Finally, after a weird, and yet successful absence of almost three weeks, the “real” Fighting Illini showed up. Nobody really expected them to lose to 12th seed UW-Milwaukee, but it’s been frustrating to watch a bonafide great team not hit on all cylinders.
Sure, they were winning. They won the Big Ten Tournament without having to break a sweat for chrissakes, but this was a team for most of the season that just denied belief. They played harder, faster and more efficiently than anybody else. To their credit, even when they were “struggling” they were almost unbeatable, always finding a way to get the job done.
But last night, much to the chagrin of Bruce Pearl, Joah Tucker and Ed McCants, the Illini sprung for a tuneup and the team that makes you jump off the couch and slaps a stupid smile of disbelief on you was back.
Dee Brown set the tone early, answering a spirited (and expected) early Panthers run with big shot after big shot. Then when the Panthers decided it was time to launch their vaunted press, it was time for Deron Williams to take over.
There’s a line in “Almost Famous” where Billy Crudup repeats an earlier Jason Lee line to Patrick Fugit, “And here I am, telling secrets to the one guy you don’t tell secrets to.”
And there was UW-Milwaukee relying on a press to beat the one team you can’t press.
Sure, Illinois had a few shaky moments. Milwaukee got them on a five second call in the first half. But for almost 14 minutes of the second half, the time when Milwaukee’s press was on the most and Illinois was pulling away, the Illini didn’t turn it over once.
The game was officially “put the nail in the coffin” over when a one-legged Luther Head stole the ball from Tucker twice on the same play over a span of about four seconds. Luther lunged out into the passing lane and poked the ball away from Tucker, but it bounced right back to the big man’s hands. The crowd gave out an “ahhhhhwwwww” at the near miss, only to erupt into a roar when Head lunged back the opposite way (the hamstring might hurt, but it just means he’s the fastest limper on the planet), and stole it again. What little air was left in the Panthers’ balloon escaped.
The Illini defense, always overlooked, did what it always does. It forced their opponent into an elaborate, and ill-suited game of one-on-one. They make every pass tough, they open lanes to the basket as a trap to get you to drive blindly into them only to close it off and force you to do something stupid.
Saturday night could be the Illini’s first real chance to celebrate anything this year. They had huge wins early in the season to set the tone for the season. They’ve been number one practically since we put the damn turkey in the oven. They won a second straight Big Ten title, they won the Big Ten tournament. But they won the Big Ten championship while sitting on the couch watching Michigan State lose. The Big Ten tournament was little more than an excuse to hand out another trophy to them. Their biggest moment came in Madison when they finally put a fork in the Badgers’ home court win streak. So tomorrow night, they can enjoy something on the court. If they beat Arizona, not only will they pay Lute Olson back for denying them their last shot at a Final Four in 2001, but they will have validated the most incredible season in Illini basketball history. Illini Nation wants them to win the national title, but the only way the season gets looked back on with the fondness it deserves is to at the very least get to the Final Four.
Forty minutes to put a stamp of approval on a current 35-1 record? Hey, I didn’t say it wasn’t absurd.
The Wildcats will be tough. They’re athletic. They’ve got a guy who can shoot from anywhere, and there are times when Channing Frye actually takes off his skirt and plays like a man. They’ve even played in a game in their history when six of the opponents’ players fouled out. Oh, wait… But anyway…
There are plenty of days when Arizona could beat Illinois.
But Saturday, March 26, 2005 isn’t going to be one of them.
Go Illini.
I threw 62 pitches in 4 innings.
Of a SIMULATED game. That would equate to nearly 140 innings of a simulated nine innings.
But the new 2005 Chevy Trailblazer’s a smooth ride. I’ll be selling those before the end of the year.
Hey c’mon, you’d start fires too, if you lived in West Viriginia. It’s not anything of value could be damaged.
So if he feels well enough Wood will throw a simulated game instead
of making a spring training start. Would someone please tell me what
a simulated game is? Is it like Cadaco/Ethan Allen All-Star
baseball where you take a little cardboard card and put it on a
spinner? Is it more high tech and played on a computer? If it
actually requires some physical effort, why is it called a game and
not just warming up, training or practice? Does someone actually
call balls and strikes? Do simulated batters get simulated hits? Do
simulated fielders make simulated errors? Are there simulated brush
back pitches followed by simulated charging the mound? When the
simulated game is over is there a simulated tv interview? Does
anyone keep simulated game statistics?
Obviously I do, god knows I’ve thrown enough of them.
One thing’s for sure, Stew–
Being a pussy? That’s ALL real. Ain’t nothin’ simulated about that, dawg.
Does anybody besides sox management read my columns without laughing yet?
I read your columns, Phil. Let me tell you: the Sox run a model organization, while the Cubs are TOTAL disarray
A simulated game is me playing MVP Baseball 2005 as myself. The crappy thing is when I get torched, I can’t blame Barrett for the pitch selection.
Thank you George, your updates are a thing of beauty.
Amen George!!!
C’mon guys. There’s plenty of great stuff in WV. After all, it’s wild and wonderful around here.
I just saw a commercial on TBS where Chip and Chipper are talking and fans ask for Caray’s autograph…and the announcer says, “there’s a new ace in town.” Bring back the Terror Alert system…Chip’s terrorizing us from Atlanta now.
I just allowed my first earned runs of the spring. Then I hit a Home Run. I’m awesome.
The next ad has me ragging on Don Sutton for never picking up the check. Then I thank the folks for coming out.
Oonga Boonga! Me have lots of big fly power! Any side of plate I powerful.
I have a very rare 1965 Chicago Cubs Baseball autographed by the whole team. Player like Ernie Banks and Ron Santo.http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5176779660&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT Only 3 Hours Left!!!! Thnx.
Happy Holidays Everyone.
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