All’s well, no worries, next year will be great!
Over the course of a challenging year, I've learned to distinguish between the two varieties of Illini follower. Some want to know all the news. Some want just the best stuff — the good news!
Lately I've been harangued for appealing only to the former group. Today, I want to make up for that.
GOOD NEWS!
All's well with the Illini!
For the sixth season in seven, Bruce Weber has led his charges to a winning record. And it's not over yet! By the end of this week, we'll know where and when we can watch them in post-season play.
Let's remember that sports is about fun. It doesn't matter who wins or loses. It's how you play the game. And between the lob dunks, the eye-popping long range marksmanship, and the ever-present fraternal goodwill to allow their opponents a shot at the basket too, this Illinois team is fun to watch!
AND BOY DID THEY WATCH!
Chicago Orr's Mycheal Henry enjoyed his third Illinois game on Sunday. Two of his favorite teams were on the floor. The 6'5" swingman feels his game would compliment either team well.
The Illinois staff enticed Madison's Junior Lomomba (left) to come watch his hometown team. How devilish of them!
Behind Lomomba is 5'11" Indianapolis point guard Yogi Ferrell, a sophomore at the chic Park Tudor School. Ferrell left the Assembly Hall with a scholarship offer from the Illini.
Model and Soulstress Syleena Johnson sat in the front row of the recruits and families bleachers.
She's getting ready to record her fifth solo album in New York, and boning up on health and fitness in preparation for a bit of editorial oversight. But here, let her tell the story.
Oh ... Syleena also brought her husband along for the game. His name is Kiwane Garris (or as he's known at Illini HQ, Some Guy).
They're a weird bunch over there at HQ. Probably didn't get enough affection from their mothers.
It was Senior Day/honor Local Olympians Day at the Hall.
Richard Semrau's family came all the way from Grafton, Ohio to watch Mike Tisdale play basketball and Wisconsin get rebounds. Bubba Chisholm's family came all the way from Savoy and got to see him score a bucket!
Dominique Keller's grandmother Roxie Alpough ("like the dog food") and Etonia Auzenne came a whole long way too! They're from the bayou, where people acquire their names de la langue Française. They joined Keller's mom and dad in seeing him honored before a packed house of Illini fans.
Dominique promised to stay in touch. I'm sure he'll have interesting things to say. He always does.
PICTURES OF FUN TIMES HAD BY ALL
Everyone enjoyed the game. Some of the loudest noises came when Illinois made exciting plays. The crowd also got loud when longtime referee Jim Burr made exciting, unusual rulings on plays.
Spectators were wowed by Burr's intriguing interpretive variations on standard rules. They also appreciated the zeal, and decisiveness with which Burr blew his whistle — sometimes foreseeing rulings even before the on-court actions had played out.
Historians of basketball officiating believe Sunday's was Burr's most enthusiastic performance since he began officiating in 1926. Mysterious McDade again captured the mood by pointing a camera at it, and pressing the button that makes the clicking sound.
8 comments
undercoverillini
Oh my God, what a horrid game.
Just read this over at the Gazoo. Perfect ending to our underwhelming season, should it continue to go in the direction I think it will and we get an NIT invite:
“Illinois wouldn’t be able to host a game in the first round of the NIT, Brown said. A Cirque du Soleil production is booked at the Assembly Hall from March 17-21. The NIT’s first round is March 16-17. There are second-round games March 18, 19, 20 and 22, so Illinois could host a game late in the second round.”
Can you say “NIT first round exit?”
Jeff
Burr did make some bizarre calls that killed our momentum, but the main problem was shot selection. It’s been the same thing all season, shooting off-balance shots and long range jumpers early in the shot clock.
Maybe we’ll fare better in the rematch Friday.
We just couldn’t stop them on the defensive end. They scored almost a will against us. Sigh..
NEXT YEAR! :)
Bob
I like the old Rob better, but I can understand why we have the new Rob. The illini crowd turns on anyone who doesn’t toe the line. Guess that’s why the local media never asks tough questions of Weber nor have follow up questions to some of his vague mysterious answers.
Craig
Rob, don’t ever change. I lean “merryman,” but still can’t wait to read your take after every game and that hasn’t changed one bit in recent weeks.
Illni 1990
Actually, I think you have been ‘harangued’ by writing your opinions and judgements and considering them as ‘news’ asopposed to editorials.
Taking a side on any issue dismisses journalism. It’s then an editorial.
This is an arrogant writing.
May I borrow your Grey Poupon?
I suppose I could write my news column one day, and my opinion column the next—as with Tatelines or Tupperlines.
But I don’t write a news column, so it seems like a lot of extra work.
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Signs someone is “fishing” for a factual anchor: 1. Starts call to radio with: “I’ve been an Illini fan for (XX) years” or “I’m a diehard fan,” as if somehow that unverifiable claim will justify the 5 minutes of B.S. that follows. 2. Makes reference to KenPom…
That’s what she said.
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It’s no wonder we are having a problem recruiting solid players for our athletics programs - Look at what we have to compete with! http://deadspin.com/5879065/whatever-youre-doing-with-your-life-its-not-as-awesome-as-the-athletes-in-this-recruiting-video
Never the subject of your articles, but at the risk of boring the flock once again: the real recruiting outrage continues to be this system that exploits the sons of these working class families to make big money for the likes of the incompetent, 1.6 million-salaried coach.…
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nice fishnets you’ve got there, dan!
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The geniuses at the News-Gazette site have it all figured out. This happened because we don’t have the Chief!
Pamela - Are the roasteries in Seattle as clean as CSR? It always disturbs me a little that it is so clean in there.
Now you will be able to munch on pizza and shrimp cocktails in downtown Urbana (whilst a DJ spins?) after your dissolution of marriage http://www.news-gazette.com/news/business/features/its-your-business/2012-02-05/its-your-business-new-pizza-place-downtown-urban Is this a franchise of a Reno pizza joint, or just a coincidence of name? http://www.blackrockpizza.com
Signs someone is “fishing” for a factual anchor: 1. Starts call to radio with: “I’ve been an Illini fan for (XX) years” or “I’m a diehard fan,” as if somehow that unverifiable claim will justify the 5 minutes of B.S. that follows. 2. Makes reference to KenPom…
That’s what she said.
Black dog and Siam terrace is where I always go after my divorces.
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If you happen to be getting a divorce, or fighting a DUI prosecution, downtown Urbana is a great place to eat.
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Confidential? In this state? Hahahahahahahhahahaha
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The geniuses at the News-Gazette site have it all figured out. This happened because we don’t have the Chief!