A buddy and I were at the ESPN club in Florida wearing our Illini gear and watching. It got so bad that in the second half random people were coming up to us commenting on how we were getting hosed and then buying us drinks. There were enough free drinks to ease the sting a little.
Illini Basketball 2021-2022
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A buddy and I were at the ESPN club in Florida wearing our Illini gear and watching. It got so bad that in the second half random people were coming up to us commenting on how we were getting hosed and then buying us drinks. There were enough free drinks to ease the sting a little.
Go Nebraska!
Saw the 2001 game in person in San Antonio. Sitting in the midst of a bunch of KU fans whose team we had just beaten to play Arizona, even they could not believe the screw job we got from the officials that day. One of many NCAA injustices suffered through the years.
3 point girl
- texas
Went to that game & have never been so mad.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Illinois carrying different focus into March this time around
Illinois focused on a Big Ten title last March. That meant a flameout in the big dance. Now the team is prioritizing a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — After Illinois’ Big Ten Tournament championship last March, there was one thing stuck on Illinois coach Brad Underwood’s mind.
“I go back to the Tuesday after the championship and the first practice and I couldn’t get them going,” Underwood said.
The team had a chip on its shoulder for that conference tournament run, and then it disappeared. Illinois flamed out in the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a loss to Loyola Chicago after pulling out all the stops to get the conference title it felt like it deserved.
Underwood reiterated that the team didn’t get the break it thought it deserved with at least a share of the regular season Big Ten crown, but his main point was that the team’s focus is different this time around after the way last season ended.
“This year is the Final Four,” Underwood said. “That’s the conversation. We’re having those talks. You’ve got to think it. You’ve got to believe it. You’ve got to dream it, and you’ve got to control your own destiny. It’s a time of year where one game and you’re out. It’s the abruptness of the end, as I’ve talked about many times, and we’ve got to be conscious of that.”
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good read
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Am excited to win out this evening and Sunday and head to Indy with that 2 seed. Also feeling grateful for our seniors, particularly DMW and TF and their role in bringing our program all the way back.
Today’s the 20th anniversary of Frank Williams’ last-second driving layup to cap off a 9-point Illini comeback in the final three minutes at The Barn, in the final BT game of the season, to secure a share of the regular season title.
I still recall sitting on my couch watching that late-Sunday afternoon game on CBS on the final day of the regular season: the thrilling comeback as we scored the final 10 points of the game, and that final play, which Bill Self drew up during a timeout. Everyone knew that Frankie would get the ball and everyone knew he was going to win the game. It was just a matter of how it would go down. And he did it over the outstretched wings of Traverus Bennett, the co-defensive player of the year in the BT that season. I didn’t realize until I watched the video that these were the only points that he scored in the entire second half.
It was the second in a run of four titles for the Illini in five seasons, two of them outright (and near-misses in ’03 when we lost by a point at Wisconsin in the next-to-last game, and ’06 when we also finished one game out of first place.) Add in 1999-2000 when we finished third, two games out of first, and those were seven consecutive wonderful seasons.
DMW has only two games left at the AH. It’s fitting that he’s finishing up his storied Illini career on the 20th anniversary of his father’s title-winning shot, and really nice that his final two games are at home. They each gave our program great boosts when it really needed one, Frankie in three seasons, and DMW over a tenacious five. Am grateful that we’ve enjoyed them.
Today’s the 20th anniversary of Frank Williams’ last-second driving layup to cap off a 9-point Illini comeback in the final three minutes at The Barn, in the final BT game of the season, to secure a share of the regular season title.
I still recall sitting on my couch watching that late-Sunday afternoon game on CBS on the final day of the regular season: the thrilling comeback as we scored the final 10 points of the game, and that final play, which Bill Self drew up during a timeout. Everyone knew that Frankie would get the ball and everyone knew he was going to win the game. It was just a matter of how it would go down. And he did it over the outstretched wings of Traverus Bennett, the co-defensive player of the year in the BT that season. I didn’t realize until I watched the video that these were the only points that he scored in the entire second half.
It was the second in a run of four titles for the Illini in five seasons, two of them outright (and near-misses in ’03 when we lost by a point at Wisconsin in the next-to-last game, and ’06 when we also finished one game out of first place.) Add in 1999-2000 when we finished third, two games out of first, and those were seven consecutive wonderful seasons.
DMW has only two games left at the AH. It’s fitting that he’s finishing up his storied Illini career on the 20th anniversary of his father’s title-winning shot, and really nice that his final two games are at home. They each gave our program great boosts when it really needed one, Frankie in three seasons, and DMW over a tenacious five. Am grateful that we’ve enjoyed them.
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
All five are in the Top 10 for National POY.
Yeah last year's 1st team might be the closest- Kofi and Liddell- swap out Ivey for Ayo, Davis for T Williams, and Murray for Garza. B1G has had some awesome players the past few years.
Does BU have a Sports Psychology degree???.....just askingIllinois carrying different focus into March this time around
Illinois focused on a Big Ten title last March. That meant a flameout in the big dance. Now the team is prioritizing a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.www.stltoday.com
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — After Illinois’ Big Ten Tournament championship last March, there was one thing stuck on Illinois coach Brad Underwood’s mind.
“I go back to the Tuesday after the championship and the first practice and I couldn’t get them going,” Underwood said.
The team had a chip on its shoulder for that conference tournament run, and then it disappeared. Illinois flamed out in the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a loss to Loyola Chicago after pulling out all the stops to get the conference title it felt like it deserved.
Underwood reiterated that the team didn’t get the break it thought it deserved with at least a share of the regular season Big Ten crown, but his main point was that the team’s focus is different this time around after the way last season ended.
“This year is the Final Four,” Underwood said. “That’s the conversation. We’re having those talks. You’ve got to think it. You’ve got to believe it. You’ve got to dream it, and you’ve got to control your own destiny. It’s a time of year where one game and you’re out. It’s the abruptness of the end, as I’ve talked about many times, and we’ve got to be conscious of that.”
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good read
Great college players but NBA hasn’t liked our players. Probably play too hard.
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
Came across something on my USB drive just now. Gave me a chuckle. Might as well post it while we go into our final week of the regular season and look ahead to the BTT and NCAA tournament.
Thanks for coming back for another year, Kofi. Hope you decide to do it again (but skip the transfer portal this time)!
Thanks for coming back for another year, Kofi. Hope you decide to do it again (but skip the transfer portal this time)!
Larry S. No longer has a day job
I would think the NCAA would care... But I'm sure they don't.
Good to hear these stories. Thanks for sharing
It's interesting to hear Brad's comments about last year's effort spent on the BTT and how it affected them in the NCAA - I definitely felt that. Just watching the OSU game was physically and emotionally draining, I think it definitely took something out of themIllinois carrying different focus into March this time around
Illinois focused on a Big Ten title last March. That meant a flameout in the big dance. Now the team is prioritizing a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — After Illinois’ Big Ten Tournament championship last March, there was one thing stuck on Illinois coach Brad Underwood’s mind.
“I go back to the Tuesday after the championship and the first practice and I couldn’t get them going,” Underwood said.
The team had a chip on its shoulder for that conference tournament run, and then it disappeared. Illinois flamed out in the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a loss to Loyola Chicago after pulling out all the stops to get the conference title it felt like it deserved.
Underwood reiterated that the team didn’t get the break it thought it deserved with at least a share of the regular season Big Ten crown, but his main point was that the team’s focus is different this time around after the way last season ended.
“This year is the Final Four,” Underwood said. “That’s the conversation. We’re having those talks. You’ve got to think it. You’ve got to believe it. You’ve got to dream it, and you’ve got to control your own destiny. It’s a time of year where one game and you’re out. It’s the abruptness of the end, as I’ve talked about many times, and we’ve got to be conscious of that.”
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good read
I do struggle with how to avoid it though - if they are in a semifinal game against Purdue - they will go all out to win that game, pride alone won't let them lose to the same team 3 times in a year. The only thing I can imagine changing is reducing starter minutes in the championship game in the BTT if we get there - give the bench a lot more minutes given it would be the third game in three days and the late afternoon Sunday time. You still try to win of course, but knowing it's not going to affect NCAA seeding no matter who we are playing, you leave some on the court and focus energy on the NCAA
Plus the mindset shift of setting the goal as the final four not a BTT championship is important for the guys to focus on and will help
If you had experienced that every time we got hosed, you would have a tremendous drinking problem
DICKnaggie
- Champaign
Coleman's post game interview on he and Brad having a meeting of the minds, its soooo good. Brad is our guy and he has a fabulous staff. CH is going to go beast mode next year!
BMoreIllini
- Baltimore, MD
I'd love to see a Johnny Davis/Keegan Murray type jump for CH next year! Keegan Murray went from 7 PPG to 23 PPG. I think CH has it in him, he just has to put the work in and clean up some sloppiness/bad decisions so he can stay on the court.
Let me take this opportunity to give credit where credit is due! Damonte F’n Williams nominated to “The Athletic” all glue team.
Illini in Indiana
- Indiana
I would love to see Underwood get some love for B10 Coach of the Year! I know Gard & Pikiell would have to lead this year. But wow, what a 5 year run (13th, 10th, 4th, 2nd?, 1st). Glad we have him. Living in Indiana I know they would love to have him as a coach, but had to go with a big name and got Miller when we got Underwood.
Keegan Murray is a smoother handler, more athletic, stronger, and better shooter than Hawkins.
I’d love to him grow, and believe he truly well, but to ask him to jump in physical ability and talent, on top of scoring, is a lot to ask.
FS1 put a banner up for Murray and he’s the first person since 94-95 (I think it said) to do what he’s done. Unfair to ask Coleman to make a jump like that a year after someone else did it for the first time in 30 years.
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