Illinois vs. Kansas

Illinois vs. Kansas

Tonight @ 7:30

I was a bit nervous as Illinois matched up against UNLV for the tip-off Friday night. The camera zoomed in, and I could see that Senior Mike Tisdale towered over Quintrell Thomas and won the opening tip. I felt a bit better, and then I felt ecstatic when Illinois came out firing and went on a 15-0 run midway through the first – would it last. From there, the Illini didn’t take their foot off the gas. Even at half time, when we were up 46-24, there were plenty of nervous Illini fans who were not going to celebrate until the final buzzer sounded. I put a bet down with the bouncer who was giving our group of Illini fans a hard time, and he was ready to pay up at intermission. There was no I was going to jinx us by collecting the bet before the game was over.

Rock Chalk Upset Hawk!

Last year, Kansas was in a similar position to where they are for tonight’s game. Playing as a number 1 seed, the Jayhawks lost a nail biter to Northern Iowa 69-67. Aside from losing to Northern Iowa, there are a few other upset losses that Bill $elf would like to forget:

There was 2005 when 14 seed Bucknell defeated KU 64-63.

Then again in 2006, number 13 Bradley pulled off the upset over KU 77-73.

Illini fans around the world are hoping to add to $elf’s growing list of choke jobs tonight. Kansas strength is their front court with twins Marcus and Markieff Morris contributing 31 points and 16 rebounds combined per game. KU runs a 4 out 1 in offense where they run a few picks to start their set, but end with one of the Morris brothers in the post and the rest of the team lining the perimeter, working the ball inside. Constant ball reversals in this set can lead to an open dunk. Tisdale and Mike Davis will have to be quick and tall in order to avoid being beat on a weak side entry pass. Likewise, the perimeter defense must cut off the passing lanes to prevent an easy basket.

Just like Wayne McClain had the inside scoop on Lon Krueger’s playbook, he will have a similar perspective on $elf’s habits tonight. McClain was an assistant coach with $elf and even planned on joining him at Kansas before he had a change of heart.

Scouting aside, we all know that Illinois goes how Dimitri McCamey goes. Illinois is 15-0 when McCamey has 7 assists or more. McCamey had the ball on a string Friday night, and he was all the more effective because his teammates were knocking down shots. Freshman Jereme Richmond would be a big help in this game, but we have no idea if he is going to play or not - so it is up to the seniors. A scary thought, but I think they are going to step up they was they did on Friday.

Illinois – 67

Upset Hawks – 66

Sincerely,

Lou Henson – The only former Illini Coach not in our bracket.

IGP Tourney Coverage: Illinois vs. The Runnin' Tarkanians

Tonight @ 8:20.

Watching games all day. Give me a ring if you want to come out.

We'll most likely end up watching the Illini at Wrightwood Tap.

By the grace of God, or the mediocrity of the rest of college basketball, our Fighting Illini somehow managed to make the NCAA tournament this year. Many of us didn’t think they would get in based on their 6-10 record since January 11. But now that their in, I know that most of you have them Final 4 bound…or at the very least, getting by UNLV tonight. I don’t blame you, we’re Illini fans, and we have it in our blood.

March is the holiest of holies for me, and for the 5^th straight, I’ll be taking the day off with several friends to watch basketball all day and drink beer. Because the Illini don’t play until 8:30, we’ll have to pace ourselves better than we have in the past. I may do some Twitter today – follow me at netter01.

Coaches of the Past

The Illini play former head coach Lon Kruger and his UNLV Running Rebels tonight. Kruger was the head coach for 3 years while I was at Illinois. A major difference between Kruger and Weber is that Kruger runs a lot of set plays, whereas most of Illinois’ points these days come from a set offense. Running set plays is something that Weber should take notes on because when the Illini go for days without scoring at the end of regulation, set plays can help break the drought. Do you remember Cory Bradford? Bradford had great success at Illinois because Kruger ran so many plays for him.

Sergio McClain is another former Illini who played under Kruger. Sergio recently sat down with his dad, Assistant Coach Wayne McClain, to watch some footage “It's really interesting because Sergio and I have been watching a lot of tape," Wayne McClain said Tuesday. "Sergio's watching it and knows the names of what Kruger is doing offensively. He actually recognized some of (the plays and sets). He gave me names." That should help. (Klee - http://www.illinihq.com/news/2011/03/15/man_in_the_middle_mcclain_binds_three_staffs/)

The Rebs have a fairly short lineup with the tallest player coming in at 6’8”. Tisdale and Davis need to control the boards for the Illini win. The Rebels also have a balanced scoring attack so there is no one player to key in on. Though, Tre’Von Willis is a 6’4” senior and leader of this club.

It’s been some time since the Illini claimed victory in the Big Dance. Let’s do it boys.

Illinois – 67

Rebelious – 63

Illinois vs. tOSU

Illinois vs. tOSU

Tonight @ 6pm

We were 21-15 last year, and we finished 5^th in the Big 10 with a 10-8 record. Typically, the top 5 teams in the Big 10 are virtually guaranteed a spot in the big dance. But last year, the tournament committee pulled the old switcheroo and put Minnesota, the #6 team, into the tournament.

This year, we sit at 17-10 overall and 7-7 in conference. Looking at the record, and judging by our recent play, I’m not sure that there are many casual Illini fans who think we are tourney bound. But what was expected to be an exceptionally strong year for the Big 10 has turned out to be very top heavy conference.

Only tOSU, Purdue, and Wisconsin have winning records in the Big 10. Illinois is actually tied for 4^th with MSU, while PSU and Michigan are only a ½ game back at 7-8. Illinois will make the tournament this year, but they will have to split the last 4 games at the very least.

TEAM	CONF	OVERALL
Ohio State	12-2	25-2
Purdue	11-3	22-5
Wisconsin	10-4	20-6
Illinois	7-7	17-10
Michigan State	7-7	15-11
Michigan	7-8	17-11
Penn State	7-8	14-12
Minnesota	6-8	17-9
Northwestern	6-9	16-10
Indiana	3-11	12-15
Iowa	3-12	10-17

I’ve been an Illini fan my entire life, and I’ve never thought of the Illini as a team that measures success based on making the tournament. We win Big 10 Titles and make deep runs in the tournament. I thought that this year was when we would return to those standards. That is why 2010-11 has been so frustrating for all of us. We returned 5 starters and 7 letter winners that were joined by a top 10 recruiting class. It is going to take a deep run in the tournament for most Illini fan to consider this season a success.

tOSU – Time to get to work.

The Muckeyes have only lost twice this year. If you missed the 2^nd loss, it was this past Saturday at the hands of the Purdue Boilermakers 76-63. What does this mean for the Illini? It means the Buckeyes are mad.

The last time we played tOSU, we were on the losing end of a hard fought, 73-68 game. Two players made the difference for tOSU. Of course, one of them was Jared Sullinger who scored 27 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in 40 minutes of play. The other player was freshman guard Aaron Craft. Craft only had 5 points in the game, but he absolutely shut down Dimitri McCamey. This was the beginning of D-Mac’s February slump.

We’re playing the #2 team in the nation after a home loss. We need more than a few players to step up and have a good game; we need everybody. We need McCamey, Mike Davis, Brandon Paul, and Jereme Richmond. We need Coach Weber, Coach Price, Coach McClain, and Coach Howard. Even Graduate Assistants Chester Frazier and Sean Harrington need to be in top form. Hell, the water boy better bring his A game. With all that, I’m still nervous.

Illinois – 61

tOSU – 65

Sincerely,

The Bubble

Illinois vs. Sparty

Tonight @ 6 p.m.

Hot and Cold

That's the story of this year's team. We really have no idea what to expect. Who is going to show up tonight?

My Encounter with A Former Illini

As promised, the movie below is a dramatization of a random encounter one of our loyal readers had with a former Illini player. The movie takes place at the entrance of Lottie's. Mark Pinsof just arrived with some friends. The basis of the story is real, but some creative liberties were taken. Enjoy.

Illinois vs. Sparty

Tonight is a big game for the Illini. After losing 2 very winnable games against Penn State and Wisconsin, we now have back to back games against the pre-season favorites Michigan State and tOSU.

After starting the season #2 in the country, MSU dropped out of the rankings last week before returning this week with a pair of wins over Wisky and Northwestern. Some are down on the Spartans, but they've had the toughest schedule in the country this year. They return the core of their team from last year in Kalin Lucas at the point and Delvon Roe and Draymond Green in the front court. In my opinion, however, Durrel Summers is the best of the bunch. He's averaging 14 points and 5 rebounds per game, and he can jump out of the gym. I'm not sure who we have that can match up with his strength.

The Illini need a win tonight, and the consistently inconsistent Mike Davis has been lousy in the last few games...he's due for a big one tonight. We need it.

Illinois - 67

MSU - 65

Sincerely,

Miles Davis

Illinois vs. the Nittany Battles

Illinois vs. The Nittany Battles
Tonight in Happy Valley @ 8pm

A Work of Art

I spent the last week of 2010 in Italy. I saw the Coliseum, the Sistine Chapel, the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, Michelangelo’s David, the Duomo in Florence, and much more. Still, there was one piece of art that sticks out in my mind. It left me breathless, speechless, and in awe.

It was the flawless basketball that the Illini played against the Northwestern Wildcats. Illinois missed 5 baskets in the first half – 4 field goal attempts and 1 free throw. They shot 82% from the field and 86% from beyond the arc. It wasn’t just their shooting that was on point, it was their execution and passing that left me thinking of a certain Illini team from 5 years ago.

I’m not saying that this team is on the same level as our Final Four bid from 2005, but on Thursday, January 6, they were.

Winter Movies on Their Way

I promised last week that we would have an original short film directed by Mark Pinsof. The film is in production and should be ready very soon. The 2 man play is very different from Pinsof’s previous work (I wouldn’t feel comfortable showing that stuff on this site anyway), and I guarantee you’ll be looking for a sequel. The current title is Tales from the bench. "My encounter with _________". You will find out Pinsof’s co-star next week.

Fear Ed Dechellis

Starting out conference play 4-0 would be outstanding because our next swing of games comes against 3 of the toughest teams in the conference: Wisky, Sparty, and tOSU.

The scouting report for the Illini is simple in theory but difficult in practice – stop Tailor Battle. Penn State just knocked Sparty out of the top 25 with a 66-62 victory last week. Battle hit a huge shot late in the game to seal the win. Jeff Brooks is Penn State’s other senior leader who played well against MSU. Brooks is averaging 14 points and 8 rebounds per game.

DJ Richardson will probably draw the assignment of chasing Battle. But it isn’t the one-on-one match-up that it is important. How the Illini rotate on help defense will be very important. When Battle breaks free, the post players have to rotate over to stop ball. This often leaves a Penn State forward open under the basket – usually Brooks. The Illini big men must stay out of foul trouble and maintain a good position to put a hand in Battles face but still denying the easy pass to the weak side – difficult in practice.

Demetri McCamey will continue to prove to the Big 10 and the country why he is the best point guard in the land.


Illinois – 74
Old Paterno’s – 63


Sincerely,
Mikel Leshoure & Martez Wilson

Illinois vs. Mizzery

Tonight, 8pm @ Schoolyard
Email me and let me know if you are going to make it.

Saturday Morning

I woke up excited. I had tickets to the Illini game, the squad was looking solid, and I was ready to take some notes in preparation for the first IGP of the season.

Saturday Evening

Embarrassed and defeated, I endured chants of UIC-UIC-UIC as I attempted to have a nice dinner with some hoopster friends. It was depressing.

My good buddy Shomo had it worse. He was stuck in a cabin full of UIC grads in Colorado. "Please tell me this is a typo," he texted.

Disappointing

I don't think I've ever felt this disappointed after watching an Illini basketball game. Last year's loss in the NIT to Dayton actually made me turn off the game before it was over. I had never done that before, but I had also never seen an Illini team play with such little heart...until last Saturday.

It was clear during lay-up lines. At one end of the court, UIC was excited, ready to play, and getting angry. At the other end, the Illini were double pumping lay-ups and looking like they were getting ready for an intramural game. It reminded me of a quote from Mike Davis after the Oakland game, "It's our fault as seniors (he said of the slow first half against Oakland). It started in the pregame warm-ups, kind of goofing around too much, laughing, laying around, shooting bad shots. It's the seniors' fault." We can re-use this quote to describe the UIC game.

Game Thoughts

After watching the debacle at the United Center, there are a few things that need changing:

1. End of game play calling. Brutal. Under Head Coach Bruce Weber, the Illini have had some brutal end of game plays. With the exception of OSU last year in the Big Ten Tournament, we never seem to get a solid, open shot with time running out. A fade away 3-pointer to end it?

2. Bill Cole should not be inbounding the ball. He led Demetri McCamey out of bounds with 3 seconds remaining. Then he was given another chance with 1 second remaining and threw it into the stands. Teams practice these plays all the time, and we couldn't even get the ball in - twice!

3. Come out earlier during halftime. The shooting was awful in the first half. Why not get out there as soon as possible and take a few extra shots? Instead, Bruce kept the team in the locker room until 1 minute was remaining. The first shot after intermission was a near air ball by Mike Tisdale who was short all night.

4. Jereme Richmond should be starting.

5. Bench everybody except D-Mac. I would love to have seen Meyers Leonard, Crandall Head, Tyler Griffery, and Joseph Bertrand come in for every other starter. Individually, every Illini player should be better than every other UIC player in uniform. A mass benching might have lit a fire.

Looking Ahead

How the Illini respond will tell us a lot about this team. UIC did a great job of mixing up defenses between man-to-man, 1-3-1, and 3-2 zones. Mizzery will do the same. Led by Nolan Richardson disciple Mike Anderson, the Tigers will mix up looks and press for much of the game. With Brandon Paul questionable for tonight's game, Illinois will be pressed for some new ball-handlers to step up.

The good news is that Mizzery's Sophomore Point Guard Phil Pressey is out at least two weeks after breaking his right ring finger in practice [Sidebar: What kind of a sissy is Pressey that he can't tape his fingers together and tough it out?]. Unfortunately, Pressey will be replaced by Sophomore Guard Michael Dixon who was suspended for violating an unspecified team rule. Dixon sat out wins against Arkansas Pine Bluff, Oral Roberts, and Central Arkansas. Gee, what a convenient time to end that suspension.

Mizzery is 160th overall in rebounding; so don't be impressed if the Illini look good hitting the boards. If the Illini are crisp in passing the rock and maneuvering through the press, we'll be fine. I would usually say that we can expect a big game from Mike Davis or Mike Tisdale, but I am hoping that Jereme Richarson and Tyler Griffey can motor this boat on the Illini front line.

Illinois - 87
Mizzery - 83


Sincerely,
Your Favorite Bouncer in Chicago


PS...Illini fans, I will be out of the country in Italy, and I will not be covering the Big Ten opener against Iowa on 12/29. Be sure to tune in after the Texas Bowl. I should be back in business for the 1/6 game against Northwestern. Word on the street is that Mark Pinsof could be a guest columnist and is currently casting for a short film about a former Illini b-baller who is now working as a bouncer.

IGP: Tournament Edition

Before we get to the meat of this IGP, which unfortunately doesn’t really involve the Illini, I need to get a few things off my chest.

Illini

WE GOT HOSED. Yes, we had every chance possible to make the tourney, but I feel empty filling out my brackets and not being able to write down the Illini (I actually would predict Illinois to win in the first round, but there is no way to write someone in when the bracket is online.).

Minnesota doesn’t deserve it; they finished behind us in the Big10 and after we softened OSU up with a double OT game on Saturday, Minny couldn’t even finish within 25 of the Muckeyes on Sunday.

Most Illini fans do not think the NIT is even worth watching but don’t underestimate the importance of extra practice time for the team. College basketball squads have limited allowable time together, and this could give the Illini 5 more games and an extra 2 weeks of practice. All the extra game experience will come in handy for next year – particularly for the freshman.

Oh yeah, and the championship game is on April Fool’s. Expect some sniping from co-workers if we make it that far.

It’s Tourney Time

The odds of predicting every game in the trounament are 1 in 9,223,372,036,854,775,808. You have a better chance of winning the lottery – twice – than filling out a perfect bracket. I’d say that the odds are working even harder against you this year. 2010 was a topsy-turvy year for teams voted to the top of the AP and Coach’s Poll. Last year’s NCAA Champion, North Carolina, started the year as #6 in the country and didn’t even make the NCAA. As a matter of fact, they barely squeaked by William & Mary in the first round of the NIT. Syracuse is the #1 seed in the West, but they started the year with an exhibition loss to Le Moyne. That’s Division II…worse than losing to Lipscomb.

The Texas Longhorns were ranked #1 on 1/16, but lost 6 of the next 9 games to drop out of the top 25. The Georgtown Hoyas were ranked in the top 5 early but went 4-7 to close the Big East regular season. The Illini were not the only team all over the map this year.

To win your office pool, you have to play a little strategy. Check it out.

Pick KU

As much as it pains me, you have to pick KU to compete in your pool. 95% of all entries will have the Jayhawks in the Final 4, and it doesn’t pay to go against the grain when that many people have the same pick. Find another slot in your Final 4 to choose a dark horse.

Choose a Dark Horse

You need at least 1 sleeper pick. I’m not talking about choosing a 12-5 upset in the first round. I’m talking about picking a Davidson or a George Mason to go deep. Last year, Arizona barely made the field of 64, but they played well enough to make it to the Sweet 16. There are some strong teams that dropped in rankings late in the year, who could be this year’s Arizona. Look at San Diego State (11 seed), Cornell (12 seed), Clemson (7 seed) or Marquette (6 seed). Stay as far away as possible from Texas.

Pick the South

In my opinion, the South looks like the toughest region to pick. Duke won’t make the Final Four; Villanova doesn’t have the defense or the size to do it either; and Purdue is lost without Hummel. That leaves Baylor, Texas A&M, or some other mystery team. Proceed at your own risk.

My Favorite Column of All-Time

Hockey players, among all athletes, have the coolest way of entering the
game, hopping over the boards with one hand, like Steve McQueen getting into a
convertible. But basketball is forever, and so players are often made to
genuflect in front of the scorer's table for a moment before stepping onto the
court, as if entering a house of worship. Which, in a manner of speaking, they
are.

For one is baptized into basketball not with water but confetti (conferred
on the head by Curly Neal). And one believes in basketball, as one believes in
the Bible and in all those names that are common to both: Moses and Isiah and
Jordan…

Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden and so -- eventually -- were the
Celtics, and sometime in between I became a believer, and this is my profession
of faith:

I believe in Artis Gilmore, whose wife is named --as God is my witness --
Enola Gay.

I believe in new high-tops, always evocative of Christmas morning, for you
get to open a large box, remove crinkly paper stuffed into the toes, and --
before wearing them for the first time -- inhale deeply from each sneaker as if
from an airplane oxygen mask. (It's what wine connoisseurs call "nosing the
bouquet" and works for Pumas as well as pinot noirs.)

I believe in tear-away suits, which make the wearer feel -- when summoned
from the bench -- like Clark Kent, ripping off his business suit to reveal the S
on his chest.

I believe a team's fortunes can always be foretold -- not from the length
of its lifelines but from the integrity of its lay-up lines.

I believe in God Shammgod and Alaa Abdelnaby, and James (Buddha) Edwards
(and in Black Jesus, Earl Monroe's nickname long before it was the Pearl).

I believe in accordion-style bleachers that push back to expose, after a
game, car keys and quarters and paper cups, which sound like a gunshot when
stomped on just right. (And always, stuck to the floor, the forlorn strands of
molting pom-poms.)

I believe -- now more than ever, in the time of global disharmony -- in
World B. Free and Majestic Mapp. And that control of the planet's contested
regions might be better determined by a simple, alternating possession
arrow.

I believe that 300 basketballs dribbled simultaneously by eight-year-old
basketball campers sound like buffalo thundering across the plains. And inspire
even greater awe.

I believe that two high school janitors pushing twin dust mops at halftime
can be every bit as hypnotic as dueling Zambonis.

I believe that any sucker can wear a $40,000 gold necklace as thick as a
bridge cable when the only necklace worth wearing in basketball is a nylon net
that costs $9.99. (but --and here's the point -- it can't be bought.)

I'm a believer in Lafayette Lever and regret never having covered him, for
if I had, my first sentence about him would have been, "There must be 50 ways to
love your Lever."

I believe that jumping off a trampoline, turning a midair somersault,
slam-dunking and sticking the landing -- while wearing a gorilla suit that's
wearing, in turn, a Phoenix suns warm-up jacket -- is enough to qualify you as a
first-ballot Hall-of-Famer.

I believe in Harthorne Wingo, and I believe in Zap the dingo, the Detroit
shock mascot whose costume was stolen from the Palace of Auburn Hills by two men
who were caught -- one in the dingo head, the other in the dingo feet --
drinking in a bar across the street.

I believe in dunking dirty clothes into the hallway hamper and sky-hooking
-- from the shotgun seat -- quarters into highway toll baskets. And I believe in
finger-rolling heads of lettuce into my shopping cart, even though I have never,
in the last 10 years, eaten a piece of lettuce at home.

I believe I can still hold, in my right hand, a boom box the size of
Samsonite Streamlite while carrying, in my left, a slick rubber ball whose
pebble-grain stubble has long before been dribbled away. And that I can do so
while riding a 10-speed bike and steering with my knees.

I believe that the Truth (Drew Gooden) and the Answer (Allen Iverson) are
out there, if we will simply follow the bouncing ball.

I believe that we, the basketball faithful, speak in tongues: the red,
wagging tongue of Michael Jordan and the red, wagging tongues of our unlaced
Chuck Taylors.

I believe that Larry Bird's crooked right index finger -- which he raised
in triumph before his winning shot fell in the 1988 All-Star weekend three-point
contest -- resembles, almost exactly, God's crooked right index finger, as
depicted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

Which would make sense, If God made man in His image. For I believe, above
all, in what G.K. Chesterton wrote, and what Rick Telander echoed in the title
of a book: Earth is a task garden. But heaven is a playground.

-Steve Rushin

Enjoy the tournament.

Sincerely,
The Office Pool