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Bruce Weber gets offer to return to Southern Illinois

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Much like the University of Illinois job is Shaka Smart's gig to accept or turn down, the Southern Illinois head coaching job is Bruce Weber’s to turn down, according to The Southern. Weber led the Salukis to two NCAA Tournaments from 1998-2003 before moving on to the Illini, where he coached until he was fired on the second day of the Big Ten Tournament. Weber won 103 games … [Read more...] about Bruce Weber gets offer to return to Southern Illinois

2011-12 Illini Have Competitive Advantage over ’10-’11 Version

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It's rather ironic when you think about it. Last year's Illini basketball team entered the year with exceedingly high expectations; the theme was last dance for a talented senior trio. This year's team entered with zero expectations. The theme was rebuilding and re-establishing. Yet, if it were somehow possible to get the two teams to play each other I'd pick this year's squad … [Read more...] about 2011-12 Illini Have Competitive Advantage over ’10-’11 Version

Illini Hoops Want More Defense Behind Leaders Richardson, Paul

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One of the biggest reasons the Illini fell well short of preseason expectations last year was their lack of defensive heart and intensity. It isn't like a Bruce Weber coached team to not defend, and last year Illinois lost way too many games because their inability to get stops down the stetch and in crunch time. Especially on the road, Illinois would dig deep holes for … [Read more...] about Illini Hoops Want More Defense Behind Leaders Richardson, Paul

Bruce Weber is Staying at Illinois, Not Going to Oklahoma

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After the Matt Painter mess fatigued us all the next Big Ten coaching carousel rumor mill to spin so rapidly it gave us vertigo (too many metaphors concentrated in one place!) was Illini coach Bruce Weber going to Oklahoma. There was a whole series of tweets and leaks saying there was mutual interest- not true. Don't you love this time of year in college basketball? When the … [Read more...] about Bruce Weber is Staying at Illinois, Not Going to Oklahoma

Illini Need to Play Loose (And Wiffleball) to Advance On

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What did Yogi Berra once say about half of the game being 90% mental, or something thereabouts? For the Illini Fighting Illini to make a long run in March this college basketball season, it's all about getting/keeping their head right. And that means playing free and loose. Which means playing some wiffleball? "I think the biggest key to tonight's win was wiffleball last … [Read more...] about Illini Need to Play Loose (And Wiffleball) to Advance On

Five Worst Moments of the 2010-11 Illini Hoops Season

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The Illinois Fighting Illini came into this year with across-the-board top 15 preseason national rankings. Yet here they are receiving no votes at all (deservedly so) in either poll for the past few weeks, under .500 in conference, and squarely on the NCAA bubble. In other words, grossly underachieving and not even remotely close to meeting expectations. And it’s not just … [Read more...] about Five Worst Moments of the 2010-11 Illini Hoops Season

Illini Hoops Media Day Notable Quotables (Videos)

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Last season, the Illinois Fighting Illini were one of the most schizophrenic teams in the Big Ten, if not the nation. They beat Michigan State, a Final Four team in an emotional ESPN College Gameday event, and won at Wisconsin's Kohl Center, where almost no one beats the Badgers. They also had Ohio State, a #2 seed in the NCAA Tournament on the ropes in the conference … [Read more...] about Illini Hoops Media Day Notable Quotables (Videos)

Bruce Weber: Both the Best and Worst Coach in the Country

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By Paul Schmidt Throughout the season, the up and down Illini have had by definition, problems with consistency. With desire. With attitude. With focus. Their loss 72-53 loss to Ohio State at home on Sunday probably didn't do anything to dispel that notion. Still, one of the week's big rallying cries was Bruce Weber for National Coach of the Year, for the job he has … [Read more...] about Bruce Weber: Both the Best and Worst Coach in the Country