Occasionally, something that was truly great ends in a horribly awful manner. See The Sopranos or Seinfeld. The 2023-24 Illini basketball season was one for the ages. They ended the second weekend of March Madness drought, and then went one level past that. They claimed a trophy (Big Ten Tournament) and actually beat a higher seed in the NCAA Tournament. Plus, Booty Ball was … [Read more...] about Ten of the Worst Illini Basketball Losses of All-Times
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Illini Need Thorough Beatdown of Cornell to Regroup Quickly
The alma mater of Andy Bernard, Cornell, can't get to Champaign fast enough for the Illinois Fighting Illini. The Fighting 'Nard Dogs, actually they're called the Cornell Big Red, with some bear looking thing as their logo/mascot I think?, will get the Illini to re-focus quickly after that UGLY loss to the UNLV Runnin' Rebels at their alleged home away from home, the United … [Read more...] about Illini Need Thorough Beatdown of Cornell to Regroup Quickly
UNLV Running Rebs Nationally Relevant Again?
Last March two college basketball documentaries premiered to remind us college basketball nuts how the game was changed in the early '90s. Both focused on powerhouse programs that fell from grace since then, but today seem to be trending backward. The ESPN film focusing on the Michigan Wolverines Fab 5 may have gotten all the hype and controversy, but the HBO doc on the UNLV … [Read more...] about UNLV Running Rebs Nationally Relevant Again?
Illini Really Having Trouble Winning at the United Center
This used to be the Illini playground. It used to be their second home. Overall, Illinois is 32-11 all-time at the United Center, but that statistic seems disconnected from reality on a day like today when the Illini offense was so ugly it was an insult to college basketball. With the 64-48 loss to unranked UNLV, the #19 Illini dropped their third straight game at the UC, … [Read more...] about Illini Really Having Trouble Winning at the United Center
Illinois Fighting Illini Choke Away BTT Game to Wolverines
There's only one program to have reached (or received a bye into) the Big Ten Tournament quarter-finals every year in the tourney's inception, and that's the Illinois Fighting Illini. In fact out of the 13 conference tourneys, they've reached the semi-finals in every year except one. Make it two after today's epic choke job. The Illini (who have the most BTT wins all time … [Read more...] about Illinois Fighting Illini Choke Away BTT Game to Wolverines
Purdue Dominates Second Half in Win at Illinois, Boilers Seniors Own Illini Counterparts
A college basketball game like this, the one in which the Purdue Boilermakers absolutely took over the Illini in the second half, as their seniors played like seniors: guys who learn, develop and focus on progress. On the other side, the Illinois seniors regressed to historically epic proportions. But enough on that for now, believe me we'll have plenty on all that … [Read more...] about Purdue Dominates Second Half in Win at Illinois, Boilers Seniors Own Illini Counterparts
Where Have You Gone Illini PG Demetri McCamey?
He was having an All-American second team, All-Big Ten first team type season. At least up until his unhappy visit to Happy Valley. Illini senior point guard Demetri McCamey went (a then uncharacteristic) sub-50% from the field, and committed five turnovers to match his five assists. The Illini lost to Penn State, and the McCamey/Illinois college basketball season slide … [Read more...] about Where Have You Gone Illini PG Demetri McCamey?
Northwestern Closes Out Illini, Illinois Road Woes Continue
In the second battle between Chicago's two Big Ten college basketball teams, the outcome was drastically different from the first. Just how much of a disparity? It would be like comparing the body composition of Illini Center Mike Tisdale (7-1, very svelte) to that of Jersey Shore star Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi (4-8, very squished). In their first meeting in Champaign, … [Read more...] about Northwestern Closes Out Illini, Illinois Road Woes Continue
Jereme Richmond Doesn’t Play in Illini Loss at Wisconsin
Despite the presence of two nationally ranked teams, exciting and entertaining college basketball this was not. The game being played in this Big Ten basketball contest was like the slush, snow, ice and stagnant dirty water outside the Kohl Center- slow, hard to navigate, sludge and drudgery.For the Illini at least, there was never any flow. As unexciting as the first … [Read more...] about Jereme Richmond Doesn’t Play in Illini Loss at Wisconsin
Illini Struggle, Get Beat By Sister School UIC- Seriously!
This was not college basketball at it's finest. Not by a long shot. The Illinois Fighting Illini, playing in their second home, the near west side's United Center struggled with their sister school, the UIC Flames all day. Despite the presence of two local teams, the crowd was small. The UC looked 40-60% empty all day, but perhaps that because basketball fans are saving … [Read more...] about Illini Struggle, Get Beat By Sister School UIC- Seriously!