Hail to the Orange

Don't Worry About the Seawolves

2010-03-16T06:25:41Z

Since I'm probably the closest thing SB Nation has to a legitimate Seawolf fan, I figured I'd answer any questions you have, both about the town, getting in and out (to any Illini in NYC or LI interested in attending), and about the team, which was thisclose to making it to the Big Dance for the first time ever.

A few quick points on Stony Brook--it's a young, guard-heavy team that doesn't shoot all that well...I know, what a contradiction, right? But aside from Bryan Dougher, the Seawolves really don't have a single good option from beyond the arc. Swingman Muhammad El-Amin is our top scorer, but he's a slasher and a scorer more than a shooter. He's very prone to making mistakes, in the AEC semifinal against BU he killed us, turning the ball over 9 times including on a ton of crucial possessions down the stretch, but he can also go off for 30 if he gets hot, something nobody else on the team can really accomplish.

In another anomaly, despite having a starting lineup comprised almost entirely of undersized players, nobody on Stony Brook is really a true point. Chris Martin will usually handle the ball, but this isn't a team that runs a lot of set offense, it's a lot of one-on-one, which works in the AEC but probably not against a Big Ten team. Martin is a pretty good defender, though, so Demetri McCamey won't go unpressured.

Tommy Brenton and Dallis Joyner are the frontcourt guys--Joyner was the best prospect Stony Brook ever pulled in, and is a pretty big body to muscle around, though at just 6'7. Tisdale will have his way with him. Tommy Brenton is one of those typical mid-major hard working white guys who far outplays his athleticism--there's no reason a 6'5, 215 pounder should be averaging nearly 10 rebounds a game, but Brenton crashes the boards with dexterity, and also leads the team with a meager 2.7 assists per game.

Stony Brook didn't play too many marquee opponents on which to judge the merits going against an opponent like Illinois--against St. John's early in the year they got behind early and never caught up, though they never let St. John's really run away with the game and lost by just 8. Similarly, against URI, the Rams got up big early, but Stony Brook hung on to keep the score respectable.

Looking back to some of the biggest games of the year within the conference, Stony Brook played Vermont for what was, essentially, the conference title, and though the Seawolves got up huge midway through the second, the Catamounts came roaring back and nearly pulled off the win--Stony Brook went into a major rut and couldn't hit free throws or even get shots off before turning the ball over and a 20-point lead dissolved to 3. It was a similar situation in the semifinal against BU--down by 15 early the Seawolves came out of the second half on a 13-0 run and took a 5 point lead with a few minutes left, but down the stretch were burdened by turnover after turnover and more terrible foul shooting--10-21 bad--and collapsed like a lawn chair. Because they're such a small team, teams get a ton of second chances against Stony Brook, so crashing the offensive boards would be a good strategy.

Stony Brook isn't going to shock you and win this one, even if it is a home game, because they're incredibly prone to the turnover, and you've got a legitimate post presence which will diminish the drive-and-dish possibilities. The only chance we've got is if you really don't come to play, we start hitting shots like we haven't all year, and Tisdale inexplicably picks up a double-technical in the first five minutes. They're not at all a deep team, and if you get any of the starters into foul trouble, we're fucked. Though Stony Brook prides itself on their defensive intensity and disrupting passing and driving lanes, they lack a post presence and will largely try to stay in it by keeping the pace way down.

Any questions you have, feel free to ask.

We did it. 100,000 hits and going strong

2010-03-16T04:27:30Z

It took a little over a year, but I'm not complaining. Given that we have had to wade through the worst year in terms of Illini athletic performance in several years, I am proud to say we have grown every single month and have finally reached the magic number of 100,000.

It has been a crazy ride so far. Starting from a small blogspot to making the jump to SBN to getting real honest to God credentials to cover the teams I have followed since I was a kid. You could not have convinced me this was on the horizon.

I hope that I have been able to deliver you mostly timely, mostly insightful and mostly humorous Illini coverage over the last year, and hope to do so for years to come.

I also want to thank all of you have followed me and helped this site grow, joking around in the comments section is what makes this blog so much cooler than it ever could have been on blogspot. Thanks for being interested with what I have to say and looking past (for the most part) all of my journalistic shortcomings. You guys rock.

Now maybe we can make a damn bowl while I am still young enough to blog about it.

It was the Illini’s sixth loss in their final eight games, but as Izzo has predicted could happen a...

2010-03-15T18:12:47Z

It was the Illini’s sixth loss in their final eight games, but as Izzo has predicted could happen all season, that was more a product of the imbalanced Big Ten schedule than anything else: Three of the losses were to Ohio State, one to Purdue before the Robbie Hummel injury, one to Wisconsin, one to Minnesota.

"This is why the Big Ten has to take a serious look at how we schedule," Izzo said. "When someone says you lost at the end, and that's where you are, it's ridiculous. It's so schedule-driven, as I told you when we were 9-0."

Izzo said Illinois also probably was victimized by tough non-conference losses to NCAA-bound Gonzaga and Missouri.

Spartans' Tom Izzo: Big Ten scheduling didn't help Illinois avoid landing on NCAA bubble | - MLive.com

Illini to face Stony Brook in opening round of NIT Wednesday

2010-03-15T01:25:59Z

More photos » Darron Cummings - AP

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Cirque Du Soleil, I hope you are worth it.

The Illini will play on Wednesday night, at Stony Brook Sports Complex. in Stony Brook, New York. It seats 5,000.

We are the #1 seed in the NIT and have to play in a rec center on Long Island, because of a french interpretive dance circus.

Let that sink in.

The game will be on ESPNU, so I hope it will also be on 360. 8pm Central

ANOTHER UPDATE: This local paper suggests the complex will be open after all.

It will be the first basketball game held in the Stony Brook Arena in nearly two years. The basketball teams have been playing their home games in the smaller Prichard Gymnasium for the last two years. According to a report on Newsday.com, the Arena was prepared earlier this year in case the men’s basketball team had made it to the America East finals.

Illini will not be playing in the NCAA Tournament

2010-03-14T22:42:58Z

Selection Show and Acid Reflux Openthread

2010-03-14T19:37:31Z

More photos » Robert K. O'Daniell - AP

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This is exactly where we didn't want to be on Sunday March 14th. Without control over our post season destiny and rooting for chalk in the conference tournaments.

We know the resume and we know who might end up jumping us. Use this to discuss and react as the minutes wind down toward the Illini's fate next week.

It is going to be close, but I don't have a great feeling.... come on Ohio State, crush the Gophers.

Big Ten Day 3, game 2. Openthreadmigod Gophers and Boilers

2010-03-13T21:57:49Z

More photos » Elizabeth Flores - AP

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Pick yourselves up guys. There is still more Basketball to be consumed. CONSUME.

Illini finally fall to Evan Turner, Ohio State in two overtimes 88-81

2010-03-13T21:34:10Z

More photos » Michael Conroy - AP

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Rolling update reload for more.

Well, it's not like they didn't have their chances. The Illini did force the Buckeyes into a pair of extra sessions. In the final seconds of second half, the Illini had the ball, and Bruce called a timeout with 3 seconds to go. The resulting play ended up in a shot that would not have counted,

In a similar situation at the end of the first over time, Bruce did not call a timeout. The result was a desperation shot that fell short.

In either of those situations, there is plenty to second guess for Bruce. He tried both, and both resulted in no points. It is what it is.

Overall though the Illini did play quite well. Well outside of the 18-0 run from OSU. The seven minute scoreless drought was exacerbated by the hated Jon Diebler shooting the threes that keep Bruce Weber up at night. The Illini were able, however to ultimately overcome this. Mike Tisdale played limited minutes due to fouls, but his shots in the final 10 of regulation kept the Illini alive.

Even in the loss, we have to take our hats off to the performance of Tyler Griffey. Tyler's 13 points and 5 rebounds are without a doubt the most meaningful contribution he has made all year, especially given the magnitude of the situation. He stepped in for Mike Tisdale who as we mentioned before is as important to the offense of the Illini as McCamey, and the offense did not miss a beat.

All of the freshmen stepped up today on offense. Brandon Paul is proving that although he is still a ball of raw talent, he still needs to work on his decision making. (Just like the young Demetri McCamey.) 4 boards and 4 assists, he is on his way.

D.J. Richardson proved that he is the freshmen of the year in the Big Ten. Aside from the valiant defense he played in the first half, he scored 15 points, had 4 assists and 3 boards. Amazing.

Mike Davis: 18 rebounds, 13 points. He will be all tournament.

Why did the Illini lose. Evan Turner. 31 points, 10 assists, 6 assists. Enough said.

Says Tyler Griffey "I wish I could have done more"

Bruce Weber "I didn't want to call timeout because they are so hard to get it in on." Inbound problems for the Illini could very well have cost them the game. This is what they mean when they say it's about the little things.

BW on Evan Turner : "He is a smart player, any time we attacked him he was smart enough to keep out of that last foul"

BW "This was a possible one seed, and we out played them for much of the game."

BW on the OSU run "we got real soft and tentative. we should have been more aggressive to put more pressure on the defense."

This is it. Illini and Ohio State in the Big Ten quarterfinals.

2010-03-13T18:45:10Z

Darron Cummings - AP

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We arent messing around today.

This is your openthread. Use it.

Big Ten Tournament Day 2: You Can't Ask For A Better Day Of Basketball

2010-03-13T05:20:30Z

More photos » Darron Cummings - AP

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Tonight's upset of Michigan State by Minnesota was the perfect cap to a very long but intensely satisfying day of Big Ten Basketball.
Evan Turner's 40 foot buzzer beater to beat Michigan, the Illini withstanding the longest two minutes of basketball imaginable, Purdue overcoming a Northwestern team that would not stay dead, and lastly of course an overtime slug-fest between the Spartans and Gophers.

It was a feast of basketball that will not likely be matched in my first hand experience for some time. It is of course all the more satisfying due to the fact that my Illini have secured (knock on wood) their ticket for selection Sunday. Combine that with the unlikely Minnesota win, and you have the recipe for a six bid Big Ten this year, which before today could have been very easily only four.

This is my first Big Ten Tournament, and I have to say the atmosphere is unlike any you will see. The fanbases of eight different teams came into Conseco today, and most stayed around for every game. These are fans that know one another, know the other teams, and have a huge amount of emotion invested in these games. To see Michigan fans stand up and chant "little brother" to Michigan State fans, a full 10 hours after losing to their other hated rival Ohio State. A lone Penn State fan, with no team to root on, chanting "we are...." with no response is priceless. Purdue fans taking pictures of themselves making despicable gestures near the Steve Alford bobble head statue. Illinois alumni coming up to me and asking "are the Illini in now? Can I finally stop worrying?"

It is a rare opportunity to get the entire conference in one place, at one time to try and rip each other limb from limb.

For all the stress that getting here was, it is already completely worth it.

Big Ten Tournament Openthreadzilla #4 Sleep is for the weak, you need Basketball

2010-03-13T02:16:17Z

via blog.mlive.com

Tubby says quite being such a bitch and watch some basketball

Big Ten Openthreadzmageddon #3 Purdue and Northwestern.

2010-03-12T23:41:45Z

Now that we have that first order of business out of the way, enjoy a game we have no true preference.

via www.bigtennetwork.com

Illini beat Wisconsin 58-54 in a nail biter, but is it enough?

2010-03-12T22:37:22Z

More photos » Michael Conroy - AP

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For Illini fans, the last five minutes of game time could not have drained fast enough. Playing to advance in the Big Ten tournament, playing to keep themselves from falling to the wrong side of the bubble, the Illini worked their way through a late flurry of absurd Trevon Hughes. Hitting five three balls in the final two minutes, Hughes pulled the Badgers back from the brink and made what looked to be sound beating by the Illini to a acid reflux inducing drama.

There are plenty of people that were key in keeping the Illini in the game during the late push by Wisconsin, but my shout out goes to Jeff Jordan, who had to endure a pair of time outs and then hit the front end of 1 and 1 to keep the Illini in front by three points. Jeff took only eight free throws all season, and to have so much pressure put on him (with his father in the house no less) was probably quite a bit to have to endure. Hats off Jeff, your lone point is as important as any other today.

As stellar play goes though, look no further than Mike Tisdale. He was 8-12 shooting with a pair of threes, all on the way to 21 points and 8 rebounds. His play was incredible today. He did to Wisconsin today what Leuer did to the Illini on Sunday, playing much of the game in serious foul trouble. Mike Tisdale has been taken for granted lately. Demetri McCamey is the straw that stirs the drink, but Mike Tisdale is about 80% of the drink. We all hold our breath when Demetri leaves the game for some reason, but I think we should start getting equally as nervous whenever Tis is sitting too.

Speaking of Demetri, in the record books, I am sure he will want to switch the two games he had against Wisconsin. While Sunday was one of his worst all year, today DMAC was calm cool and collected. He had a very complete score sheet with 13 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds. Today was a reminder of why this team is successful when Demetri is successful. Great job big guy, you are making some big strides.

Finally I would like to point out the largest reason the Illini won this game today. How does a team that commits 12 more rebounds than its opponent actually end up winning the game? Easy, it holds that team to 28.6% for the game, and a stunning 18% for the first half. In fact before the 5 for 7 shooting in the final 1:44 the Illini had held the Badgers to 13-57 shooting. wow.

So much more to do tonight. I am sure you will see more of me. But for now, enjoy this.

You already know that this is. Illini and Wisconsin openthread. Lets go dancin'

2010-03-12T19:00:40Z

It very literally all comes down to this. Win and we are more than likely in the tournament. Lose and we are in the other tournament.

We know the team. We can beat them, they can beat us. Win and salvage a season that has been filled with plenty of ups and too many downs. Lose and have to sit through another year of anger and embitterment. Win and you will be able to watch the Illini play again tomorrow.

Lose and make the rest of my weekend in Indianapolis not as fun.

Is this motivating you enough yet? No? Would David Bowie help?

THIS IS YOUR OPENTHREAD NOW GO AND PUNCH YOUR TICKETS.

Openthreadmageddon #1 of the day Michigan and Ohio State.

2010-03-12T17:31:32Z

Whats happening? its game one of Friday's quarterfinal action thats what. Also I need to look busy.

Comment and mock as you will.

"It’s painful to watch sometimes," he added. "The ability’s there, the talent is there and the lea...

2010-03-11T06:24:04Z

"It’s painful to watch sometimes," he added. "The ability’s there, the talent is there and the leadership is there, but they just can’t get it all consistently. You see them win three straight games, and then the next three games you’re like, ‘What the hell just happened?’"

Bradford, who played at guard for the Illini from 1998-2002 and ranks fifth in the all-time record books in scoring, blames the inconsistency of this year’s team on the fact that Illinois doesn’t have enough vocal leadership.

"I think (Demetri) McCamey has to be that leader," Bradford asserted. "I think that he’s the guy that everyone trusts and the guy that’s been proven that can make plays whether for himself or for a teammate on the offensive or defensive end."

Former Illini Bradford embarrassed by current squad’s inconsistency | The Daily Illini

Podcast #12: Electronic communications from beyond time and space

2010-03-11T05:12:31Z

Podcast #12 Electronic Communications Beyond Time and Space

Sick dunk by incoming Illini Meyers Leonard. 7 footers should not be able to do that. Hat Tip:...

2010-03-10T22:07:59Z

Sick dunk by incoming Illini Meyers Leonard. 7 footers should not be able to do that.

Hat Tip: Jeremy Werner The News Gazette

Illini Recruit Playing for the 2A State Title

2010-03-10T15:51:15Z

Illini Recruit Playing for the 2A State Title

Click on the link and check out the sweet image of Robinson's Meyers Leonard posterizing some fool from St. Theresa Catholic of Decatur. Ouch, son!

Anyway, the 6'11" Leonard, a 4-star recruit who is coming to Illinois next season, and his Maroons teammates will be invading Carver Arena in Peoria this weekend to play for the 2A title. They face Hales Franciscan of Chicago on Friday. The winner likely will get Peoria Manual in Saturday's title game (unless Breese Central plays massively out of their minds).

Source: The Herald Review, Decatur

It's Big Ten Tournament Week, and SBN has got this locked down.

2010-03-09T22:51:36Z

It has been a busy week for me, but not so busy that I have forgotten the good people of the blogosphere. You know we wouldn't leave you hanging for the culmination of the Big Ten conference season right?

Anyway here is a bit of a preview of what you can expect from Hail to the Orange and the SB Nation mothership once this whole thing gets underway.

Travis Miller, friend of the blog and fellow SB Nationalist at the Purdue devoted Hammer and Rails has the duties of head honcho for all of our coverage. In fact he already has a preview and stream up at the mothership which will be constantly updated all weekend.
Starting Friday, I will be covering all of the games along with Travis, getting post game quotes and audio and generally trying to impress any prospective employers with my professionalism. Please pay me.
I will of course be running the openthread and doing pre and post game posts for the Illini games (possibly plural, keep hope alive America!) and will do my best to get you the most complete Illini coverage for tournament overall. Did Mike Davis have too much soda at lunch? Will this have an effect on his play? I want you to know!
Tomorrow night we will still be doing the podcast, although this time I will be by remote, so expect it to be just as unfocused as always. Hopefully if it goes well I will be able to check in at night on Thursday, Friday and Saturday to give day by day recaps.
And of course I will be there on the twitters, with the twitpics and the facebooks and morsecodes, trying to get as much coverage to you as humanly possible, because who knows how much more basketball we even have to look forward to?