Hail to the Orange: FanShots

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

Illinois out, ND a 6

2010-03-15T05:32:30Z

Illinois out, ND a 6

I am a Penn State fan who feels your pain. When I saw ND got a 6 seed, I decided to compare Illinois' resume to that of Notre Dame.

"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

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

Illinois topping Arizona is the #3 March Madness moment of the decade

2010-03-08T20:08:55Z

Illinois topping Arizona is the #3 March Madness moment of the decade

According to CBS. For whatever that's worth.

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

"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

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

Illinois coach Bruce Weber said Friday that redshirt junior Richard Semrau will forgo his final...

2010-02-26T18:50:20Z

Illinois coach Bruce Weber said Friday that redshirt junior Richard Semrau will forgo his final year of eligibility and not rejoin the Illini next year.

Semrau, a 6-10 center, has played in only three Big Ten games this season and has averaged just over five minutes per game. Semrau will stay in school at Illinois to work on his masters, but will not play and will not be on scholarship with the team.

As a result, Weber said the Illini are looking at adding another member to its incoming recruiting class, which includes Jereme Richmond, Crandall Head and Meyers Leonard. Illinois is also evaluating talent at the junior-college level.

Well this could mean one or two things. With Legion having already left this year the open spot needed in next year's class was taken care of, and now we seem to have found ourselves with a one or two year opening in scholarships,
it is pretty late in the year to be adding recruits, but there is a former D.J. Richardson team mate in Nevada named Corey Joseph still uncommitted. Just a thought. I doubt we are in the position just yet to grab a five star in March after not even being involved in recruiting. This will probably be JUCO, boring.

Semrau exit will give Illini another roster spot - Chicago Breaking Sports

Deon Thomas interview LostLettermen.com

2010-02-25T23:52:18Z

Deon Thomas interview LostLettermen.com

The Illini's all time leading scorer sits down and talks about coaching at the Community College level.

Robbie Hummel has torn ACL, out for rest of season

2010-02-25T21:41:19Z

Robbie Hummel has torn ACL, out for rest of season

Wow, just a tragic loss for Purdue. Can't see them having much chance to either win the Big Ten now or go deep in the tournament. Brutal!

From the IlliniHQ, the maybe 1/4 filled Crisler Arena.What a way to watch basketball!

2010-02-24T18:16:06Z

From the IlliniHQ, the maybe 1/4 filled Crisler Arena.What a way to watch basketball!

312 Interview with Mike Shaw,

2010-02-24T15:35:49Z

312 Interview with Mike Shaw,

Friend of the Blog 312 Sports has an interview with ridiculously talented Chicago product Mike Shaw, talked about at length is his interest in the Illini.

Mike Davis, Mike Tisdale and Bill Cole talk about Michigan

2010-02-23T21:11:33Z

Mike Davis, Mike Tisdale and Bill Cole talk about Michigan

Mike Davis Inspired By Anonymous Caller, Totally Not Me. - SB Nation

2010-02-23T20:53:29Z

Mike Davis Inspired By Anonymous Caller, Totally Not Me. - SB Nation

I am I wrong to fanshot a post that I wrote for the SBN mother-ship yesterday about a story that happened Saturday?

Well, I am fine with it either way, crazy story this is.

Bruce Weber said he is prepared to offer guidance to guard Demetri McCamey should the junior decide...

2010-02-22T21:56:22Z

Bruce Weber said he is prepared to offer guidance to guard Demetri McCamey should the junior decide he wants to test the NBA waters after the season.

Weber said he has talked with his assistant coaches about the prospect and suspects that McCamey might be interested if he continues his rapid improvement.

"I’m sure it will come up if he has a great finish," Weber said. "We’ve talked about it as a staff. If a kid wants that, I’ll help them. But I want to make sure they do it in the right process and go through the right channels and understand what the process is about. If we get to that position, I’ll sit down and talk to him and his mom and explaint it and make sure he has the right options."

This is the first time I could say with any real credibility that it could happen.I am equally surprised, happy and frightened about what would happen next year though.

Weber ready to help McCamey with NBA if he asks | Eye on the Illini | STLtoday

NCAA Bubble Watch-SB Nation

2010-02-22T21:30:54Z

NCAA Bubble Watch-SB Nation

We know the Illini aren't exactly guaranteed their ticket to the dance just yet, so for your reading pleasure, and to tow the company line I give you the Bubble Watch from the mother-ship for all your NCAA hopes and dreams.

My opinion? Root against every team on the last 4 in and first 4 out. Make the Illini's road a tad easier.