Hail to the Orange

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?

Demetri McCamey first team All Big Ten D.J. Richardson Freshman of the Year

2010-03-09T05:59:20Z

More photos » John Dixon - AP

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The season awards were released tonight, and there is finally some legit Illini love going around.

Demetri McCamey was named to the first team All Big Ten for the first time in his career No doubt propelled there by his team leading 15 points per game average, along with nearly 7 assists per game. For the vast majority of the season, Demetri was the team.

The next best award for All conference the Illini earned were honorable mentions for Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale. Talk about an indictment of team depth.

There is hope for the future in D.J. Richardson being named the freshman of the year. Despite hitting a freshman wall of late, Deej still averaged 10 points a game and took on the role of premier defender for the Illini, pretty impressive for a first year player.

In other news, Painter and Matta split coach of the year honors. Full All Conference teams after the jump.

First team:Evan Turner, Ohio State (POY); Demetri McCamey, Illinois; Kalin Lucas, Michigan State; Robbie Hummel, Purdue; E'Twuan Moore, Purdue

Second Team: Talor Battle, Penn State; DeShawn Sims, Michigan; John Shurna, Northwestern JaJuan; Johnson, Purdue Trevon; Hughes, Wisconsin

Third team: Manny Harris, Michigan; Draymond Green, Michigan State; William Buford, Ohio State; Jason Bohanon, Wisconsin; Raymar Morgan, Michigan State (coaches selection); David Lighty, Ohio State (media selection)

Sixth man of the year: Draymond Green, Michigan State

All Defensive Team: Chris Kramer, Purdue (Defensive player of the year); Trevon Hughes, Wisconsin; Jeremy Nash, Northwestern; Dallas Lauderdale, Ohio State; JaJuan Johnson, Purdue.

Bruce Weber Emotional Report Card: Everything to lose

2010-03-08T23:42:17Z

A quick look at the pic today. Not quite the same as the usual format.

Bruce Weber, with the latest loss to Wisconsin at home, how much is riding on the Friday game in the Big Ten Tournament?

Bruce Weber: "THIS MUCH"

via cdn1.sbnation.com

Pretty much what we all thought.

One more reason to win on Friday: Cirque Du Soleil

2010-03-08T19:08:38Z

In case it hasn't already sunk in that the Illini are in some serious danger of not going to the big dance for the second time in three years, there is already discussion of the NIT and the Illini. Specifically why we shouldn't be looking forward to hosting any of the opening round games

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.

Yeah, Cirque Du Soleil. Basketball hell, here we come.

Illini lose intense and crucial game to Wisconsin at home 72-57

2010-03-07T21:17:12Z

More photos » John Dixon - AP

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It is customary for these post games to attempt to pinpoint the turning point of any given game. Today it is not very hard. Down by only five and with the ball, the Illini brought the ball down the floor in need of a basket. Points in any form. The result was a turnover followed by an intentional foul by Demetri McCamey followed by some very intense words being exchanged by the team's star player and the coach. The game would never be with in five points again.

It was 55-50 at the seven minute mark, from there the Illini only scored seven more points, two of which were from Bubba Chisholm with a minute left. It was one very bad stretch for the Illini.

In a much larger sense however, the game was lost due to a combination of poor Illini shooting and very good Wisconsin shooting. The Illini were once again burned by the three ball, as the Badgers hit seven from beyond the arc, even though the Illini had five of their own. The big disparities are in the shooting percentages, Wisconsin had 41% for the game, the Illini had only 36%, going 5-20 from the field after the break. The Illini to their credit kept themselves alive and in the game by driving to the basket and drawing fouls. The Illini went to the line 21 times in the second half, and only missed three.

Says Bo Ryan: We didn't do anything different, the only difference was they weren't hitting their shots. We weren't going to overreact from a couple guys being hot.

In case you didn't notice, Demetri McCamey did not reach his minimum assists to break the single season record. He got only four. He averages 7.72 assists per game in conference and 6.7 assists per game overall.

Says Bill Cole: We have got to stop getting down by so much, we can't keep having to come from behind all the time.

"We can cause a ruckus in the tournament, we have the talent" Note he means the BTT, nothing is obviously known for the Big Dance.

As of this writing, the outcome of the Michigan State and Michigan game is unknown, if MSU wins, the Illini will play Wisconsin once again on Friday, a Wolverine upset means we get the Spartans. Neither seems particularly appetizing to me right now.

If you are going to beat Wisconsin again, today would have been the day to do it. At home with a sell out on Senior Day, with Jon Leuer and Trevon Hughes in foul trouble and Jason Bohannon scoring only three points, you would think these factors would all point to an Illini win. Not today though. Jon Leuer had twenty points to go with his four fouls and did indeed turn out to be the difference between today and in Madison.

BW: We pulled every motivational tool we had out of the bag, and obviously we did not meet our expectations.

BW Difference in this game was offensive rebounds and Jon Leuer. The loose balls, the long rebounds, and they were able to get them.

"They get foul trouble, which they never seem to get, and we cannot take advantage."

"Sooner or later, this is coming to an end, we've got one last chance to make this season a positive one."

On the intentional foul by Demetri :"frustration, pure frustration"

"We have got to win, that is what it comes down to, and hope there aren't any upsets. We are capable, we've shown that, but we have got to prove it on the court."

"We have depended on Demetri all year, other guys have got to play well, but we need him to play really good in order to give us a real chance."

"Shot selection is a big key to our poor shooting, but defenses definitely have something to do with it."

Wisconsin at Illini openthread: Do you wanna dance?

2010-03-07T19:00:40Z

Nothing gets me going for some basketball like some good old fashioned Ramones.

You know how this goes: Win and your are for sure in the NCAA, lose and well, you get another crack at the Badgers on Friday, I just would rather not be in that position.

The Better Late Than Never Wisconsin at Illinois Preview: Unofficial?

2010-03-07T16:30:34Z

More photos » Terry Gilliam - AP

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Yes, I know that I should have gotten around to doing a preview for this the most important game of the Illini season before well, a few hours before tip off. Many of my fellow dweller of the fine communities of Champaign and Urbana will tell you though, that Friday was well, a special occasion for the University. So even as I celebrated I thought, "I can get to this tomorrow." What I did not take into account was the amount of time I would need to recover.

Regardless, that is all behind us now, today we must play the first of two games that will decide the fate of the team in March. NCAA or NIT? On the bright side, as we will be facing the same team twice, it does increase our odds of getting at least one win. And frankly one win is all we really need. What does not increase our chances is the return of Jon Leuer, who now apparently everyone agrees is the best Badger, (I wonder how Jason Bohannon feels about that.)

As I said before, this team has been eaten alive by Jon Diebler, a player who is only good at one thing, making uncontested threes. Wisconsin, on the other hand, is completely built around making threes. Perimeter defense must improve today. The last thing we want to see is a repeat of Ohio State.

Demetri McCamey is going to have to play the entire 40 minutes again. I don't care what his foul situation is, there is no way this team wins without him on the floor as much as is legally possible. By that same token, both Dmac and Mike Tisdale are going to have to work on their fouls. Tisdale is not as important to the success of the Illini as Demetri, but he is clearly second. He can make the open j's and he can set the high screens. We need you in there big guy.

Seeing as how this team has been undone recently by cold stretches in their shooting and an inability to draw a foul and get to the line, I would like to see a concerted effort to get the ball inside much, much more. Tisdale and Mike Davis need to assert themselves and try and draw the foul or get the easy basket. Demetri and Brandon Paul could also add some variation to the offense by driving to the basket, provided they don't pick up a charge by doing so.

It's pretty simple, win and your in, every game is a playoff now.

Tip off is at 1pm central, on ESPN

Illinois has offered a scholarship to Mychael Henry, a 6-foot-6 junior from Orr. Henry attended...

2010-03-06T22:47:03Z

Illinois has offered a scholarship to Mychael Henry, a 6-foot-6 junior from Orr.

Henry attended last week's Illinois game against Minnesota, and is expected to be in attendance on Sunday when the Illini take on Wisconsin, 1 p.m. at Assembly Hall.

In the class of 2011, Illinois has already received verbal commitments from Mount Carmel's Tracy Abrams and St. Ignatius College Prep's Nnanna Egwu.

Chicago Breaking Sports

Podcast #11: The Heat Is On

2010-03-04T03:12:56Z

Podcast #11: The heat is on

"I think they need one more win somewhere," Lunardi said. "That's my gut, to be maybe a 10, 11...

2010-03-03T20:29:06Z

"I think they need one more win somewhere," Lunardi said. "That's my gut, to be maybe a 10, 11 seed. I actually think they can be pretty good."

Lunardi said he could not understand why Illinois' RPI (72, according to realtimerpi.com) was so low, considering the Illini have defeated four teams in the top 25 of the RPI (Michigan State, Wisconsin, Vanderbilt and Clemson, who just jumped up to No. 25).

"I'd be hard-pressed to find a team that's ever missed with four wins like that," Lunardi said. "I still don't understand completely why their RPI is so bad, but I don't think it's going to matter. The committee has evolved to stage where that wouldn't solely keep them out."

Illinois, Notre Dame riding NCAA bubble - Chicago Breaking Sports

I don't feel like dancing, anyway. When the Illini can't score, they can't win.

2010-03-03T19:19:42Z

Terry Gilliam - AP

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Who needs this stinking month anyway? After watching loose ball gifts roll to Jon Diebler so that he could sink 21 points from beyond the arc, after watching Ohio State celebrate another regular season Big Ten championship, after watching a Value City Arena that wasn't even full, say goodbye to their likely NPOY and lottery pick superstar Evan Turner, I became filled a terrible syrupy concentrated bitterness.

Ohio State has been pulling in NBA lottery talent year after year, and no one in Columbus seems to care. Meanwhile here in Champaign we seemingly have one truly special player, the first in several years, and we are in danger of not making the tournament.

Today is the sort of day that makes me want to completely ignore everything that is basketball. To just say screw it and ignore basketball for a couple days. I will not be doing that, of course.

Steve Lavin said that this game ended when Bruce briefly pulled Demetri McCamey from the game in the first half after two quick fouls. Jeff Jordan comes in and does what he has done more and more lately, turn the ball over and make bad passes, and the Buckeyes are spurred to a 12-0 run. You could say that yes, that is when the tide was turned, (the Illini did not lead again) but through most of the second half, the game was still very much up for grabs.

With eight minutes to go in the game, the Illini were down only seven points. In the final eight minutes they would be outscored by the Buckeyes.13-6, with the Illini scoring no points in the last four minutes.

The problem last night was an inability to score in the closing minutes of the game. Something we can safely say was the polar opposite of the game against Minnesota.

A similar problem: the foul differential. The Illini once again struggled to get to the line, and once again committed far too many fouls on defense. Tisdale fouled out again, for the first time in some time, and his presence was most definitely missed, on both ends.

With two very big games against Wisconsin looming, and with Jon Leuer back to make more ridiculous 3 pointers along with Jason Bohnannon, allowing Jon Diebler, another one dimensional player to do the only thing he does at all is not a good sign. If you are guarding him, do not rotate in to help in the lane, do not allow him to get separation, and most of all DO NOT LOSE HIM ON SCREENS he cannot create his own shot, but he will not miss the open ones, and neither will those two Badgers.

The Buckeyes did not run near as much zone as they did in Champaign, a fact which surprised me, given the game against the Gophers. As I have been told before, you should not try and dribble penetrate against a zone. Well even against the man defense last night, the Illini did not try to dribble penetrate. Demetri McCamey has a talent going to the basket, he can draw fouls, he can dish to the open man. Let him do his thing. At this point, when perimeter shots aren't falling anyway, what do you have to lose?

Argh. It's a long time til Sunday.

Another opportunity lost: Illini lose to Ohio State 73-57

2010-03-03T04:15:03Z

More photos » Terry Gilliam - AP

I hate Jon Diebler I hate Jon Diebler. (AP Photo/Terry Gilliam)

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It isn't like the Illini didn't have their chances. Fairly late in the game the Illini were still very much alive score wise. With four minutes to go, the Illini were only down by five points. The fact that they did not score a single point from then on is the reason the Illini lost this game.

The Illini missed from mid-range, they missed from deep, and Mike Davis even missed a dunk from point blank.

Without Mike Tisdale down the stretch the Illini did not have the same flow to the offense that they did with him in. Eight points in the final eight minutes will not allow you to come back on many teams, least of all a team that features the likely NPOY.

I'll have some more well developed thoughts on this tomorrow, as I am quite exhausted. But suffice to say, Senior Day against Wisconsin just got important. Thermo-nuclear important.

Illini at Ohio State Openthread: wherein I am tired and overworked.

2010-03-03T01:00:32Z

It has been far too busy of a day/week for me. So no preview today. Sorry, here is an appropriately sad song by the Mountain Goats.

This is your openthread, or whatever.

Purdue Pete is in for an upgrade soon

2010-03-02T19:12:40Z

and that means, unfortunately, I wont have very many excuses to post this image anymore.

via www.bigtennetwork.com

God speed, you baby stealing steelworker.

Pregame will be up once I get some more of my real life responsibilities done.

It's natural to be disappointed by the failures of your favorite team. That's a human reaction and...

2010-03-02T19:05:08Z

It's natural to be disappointed by the failures of your favorite team. That's a human reaction and comes with the ticket purchase.

But there is a segment growing within each team's following that, in this era of Internet and non-stop talk shows, carries it to a bewildering level of anger ... hostility ... misjudgment.

For instance, Minnesota, having dropped 21 of 22 previous basketball games with Illinois, had somehow lost its right to win what was really a tossup game. Really?

There are times, situated as I am between the print and audio business, when it feels like I'm wandering around in a nuthouse of droolers and crazies, and I'm one of them. There is me strapped in a chair with the lunatic 10 percent.

"Fire the coach! Fire the AD! The players aren't trying! Why'd Weber call time out? Why didn't he call time out? I don't like the way he looks."

How'd I get locked in with all these loonies?

Loren Tate, being Loren Tate. I hope he is around forever.

Tate: I've had enough - Illinois Fighting Illini Sports Men's Basketball News - IlliniHQ.com

It's not that the Illini are in deep bubble trouble. Quite the opposite: Joe Lunardi has Bruce...

2010-03-01T23:31:50Z

It's not that the Illini are in deep bubble trouble. Quite the opposite: Joe Lunardi has Bruce Weber's team still safely in the tourney as a No. 10 seed, and the Illini aren't among his last four teams in, meaning -- hypothetically, obviously, since Bracketology is inherently a hypothetical exercise -- that Illinois is, as of right now, safe.

That will serve as small comfort to Illini fans, though. Since their win at Wisconsin on Feb. 9 -- which came immediately after Illinois toppled a Kalin Lucas-less Michigan State team in a rowdy "GameDay" environment on Feb. 6 -- the Illini have lost three of their last four. The first two came to Ohio State and Purdue. Forgivable, right?

Saturday's loss to Minnesota at home is less so.

Illinois' at-large status in sudden jeopardy - College Basketball Nation Blog - ESPN

Benn got off to a good start showing the ability to adjust to the ball in the air and the talent to...

2010-03-01T19:23:53Z

Benn got off to a good start showing the ability to adjust to the ball in the air and the talent
to catch the ball in his hands. He ran through the gauntlet with relative ease using those skills with no body catches.

However, when he had to run his routes, Benn's day went sour. He slipped on his first try on the out pattern to his left, and was tentative on his second try. He also slipped on his first try on the out to the right side, and was tentative going after the ball on his second try.

He appeared to be so concerned with keeping his feet that all his cuts and moves later were tentative. His preoccupation with keeping his feet may well have contributed to a couple of big drops later in the workout.

Chicago Breaking Sports: University of Illinois Archives

I want this so bad

2010-02-28T05:34:51Z

This is classic Illini. Start the comeback too late. I just don't get it. I love this team. Probably too much. It was a tightly called game. But that bad choice foul out by Bill Cole and the poorly chosen foul out by D-Mac (though Mike Davis tried to take credit for it) was what did it in for the Illini. Is this an MJ curse? Jeff, I love your dad. But you need to take the ball down the court with some urgency. DJ should not have to heave the last shot towards the basket with nothing but a prayer. We should have had an easy pull up or an easier layup with maybe a plus one (God forbid we get the ball in the paint). That being said, I still think Illinois will have no problem making the tournament. We have two regular season games left. Ohio St. away and Wisconsin at home. I think we could possibly take either one of these. Though I think if we take Wisconsin in the reg. season we will have a difficult time taking them in the tournament.

As a sort of disclaimer I guess: I am in the basketball band and I am going to attend the Men's Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis and I am set up to go to rounds 1 and 2 in the NCAA tournament (which we are projected to go to Buffalo). So don't fuck this up for me (This is to you Illinois and to you the rest of the Big Ten and the rest of the bubble teams. Fuck you bubble teams...).