Illinois vs. the Curse of Ed DeChellis

Illini Game Preview
Tonight @ PSU


The Golden Netter's

It's March. And March is quite possibly the best month of the year. All the great hoops we've been watching will culminate with the greatest sporting event (and drinking event) in all the world...the NCAA Tournament (and St. Patrick's Day). As we wrap up the regular season, I present you with the first annual Golden Netter's - an award ceremony that looks back on the season to date.

Any good award show starts off with a monologue, so to honor both college basketball and St. Patrick's Day, I wrote a limerick.

March is such a wondrous time of the year.
When the Illini play their last game I shed a tear.
I hope we can score,
And play a bunch more
If not, we'll sit, watch hoops, and drink beer.

And now the awards...

Golden Netter All Big Ten Team
Kalin Lucas
Talor Battle
Evan Turner
Manny Harris
JaJuan Johnson

You're probably surprised that there are no Illini on my All Big Ten Team. This is not a shot at our squad, but more of a testament to the fact that we have overachieved all year long.

Golden Netter Coach of the Year
Pat Knight

Why not Oklahoma's Jeff Capel, Clemson's Oliver Purnell, or even our very own Bruce Weber? Motivational technique...that's why. Pat Knight is the offspring of a man who once choked a player and hurled chairs onto the floor to inspire his team; so it's in his genes. With his team down by a basket early, Knight brought a 12 year old fan into the center of the Red Raiders huddle and asked him if he could hit a lay-up. When the young man answered, "yes", Knight laughed maniacally and said that he was a better ball player than some of the guys on his team. Crazy, I know, but it worked. The Texas Tech Red Raiders were able to coast to a 69-55 victory over Stephen F. Austin. Look out Matt Foley.

Golden Netter's Coach Most Likely to Appear in a KFC Commercial
Rick Pitino




















Caption: What? Did you just call me Colonel Sanders?

Golden Netter Half Court Shot of the Year
During halftime of a recent Maryland game, one fan took a 1/2 court shot blindfolded for $500,000. After the shot, the fans erupted and the poor fella thought he won a cool half million. Unfortunately, it was all a prank set up by his friend. Check it out on the College Humor website - http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1902812. Apparently, this is the latest in an ongoing prank war. In a previous prank, Amir (who took the half-court shot) set up his friend (Tweety) by purchasing time on the Yankee's scoreboard for an in game proposal for the clueless Tweety and his then girlfriend. Tweety's girlfriend was not happy when she found out that the couple was set up.

The Curse of Ed DeChillis

There are 2 reasons why the Penn State Nittany Lions have defeated the Illini 3 straight times: Big Ten Golden Netter Award Winner Talor Battle and a Head Coach with a name so grand that it has 3 capitalized letters - Ed DeChellis. Both these guys are bonified Illini killers. Battle is almost as fast as Kalin Lucas, and the Illini had all sorts of problems with Lucas on Sunday. Battle is going to get to the front of the rim no matter who Illinois throws at him. The key will be for the Illini big men to check Battle and make sure he doesn't get any freebies.

DeChellis has the Illini's number number right now. He drew up a defense that held the Illini to 33 points in their last meeting. Given how tough PSU was, I took a peak at their scores throughout the season. They allow 62 points a game (7th in the Big Ten) and only two teams have not scored more than 50 points on PSU this year - Illinois 33 and Army 45 (not great company). I'll consider our 33 points a fluke. Sophomore Center Mike Tisdale was key in the 2nd half rally on Sunday, and he'll have a big time height advantage over PSU's undersized front court. It's always tough to win on the road on senior night - we should have another fight on our hands tonight.


Illinois - 60
Ed Dechillis - 54


Sincerely,
March