Everything fell into place for a 73-70 Illini basketball win tonight over Michigan State. All the inspirational stimuli were present and all the kinds of things that don’t usually go right….all went Illinois’ way.
It was Senior Night. The Zooperstars (including Mackerel Jordan, Harry Canary and Dennis Frogman) performed at halftime. The founder of Jimmy Johns was in the house. While this Illinois game was taking place, Deron Williams, the most accomplished NBA player in Illini basketball history, who just signed with the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers, was a top five national trending term on Twitter.
Even two fans won $10,000 a piece by sinking a half court shot during the timeouts. With all that going for you, there was absolutely no way you could possibly fathom losing this contest.
Malcolm Hill after an emotional Senior Night #Illini victory pic.twitter.com/Xiw5jADno5
— Paul M. Banks (@PaulMBanks) March 2, 2017
With the huge win over the B1G’s banner program tonight, Illini basketball has now won five of their last six; taking out a Spartans team that had previously won six of their last eight.
However, it wasn’t easy! Seriously, it was inevitable that this game had to be extremely dramatic and utterly nerve-wracking.
https://twitter.com/PaulMBanks/status/837162200523493376
Illinois saw a 39-29 first half lead eroded to just 39-33 at half time. They held a 58-47 lead with 10:15 to go, yet it was still a one point game in the final minute, and a one possession contest in the final seconds.
Power forward Leron Black, who had three whole career three-pointers entering this game, went three of five from beyond the arc tonight; conveying what a “you should play Powerball kind of night it was.”
This is why you play the game. Malcolm Hill Illini Fans will be forever in debt to you pic.twitter.com/psihKEYHRk
— Aarman Sethi (@asethi03) March 2, 2017
The player of the game though was Illini basketball alpha dog Malcolm Hill, who led the game with 22 points. He was class all around, both on and off the court (more on that here).
“I thought Illinois was a top-four team, but had some losses early,” said Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo.
“That’s a damn good team with a lot of experience; a lot of seniors, juniors, sixth year guys. So I have great appreciation for how they played.”
The Illini now move to 18-12, 8-9 in league play. With the win over MSU, 2016-17 Illini basketball now has five top 50 RPI wins, and a strength of schedule ranked 12th nationally.
The one season of the John Groce era which saw Illinois qualify for the tournament (his first in 2012-13), the Illini were 8-10 in league play. The only time he has reached .500 in Champaign came during his second year, when they were 9-9. Is there a realistic chance that Illinois could still go dancing this March?
Sure, but now you need to win at Rutgers and reach the B1G tournament semi-finals in Washington D.C. in order to be in the NCAA Tournament conversation. Achieving anything less than that, maybe, but most likely not. The good news for this Illini basketball team is that they do not have to run the table in D.C. If they make it to the B1G tournament championship game, or the semis, they should be in the big dance.
They wouldn’t have to worry about getting the auto-bid, and they have now moved well above the “having to play on Wednesday” zone.
In short, they’re getting hot at just the right the time. It would have been better if they had started this streak sooner, but hey, better late than never.
“We’re playing defense,” said Hill after the game. “We’re more in sync. It just feels different. We always play our best toward end of season.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times and NBC Chicago.com, contributes to Chicago Tribune.com, Bold, WGN CLTV and KOZN.
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