Illinois vs. Minnesota, eh

Illinois Game Preview
Illinois vs. Minnesota, eh
Tonight @ 8 p.m.
Meet me at Rebel. Call if you are going to be there.


Making Headlines

I made it onto the University of Illinois Athletic Site (http://www.fightingillini.com/). Check it out. I don't know what the ITA is, but I am definitely looking forward to it.


I don't mean to brag (OK, I do), but this is actually the second time I've made FightingIllini.com. The first time was back in 2001 when I was a senior playing on the women's basketball practice squad (http://fightingillini.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/101000aaa.html check the 3rd paragraph down). OK, stop laughing, I didn't wear a wig just to be a part of Illinois athletics. I came in every day with 5 other guys (except Sunday...or when coach was really pissed at the girls and wanted to lay into them) to learn the opposing team's plays and scrimmage the women to get them ready for their next game.

It was actually a ton of fun. I wore an Illinois practice uniform, I played ball every day, I got free shoes, and I was even registered as a student athlete. It turns out that I only have a few years of eligibility left. We got front row tickets to every women's' game, and Coach Grentz even promised to buy us Big10 Champion rings if they won conference (they didn't). Coach only had 2 rules...

1. Show up to practice on time.
2. Don't date any of my players. If you date any of my players I will kick you off the team so fast, that your butts will be back at IMPE before you blink.

She was really serious about rule #2. Some people laughed, but they actually had a pretty good looking team.

Illinois vs. Minnesota, eh

I took a road trip back to Champaign for Saturday's game with some of the fellas. During past seasons, it would be all but impossible to get tickets to a regular season, weekend match up against the Badgers. But after last year's 12-17 finish, a few Illini fans jumped off the band wagon. We were able to squeeze into the very last row of Assembly Hall.

Even from the nose bleeds, Illinois was putting on a show. Sophomore Guard Demetri McCamey was sensational, pouring in 25 points and dishing out 7 assists. He was all over the court, and I half expected him to come out and start flipping with the Jesse White Tumblers; which, as it turns out, McCamey was a member of when he was 8. DMac is by far our best slasher, and his growing grasp of the offense can be seen in his assist per game average that he is carrying during Big10 play - 6 (up from 4.5 apg before Big10 play).

Tonight, the Illini do battle against Tubby Smith and the Golden Gophers. In only his second season, Smith has lead the Gophers to a 17-3 record. They reached as high as 20 in the AP Poll after a big win against Louisville, but back-to-back losses against Northwestern and Purdue pushed the Gophers outside the AP and to #25 in the Coaches Poll. Smith has done such a great job at Minny, that he was rumored as a possible replacement at both Arizona and Alabama. He denied a connection yesterday saying, "I'm not looking for any jobs. We've got a great recruiting class coming here next year, so I'm excited about where the Gopher program is, and I'm not a candidate for any other jobs. "

Illinois has won 20 straight games against the Gophers (wow), and tonight, the Illini will extend this streak to 21. The Gopher's front line is a bit short, and I expect our big men to work the glass and to score in the post. Sophomore Center Mike Tisdale should have his way with the Gopher center by committee. NBA great Ralph Sampson's son is part the Gopher front line. His name is Ralph Sampson III check him out.

Illinois - 71

Minny - 60

Sincerely,
Alex Legion's Obscenely Long Arms