 minutes of the game)...
It was the best of times (from about 2 minutes into the second half until the Illini took the lead, and eventually won)...

Let me break it down a bit

Demetri McCamey
The worst - Two quick fouls before the first break put McCamey on the bench. And when he re-entered the game in Weber’s effort to keep the wheels from falling off, he picked up his third cheap foul. Without their point guard, the Illini had way too many turnovers that the Tigers converted to points.
The best – After picking up foul 4, Weber switch the Illini to zone defense to help protect McCamey. He successfully played big minutes in the second half, boosting Illini ball security without fouling out. Yes, he only had 2 points early, but McCamey showed his value running the floor and dishing out assists.
Mike Tisdale
The worst – Mike all but disappeared in the first half. He had a few plays on defense, but Clemson got around him easily. And he didn’t score. At all. When you have one of the tallest guys on the floor, you need him to score, even if he does get pushed around a bit. And he didn’t rebound. Clemson got way to many offensive rebounds as they dominated the boards in the first half.
The best – Tisdale stepped up big in the second half, with plenty of key baskets. The prettiest may have been the pump fake that took Trevor Booker out of bounds, followed by an easy drive to the basket for the layup that up the Illini up for good. And he followed that with a critical block, coming down with the ball in his hand. But I also liked the aggressive rebounding he showed in the second half, going strong to the ball and pulling it down.
Freshmen backcourt:
The worst – Brandon Paul got off to a hot start, and DJ Richardson had some great shots throughout the first half. And Paul’s drive and dunk…beautiful. But as the Illini fell apart, the freshman were pulled along in the flow. Turnovers. Questionable shot selection. Fouls. As the Tigers made their run, the freshman got a taste of a true college road environment, and it seemed to rattle them a bit.
The best – The Comeback wouldn’t have happened without both Paul and Richardson. Paul had critical 3s, strong drives and handled the free throw line well (although that last one would have helped me breath a bit easier for that last 8 seconds). And Richardson’s 4-point play boosted the team’s confidence while demoralizing Clemson. The experience of this game should pay big dividends this season and beyond for these two.
Mike Davis
The worst – I thought Mike actually handled the ugly part of the game better than most of the team. But I’m not sure the Illini boxed out at all during those painful 10 minutes, and as the team’s leading rebounder, Davis needed to show more energy.
The best – Davis collected a Clemson inbounds pass in the middle of the Comeback that created a 5 point swing. What once looked like an insurmountable lead shrunk quickly. His leadership on the floor, sweet shot and strong rebounding was critical to this win.
Momentum
The worst – I thought the Illini hit their low point when they were whistled for a technical for…I’m not sure what. And those two made free throws were followed immediately by an intentional foul. But I was wrong. Right after halftime, the downward spiral continued as the Clemson lead reached 23.
The best – You know momentum is on your side when your opponent’s leading score goes for a rebound that ends up in your basket. Thank you, Trevor Booker. That was a tough play for him, but it showed how everything was breaking the way of the Illini. And Dominique Keller won’t mind the stats.

Good Hope Orange handed out much-deserved credit to both the players and Weber. And Chief made a good point about Bilas. His comment about the Clemson collapse bugged me -- and I didn't realize how inconsistent Jay was being. Yes, the Tigers collapsed, but much of that was due to pressure from a hungry Illini team, who were already embarrassed, as Weber told them at halftime.

To top it off, the Big Ten finally won the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Thank you Penn State, Purdue, Northwestern, Ohio State, Wisconsin (great game) and our own Illini! They signaled that the Big Ten is a conference to be reckoned with this year.

Go Illini!

Clemson and Jay Bilas

2009-12-03T08:14:00.002-06:00

I agree with everything GHO said below. Solid comeback victory last night that will serve as a great confidence, not to mention resume builder. Anytime you can beat a ranked ACC team on the road it's a good day and the selection committee will take notice.

Hopefully the new guys got a taste of what it takes to win at this level and will step up their games accordingly. And speaking of, it was great to see Richardson and Paul on the floor down the stretch. Should the Illini make the Big Dance, I'm not expecting a real deep run but with the recruits we have coming in (Jereme Richmond) big comebacks and down-to-the-wire finishes are important for these young guys to experience for what I expect will be strong NCAA tourney appearances in the future.

Finally, as the ESPN crew evaluated our game at halftime of the Wisconsin-Duke game I heard Jay Bilas say something along the lines of the following: "This was a big comeback by the Illini but make no mistake about it...with every huge comeback there is an epic collapse and this was a huge collapse by Clemson tonight. They are reeling."

I found that quote interesting because it appears that Bilas gave more credit for our victory to Clemson collapsing than he did to Illinois' adjustments and toughness in the 2nd half.

I also found it ironic that he called the Illinois-Arizona Elite Eight game a few years ago and I'm not sure I ever heard him talk about an "epic Arizona collapse." (Please correct me if I'm wrong.) Could it be because that was Arizona and this was Clemson? Perhaps each school's hoops reputation contributed to Bilas' inconsistency in his analysis. Just a thought.

From Embarrassment to Excelllence

2009-12-02T20:24:00.002-06:00

Wow, what a win by the Illini tonight! Chief asked to see some hungry Illini players and I think coming back from 23 points down to win 76-74 over Clemson surely qualifies as a postive step forward!

Side note: I missed most of the first half (good for me I guess) and, while it would have been easy to not even watch the second half, whenever I think about turning a game off, I remember the Illini's amazing win over Arizona to advance to the Final Four during their 2005 tournament run. I was glad I didn't turn the TV off that night and I am glad I didn't turn it off tonight!

End Side Note.

I continue to be very impressed by D.J. Richardson and Brandon Paul. They will have their ups and downs but are very poised and polished for freshmen. Mike Davis is a double-double machine and looks great so far this year, with Tisdale and McCamey also playing solid basketball most of the time. McCamey's ability to play most of the second half with four fouls was critical.

And while we are handing out praise, Coach Weber deserves a lot of credit for not letting the team quit at halftime and for making adjustments (like playing some zone defense, which the Illini never do) that helped them get back into the game. He continues to prove that he is a top notch game coach who gets the most out of his team.

I was disappointed to see Michigan and Minnesota lose their games tonight but the Illini's comeback victory keeps hope alive for the Big Ten to win the Big Ten/ACC Challenge if Ohio State holds serve against Florida State and Wisconsin can upset Duke (very possible with the game being at the Kohl Center, one of the toughest venues in the country to win on the road at).

That's it for now but savor this win - it was a good one and it's the type that can propel a team on a very nice run.

Wanted: Hungry Illini Players

2009-11-30T08:52:00.003-06:00

It was a tough sports weekend. Illini lose twice on the hardwood, once on the gridiron and the Bears take in on the chin in Minneapolis.

Tangent: I was hoping my Bears could pull that game out but if they couldn't I was hoping Adrian Peterson would run for 300 yards so my fantasy team could at least win. Alas, neither happened. Sigh.

End tangent.

I have to admit I didn't watch the entire Utah or Bradley games last weekend but what I saw on the hardwood made me sick to my stomach. Those are two tough early season losses that will definately have an impact on tourney seeding (assuming IL makes the Big Dance).

This will be a big test of this team: whether the team can bounce back, learn from the losses and come back strong with a good effort and hopefully a win Wednesday night at Clemson.

Personally, I would like to see more of D.J. Richardson and Brandon Paul. They are top-flight recruits and should be playing as many minutes as possible. Sure, they will make mistakes but so did Dee and Deron when Self started them as freshmen. However, I think it paid big dividends later on as they had that experience under their belt.

As bad as these losses are, I'm not even close to ready to throw in the towel on this season. I think the Illini probably entered the top 25 a little early. However, my hope is that being knocked out makes them hungry to get back in. This team has talent. They just need more chemistry (which will come as the season progresses) and hunger (which can come with having a chip on your shoulder).

Illini Pass First On-Court Test

2009-11-24T23:13:00.003-06:00

The Illini men faced their first test of the 2009-2010 season against Wofford in Champaign Tuesday night. And although the first half was dicey, the Illini passed, winning 78-64.

Wofford isn't your typical early-season cupcake. The Terriers beat Purdue in West Lafayette a couple years ago, and just last week they beat Georgia, after losing to Pitt by just 3.

And at Assembly Hall, the Terriers immediately set out to prove they can play with anyone, anywhere. Hot 3-point shooting and working deep into the shot clock allowed Wofford to lead much of the first half. But the Illini stepped up on defense and pushed the tempo in the second half to finally pull away.

Lots to like from the Illini:

Inside game. Mike Tisdale dominated down low in the first half, and Mike Davis became a force in the second half. The Illini had a clear advantage down low.
Demetri McCamey. The point guard led the Illini with 21 points, including a buzzer-beater to give the Illini a 3-point lead heading into halftime and a highlight-reel behind-the-back layup in the second half.
Freshman shooting. D.J. Richardson made 5 of 6 from 3, helping the Illini keep pace with the hot hands of Wofford. Although Brandon Paul made the first shot for the Illini, he struggled with foul trouble. But between the two of them, these freshman have accounted for critical scoring for the Illini so far this season.
Defense. Not so much in the first half, but in the second half, the Illini turned up the pressure and severely limited scoring opportunities for the Terriers. The Illini proved they could make adjustments at halftime that really make a difference.
Energy off the bench. The Illini off the bench really added energy to the game, especially Bill Cole. Cole had a nice layup on a break, but he also had some great hustle plays, good defense, a nice tip-in, and enthusiasm. Jeff Jordan added a spark on the perimeter, as well.

Of course, it's only November, and there are opportunities for the Illini to improve as they get ready for a challenging conference season:

Free throw shooting. I'm glad to see the Illini getting to the line. They had 22 attempts compared to 15 for the Terriers. But the free throw percentage needs to go up -- 14 of 22 could easily be the difference in a game in the coming months.
Rebounding. The Terriers out-rebounded the Illini, epecially in the first half. And the Illini had a significant height advantage. I disagree with the ESPNU commentators, who described the Illini as a strong rebounding team. Mike Davis is solid, but across the board the Illini need to be more aggressive on the boards.
Controlling the floor. This athletic Illini team can run. They should be pushing the tempo, controlling the game and pushing opponents faster than they want to go. The Illini did this successfully at some points in the game, but the Terriers dictated tempo for close to half the game.
Defense. Yes, I realize this is in my "lots to like" section. But in the first half, the Illini allowed a few too many open 3s and too much penetration. As the competition gets tougher, the Illini will need to play a full 40 minutes of stingy, aggressive defense. These guys are capable.

And now, on to Las Vegas. Go Illini!

Cross Country Champion

2009-11-24T18:57:00.004-06:00

Illini senior Angela Bizzarri won the 2009 NCAA Cross Country national title Monday, sprinting the last 500 meters of the 6k race to win by nearly 5 seconds. She is the first member of the Illini women's cross country team to win a national title, and the first Illini champion in over 30 years.

Congratulations, Angela!

Did I Hear that Right?

2009-11-19T22:48:00.004-06:00

I must admit that after watching Gonzaga take Michigan State to the wire and Memphis make it close against Kansas, I realized that I had forgotten how much I enjoy college basketball.

But with the fun of college basketball comes that over-enthusiastic voice from the sidelines. And I heard that voice tonight calling the Carolina-Ohio State game. And I think I heard Dickie V. say that the Illini would be better than expected this year. (Because, of course, it makes sense to talk about the Illini in a semi-final game of a tournament they aren't playing in.) He also got in praise for the Orange Krush and Bruce Weber's recruiting.

I think. I tend to tune that voice out.

Did I hear that right?

Directional Challenges

2009-11-17T23:07:00.002-06:00

Although the Illini beat their second "directional" school in as many games, this one wasn't as easy as the first. Northern Illinois challenged Bruce Weber's squad with strong offensive rebounding and points off turnovers. And a half-court bank shot at the end of the first half.

We learned quite a bit more about this Illini team:

Demetri McCamey is critical to their success. When he's on the floor, the passing is pretty. Really pretty. I'm not sure which was my favorite in this game, but the behind-the-back was impressive. McCamey again led the team in assists. But when he left the game with 2 fouls late in the first half, the Huskies went on a strong run thanks to 3 consecutive Illini turnovers.
They can find the free throw line. It's nice to see the Illini driving to the basket and drawing fouls. Next step: improve the team free throw percentage.
Brandon Paul likes to shoot. And he can draw offensive fouls. Paul followed his record debut with a 20-point night, and even though he cooled off in the second half, he continued to play solid defense with some great plays and more than his share of offensive fouls.
Turovers could be a big problem. They had 14 against the Huskies, who took full advantage of their opportunities.
Interior defense has pros and cons. Pro - blocks. Tisdale and Davis have shown their ability to block shots, and Dominique Keller and Brandon Paul got in on that action against NIU. Con - lack of physical presence. Tisdale and Davis are talented, slender perimeter big guys, not bang-the-boards, fight-for-space guys. And that could become a problem in the Big Ten.
Mike Davis is into double-doubles. He had a career-high 17 rebounds and 14 points against the Huskies, and he's been challenged to average a double-double this season. That would be a huge boost for the Illini.
D.J. Richardson has lots of energy. Should he be able to maintain that all season and channel it into defense, he could grow into the designated top-scorer-shut-down defender, a role up for grabs since Chester Frazier graduated.

The Illini have plenty of things to work on, and the Big Ten season will be tough. After all, the Illini are in the top 25, but that still puts them 6th in the conference. They have time to improve before the schedule really picks up, and they need to take advantage of those opportunities.

But despite allowing a 19-point lead to dwindle to 3, the Illini regained control of the game and took care of business. Nice game, boys!

Volleyball Update

2009-11-16T22:03:00.003-06:00

The Illini lost in 3 sets to #1 Penn State last Friday, but they were competitive. Then they finished up their weekend road trip with a solid win at Ohio State. The match against the Buckeyes was on the Big Ten Network, and it was worth watching (especially since the Bears had already put up their disappointing performance for the week).

Coach Kevin Hambly's girls pass the ball well and hit strong. Senior KylieMcCullie and junior Laura DeBruler racked up several kills. And libero Rachel Feldman continues to improve as she fills the hole left by the season-ending injury to Ashley Edinger.

The Illini dominated the first two sets before falling in the third as the Buckeyes finally got thier passing game on track. The forth set was back-and-forth for a while, but the Illini eventually pulled away just enough to take the match.

The Illini should be able to finish the conference season strong, and hope to maintain second place behind Penn State. Then on to the post-season, which should be exciting. Once again, if you want an Illini team to get excited about, check these ladies out.

Go Illini!

A Look at Things to Come?

2009-11-15T16:30:00.005-06:00

The loss to Northwestern was disappointing. The kicking game was...adventurous. The Illini offense really struggled to get going, but the did get back in the game late in the 4th quarter. Not having Juice on the field hurt. As did the questionable interception call at the end of the game.

But, we got a good look at the future of Illini football. Jacob Charest had some great passes and showed promise. He also made some mistakes, but he got quality experience that will serve him well as he takes over the Illini offense next season. Charest shows that he's got a strong arm. His decision-making will develop with time under center.

But I don't have the energy at the moment to dig into that game. I'd rather focus on a few things that haven't made recent posts.

Like the top-10 recruiting class that signed letters of intent for Bruce Weber.

Jereme Richmond followed through on the commitment he made before he even started high school. Richmond hails from Waukegan, Ill., plays wing and is a concensus top-25 recruit.

Crandall Head is set to follow in his big brother's footsteps as an Illini. Like Luther, Crandall plays guard. He recently had an ACL repaired, so he isn't currently playing. He's been around the Illini program since he was in middle school, and now he's officially a member of the Illini basketball family.

Meyers Leonard is a 7' center from Robinson, Ill. According to the Illini staff, Leonard reminds them of James Augustine, with his ability to run the floor. He won the 2A dunk contest last year.

Along with this year's freshman, the future of the Illini basketball program -- back in the national rankings at #23 -- looks very bright.

Go Illini!

2009 Tips Off

2009-11-14T10:55:00.004-06:00

Friday night the 2009-2010 Illini men's basketball season tipped off with a solid win over SIU-Edwardsville, 96-69. And this could be a really fun basketball season.

Warning: I may sound like a broken record with what I like and what needs work with Coach Weber's team.

What I most appreciated about the season opener was the Illini passing. Sharing the ball and getting assists has become a trademark of the Illini under Bruce Weber, and this team showed signs of continuing this style of play. They had 22 assists on 36 baskets, led by 7 from Demetri McCamey. I especially enjoyed the assists from the big guys -- Mike Tisdale and Mike Davis each had one, and their passing looks great.

This 3-guard offense likes 3s, and they probably won't fall so easily all season, but freshman Brandon Paul made the 3-pointer look incredibly easy all night. Congrats to Paul on surpassing Deon Thomas for the most points in a freshman debut, with 22. Paul had a great game, with 4 assists, 4 rebounds and no turnovers to go along with his team-high 22 points, including 4 from 3-point range.

But the Illini did show they could get the ball inside, at least against the defense of SIUE. Both Tisdale and Davis shot 4 of 5 from the field. They will need to continue to feed the big guys to allow the long-range game to work well.

One big improvement from last year -- getting to the free throw line. The Illini attempted 26 free throws, compared to 23 attempts by SIUE. But with that improvement comes a critical challenge -- making those free throws. With the strength of the Big Ten, the Illini are going to need to do better than 18 for 26, or 69%, from the line. The Cougars only missed 1 free throw.

Though the Illini dominated the boards 41 to 30, I would like to see more aggressiveness and assertiveness as the Illini go for rebounds. However, Davis had 10 boards, and Tisdale and Richard Semrau each had 6.

Perhaps the biggest thing the Illini had going for them in their season opener was their energy. If they can maintain the energy level and speed through the season, they will be competitive.

The Illini are off to a good start, and they have a manageable non-conference schedule. This group should be fun to watch...

Go Illini!

Land of Lincoln Trophy Debut

2009-11-14T10:16:00.002-06:00

It's a bronze stove-top hat. You know, like the one often pictured on Abe Lincoln's head. And today it will be presented for the first time. Instead of the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk.

Personally, I've found the best way to handle the ridiculousness of such "PC" moves in sports is to not dwell on them...just let it go. But first, a moment to rant. The new, intentionally manufactured trophy for an in-state rivalry game is a perfect example of hijacking the "organic" process of developing traditions and true rivalries.

Traditions are part of what make college sports so much fun. But traditions are best when rooted in years reality and mythical memories. Did the alums of Texas A&M vote to call themselves the 12th man? Of course not! Rivalries add loads of emotion to college football. But did somebody decide one day that Ohio and Michigan should become bitter rivals? Nope. That's a rivalry that grew over years into one of the most intense in college football.

Trophies are more interesting when they are random and slightly illogical. Like the Illi-Buck. Why a turtle? I don't remember the story at the moment, but the concept of a turtle as a trophy is amusing.

Now, I have nothing against Abe Lincoln, and I'm a proud citizen of the Land of Lincoln. My issue is with the contrived nature of the new trophy. Voting by the fans to come up with a trophy that's more PC? Please. The "Land of Lincoln" has a named derived from the language of the Native Americans who first built the longhouses and learned to master the rivers and forests and plains of our state. Is it discriminating to ignore their contribution to what the state is today? Lincoln wasn't even born in Illinois. And he lost lots more elections than he won. Yes, he was a great president in a very difficult period of our country's history. The Lincoln museum in Springfield is fantastic. But are we ignoring other parts of our history by irradicating any mention of earlier lifestyles and cultures?

But whatever. I'll now just let it go.

Who will bring home the bronze hat thing that was designed by a Hawkeye alum? (Does the fact that it was created by a Hawkeye bug anyone else?) Who knows. Tough to predict. Northwestern is coming off a huge win at Iowa. The Wildcats have Kirk's number. Will they build off of that, or have a natural letdown? And will the Illini play like they have the last 2 weeks, or will the team that played the first half of the season return?

So many questions. Let's see them answered on the field.

Go Illini!

Winning Streaks

2009-11-10T21:17:00.006-06:00

The Illini women's volleyball team is on an 11-game winning streak, after defeating #15 Michigan and Michigan State last weekend. Ranked #5, the Illini will put their longest winning streak in 17 years to the test at #1 Penn State this Friday night.

And Penn State has a very impressive streak of their own going -- 90 straight matches. The Nittany Lions are riding the longest volleyball winning streak in NCAA history, and the 3rd longest winning streak of any NCAA sport.

Last weekend the Illini broke in a new libero, as sophomore Rachel Feldman took over for Ashley Edinger, who ended her Illini career with a torn ACL. Feldman had an excellent debut match, with 19 digs and successful returns on 41 serves against Michigan.

Michigan took the first set, but the Illini rallied from 5 points down to take a one point lead before losing 27-25. But the Kevin Hambly's girls won the next 3 sets to win the match. They followed this performance with a strong win against Michigan State -- the last team to beat the Illini.

Junior Laura DeBruler earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors for her performance over the weekend, and she is second in the conference in both kills and points per set.

DeBruler and her team will face a tough challenge Friday Night in State College. But they are firmly in second place in the Big Ten. They will follow up the Penn State match with a Sunday match at Ohio State. That game will be broadcast as a taped game on the Big Ten Network Sunday night. These girls are worth watching. Seriously.

Go Illini!

Fresh Faces

2009-11-09T18:38:00.003-06:00

Bruce Weber's freshman class has generated their share of buzz as the Illini prepare to tip off their 2009-2010 season. Already, Coach Weber has said that he's seeing leadership from his freshman. So let's get to know them a bit.

This backcourt could be a memorable Illini backcourt, and easy as 1, 2, 3...

1 - D.J. Richardson - Peoria, Ill. Dietrich James Richardson is proof that the Peoria Connection is alive and well. D.J. is proud of his Peoria roots, and he says his favorite Illini growing up were Dee, Deron and Luther, and he's looking to follow in their footsteps. He says he's excited to improve his defense, but he put on a bit of a show in the final exhibition game against Quincy, scoring 23 points. He went 5 for 8 from 3-point range, as well. His team mentality, work ethic, conditioning and talent are all signs that we could see special things from this new Illini.

2 - Joseph Bertrand - Sterling, Ill. Joe Bertrand is one example of the influence D.J. has on others. D.J. helped persuade this 6'5" guard to join him in Champaign. Bertrand is the all-time leading scorer at his small-town high school, and became a familiar name on the local high school sports highlight show. He also joins the list of "freakish" Illini athletes. However, he had surgery on his knee in September, and still has the option to redshirt. That decision should be made this week, and although Bertrand wouldn't choose to redshirt, he will need to consider the condition of his knee. But he's got plenty of potential...

3 - Brandon Paul - Gurnee, Ill. The 2009 Illinois Mr. Basketball, Brandon Paul is the first Mr. Basketball to choose Illinois since some kid named Dee Brown in 2002 (remember him?). Paul also caught the attention of former Illini Deron Williams, who likes Paul's potential. Oh, and Paul can get to the free throw line -- one area that this team of talented jump shooters needs to work on. He scored 13 points in the Missouri-Southern exhibition game, and 11 points against Quincy. Another player to watch over the next few years.

And although the backcourt is getting plenty of attention, let's not forget the addition up front.

42 - Tyler Griffey - Wildwood, Mo. Tyler Griffey is the all-time leading scorer and rebounder at his St. Louis-area high school, which lists former Illini Robert Archibald among its alumni. Griffey could log some minutes as a backup for Mike Tisdale this year, unless he opts to redshirt. However, he could earn a spot in Coach Weber's rotation, as could every member of this class. Tisdale describes Griffey's game as European in style.

These boys should be fun to watch over the next couple months and years. Go Illini!

Where Has That Been?

2009-11-07T17:06:00.002-06:00

That looked more like the offense we expected all season. Once again, the Illini marched down the field immediately to take the lead. And when Juice Williams went down with an ankle injury on a fumble later in the first quarter, redshirt freshman Jacob Charest lived up to expectations. He kept the Illini moving down the field, and added a TD pass.

And the defense...Terry Hawthorne, welcome to Big Ten football. The freshman from East St. Louis followed up his performance last week with a beautiful pick-6 from Gophers QB Adam Weber. And as a whole, the D sacked Weber 7 times for a total loss of 50 yards. Plus, they held strong once again to hold Minnesota to a field goal after a goal-line stand.

The blocked punt for a TD was scary, but the Illini came back nicely to score once more. Yes, the final score shows how effectively the Golden Gophers came back late in the game, but we'll take the Big Ten win on the road.

It would have been nice to see this team a bit sooner this year, but I'd rather have a few games to enjoy than none at all. Yes, it's been a rough season for Tim Brewster and his Gophers, as well, and the Iowa loss to Northwestern doesn't do much for the Big Ten rep. But a win is way more fun than a loss. And a win on the road bodes well for the future, especially after the free-fall that was the first half of the season.

Great game, boys! Go Illini!

Weekend Preview

2009-11-04T22:39:00.003-06:00

It's November. The clocks have fallen back. And there's lots going on in Illini sports this weekend.

The Illini football team heads up north to Minnesota, looking to build on their strong performance against Michigan.

In Champaign, the volleyball team, now ranked #5, will host #15 Michigan and Michigan State this weekend. And they will take the court without libero Ashley Edinger. She is out for the rest of the season with an ACL tear in her left knee. She tops the Illini record book in digs, so her injury is a big loss for the Illini.

On Sunday, Bruce Weber's basketball team will play their final exhibition game before the season gets underway. The boys warmed up with Missouri Southern last week, and will take on Quincy this weekend. Then college basketball will get underway, followed by what should be a very tough Big Ten season.

So take your pick -- there's plenty Illini games to follow this weekend. Go Illini!

Signs of Life!

2009-11-01T15:59:00.002-06:00

Thank you, Terry Hawthorne.
Thank you D-line.
Thank you Juice. Thank you LeShoure. Thank you O-line. And Benn. And Ford. And Cumberland. And the rest of the team. And Tate Forcier's slippery hands. Oh, and instant replay and the play review system.

The Illini showed signs of life at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. And the Michigan Wolverines left the stadium with an L for the first time in a long, long time. (I could go into the game they stole in 2000, but that would just irritate me, so I'll focus on this season.)

Juice and his O-line proved they could still cruise down the field with a strong opening drive. The problem was that Michigan immediately answered. And then the offense stalled. The D did reasonably well, managing to hold Tate Foricer and company to a couple fields goals.

But it really wasn't looking good in the third quarter when Roy Roundtree took off down the middle of the field after out-running the Illini coverage. Signs of life seemed to be non-existant. Except for a freshman in the secondary who refused to give up on the play. Hawthorne drug Roundtree down from behind. On the 1.

And then the Illini D put together a stand like they hadn't had all season. 1st and goal. No gain. 2nd and goal. No gain. 3rd and goal. A bit closer to the end zone. 4th and goal. Down just inches from the goal line.

The Illini offense took this performance to heart and went on to score. A few times. While the D prevented further scores, with a bit of invaluable help from Michigan turnovers.

The offense on the first drive and after "The Stand" is what we had hoped to see all season. But I'm very glad it showed up, especially for one of our favority Big Ten foes. Program rebuilding aside, it's always sweet to get a win over Michigan.

We really didn't know what we would have with the defense, especially with the critical losses of key players. But the D that showed up yesterday was impressive. Yes, they needed the help of the review system, but they had the "indisputable video evidence" needed to prove they could stand.

And so, just like Terry Hawthorne refused to give up on the play, I refuse to give up on the program. This year hasn't been pretty. And who knows what next season will bring or what changes will be needed. But signs of life like we saw yesterday are encouraging.

Boys, please use this as a turning point for the season.
Go Illini!

Signs of Life?

2009-10-31T12:58:00.002-05:00

Will the Illini football team show any signs of life against Michigan this afternoon? We can certainly hope. Michigan has had a rocky season, but they've had a few more bright moments than the Illini. But any home game is a chance to prove there's a spark left in the Illini...I hope they can find it...

In Other Illini News

2009-10-19T20:28:00.002-05:00

The Illini women's volleyball team moved up in the rankings to #8 after their weekend victory over Minnesota
The Illini men's golf team is ranked 6th nationally
Illini libero Ashley Edinger was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, the second week in a row this title has gone to an Illini
I gained a greater appreciation for the skill required on the O-Line in this article -- complete with quotes from former Illini Tony Pashos
Jeff Jordan has rejoined the Illini basketball team
Illini senior cross-country runner Angela Bizzarri, a seven-time All-American, won the 6K race at the Pre-National Invitational

Sigh

2009-10-19T20:21:00.002-05:00

Words fail me. I am very, very sad for the Illini players that have worked hard and just can't get this season back under control. This is definitely not what anyone expected from this season.

The game itself was indeed ugly. Missed tackles. Missed field goals. Turnovers. There were some impressive catches on both sides of the field, but bright spots were few and far between, especially for the Illini.

It will be very interesting to see what next year brings...

Indiana Preview

2009-10-17T13:37:00.002-05:00

Not easy to dig into today's Illini football matchup. Indiana is traditionally not a football school, and typically it's a good place to get a conference road win.

The Hoosiers were destroyed at Virginia last week (not impressive), but the Illini haven't been impressive all season. Indiana had a strong road loss at Michigan early in the conference season. In fact, a poor call by the referees may have cost the Hoosiers that game.

What does that mean for today? Who knows. I'll try to be optimistic that it could be an evenly matched, if somewhat ugly, game. Probably won't be widely watched, and that's understandable. But this could be an opportunity for the Illini to show off some of their offensive talent...I hope.

Go Illini.

Record Spiked

2009-10-17T13:34:00.002-05:00

The #10 Illini volleyball team beat #6 Minnesota in front of a school-record crowd at the Assmebly Hall last night. The Illini are now alone in second in the Big Ten, behind #1 Penn State. If you need a break from the NFL tomorrow, check out the match on the Big Ten Network, 5 pm Central...

Assembly Hall Action

2009-10-16T17:28:00.003-05:00

Tonight the #10 Illini women's volleyball team will attempt to set an attendance record as they host #6 Minnesota tonight at Assembly Hall. And the match will be immediately followed by the kickoff of the basketball season with Illini Madness.

So if you are in the area, seriously think about heading to Assembly Hall. That will be much warmer than the high school football game I'm planning to check out...