Category > Illini Basketball
The moment of greatest tension came just before tip off, as everyone watched, and waited, for the teevee girl to give the go-ahead. Sheathed in white angora, she held her right hand aloft, signaling to official John Hughes that the Big Ten Network was still at commercial. Hungrily anticipating a beatdown, 16,000 orange-clad, elderly white people sat on pins and needles, and then stayed awake long enough to watch Illinois jump out to a 21–2 lead over an intramural squad …
Alex Legion is coming! Alex Legion is coming! Paul Revere could hardly have been more excited in announcing the arrival of the Redcoats. With no games for eight whole days Illinois basketball fans had nothing else to complain, argue or obsess about. But true believers have known for some time that late December, at a point around the winter solstice, would see the coming of a savior. Alex Legion is expected to descend from the right hand of Bruce Weber …
The game wasn’t on teevee, so most people have no idea how it played out. You’ll have heard that Mike Tisdale led the team with 25 points and 10 rebounds. But that tells you nothing. This game wasn’t at all what you’d infer from the box score. Illinois beat Chicago State 89–50. Lots of times you’ll hear, “but it wasn’t that close,” which means the losing team scored a bunch after the winning team stopped the beating. This time, it …
This may be the worst game Illinois will play this season, if they’re lucky. Hawaii dominated the rebounds 43 to 14, and yet Illinois won 68–58. From the outset, Hawaii was in charge. On its first play from scrimmage, Illinois went to Mike Tisdale inside. He was tackled for a loss. On the next possession, Chester Frazier ran up the middle, only to get lost in the trees. On the third possession, Tisdale banged an incomplete shovel pass off the …
The Hawaii team you’ll see tonight (if you get the Big Ten Network) is almost completely different from the one that came within one Calvin Brock heroism of toppling the Illini a year ago. Gone are four starters, including coach’s son Bobby Nash, who dropped 30 on Illinois. Only Bill Amis remains, and he’s improved significantly (averaging 12 and 9) since fouling out in 13 minutes against the Illini. Amis plays 35 minutes a game on a team which goes …
The Illini staff obviously took umbrage at the 56 points Clemson scored in the paint Tuesday night. Of course, the decisive points were scored by diminutive slasher Demontez Stitt, who’s very name is short and fast. But coaches don’t let facts get in the way of some good psychological motivation. They spent Thursday’s practice instilling not the fear of god, but the fear of really enormous dudes, into the heads of the Illinois frontcourt.
Don’t have a cow. Apart from completely failing to launch the thrilling game-winning shot, Illinois Basketball played the game it wanted to play Tuesday night despite losing to Clemson, 76–74. I ain’t even lyin’. In practice Monday, assistant coach Wayne McCain warned the team that they could not miss any more flares (guys flashing outside for open threes) and hope to beat Clemson. He also guaranteed them that if they guarded, they would win. He was right. They stopped the …
Hard workers, good character, good work ethic, good families — these are concepts you’ve heard about recently regarding Illini basketball. Lately, they’ve been cited as advantages, not shortcomings. Bruce Weber specifically cited the families of The Four when he announced their signing on November 11. Weber looks to personal integrity when assessing athletes. But The Four are our future. It could be that the best guy ever to don the uniform is here, right now. He has his priorities straight. …
ALL WORK AND NO PLAY Tuesday morning’s workout was the last full practice before the lads fly off to sunny South Padre Island. There, they will work like dogs (dogs that work, not lapdogs). When they’re not learning to shift around Kent State’s shifting 1–3–1 zone, when not trying to figure out how to shut down Al Fisher, they’ll be hitting the books. Chester Frazier, for example, has a big Psychology test next week.
The Human Pogo stick tallied another 20 points Sunday in Illinois’ 78–64 win against Jackson State. Yawn. Mike Davis is automatic, so there’s really no excitement in his statistics. He gets the ball, and then it’s in the basket. It’s like an assembly line. Besides, he didn’t even tally a double-double this time. Boooor-ing. The excitement came from Dominique Keller, who enjoyed his coming out party with flash, dash, a splash of panache and other things rhyming with ash. Eight …
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Oh, by the way, the “Champaign County YMCA” no longer exists. The official name is now the “Stephens Family YMCA” (the website has not been updated, but check out the latest program guide). And no, it’s not just the name of the building. It’s the name of the organization.
Very inspired Photochops as well….
Props on the new YMCA dig. I think it’s a terrible spot for it, but then again, I’m not well-to-do and I’m not willing to drive 15 minutes at $4/gallon to exercise for an hour.
http://motorcycle-intelligence.com/do-loud-pipes-save-lives/1119/ Are you a smoker, too? I feel like I’m just getting recycled arguments.
http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/streetsurvival/dangerous_motorcycle_safety_myths/index.html “Myth 2: Loud Pipes Save Lives”
Yes, I also love the idea of the downtown! However, the “turds” that ride Harley’s or any other motorcycle have the right to ride their motorcycles regardless of the “loudness” anywhere they want. They are buying gas, hence they are contributing to the motor fuel tax that…
Yup, this was the year I realized there’s no way this is my last CU marathon, even though I’m gradumacating next week.Where else am I gonna get cheered on by 70+ year old heart-of-gold volunteers who smile at me so genuinely I could believe I’m their granddaughter?…
I always have a good, but disappointed, laugh when marathon time creeps up and I start seeing posts on the WCIA Facebook page lamenting race day and how difficult it is to get around town that day. One this year said, “can’t they just go run in…
Reminds me of Total Football (soccer) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_Football
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As a liberal conservative, and a person who favors taxes & services ... and also a sense of proportion; I savor the comic potential that still exists in this comments section. I’m pretty sure we can goad more anti-government rhetoric from confirmed progressives and government employees. If…
Did the Crave Truck get a permit to park in city metered spots and city right of way? Or did they just get a permit? The city clerk’s office seems to be a suspect here, but it’s not clear they did anything wrong. Did the Crave Truck…
High-profile whining. AKA Lobbying.
it’s quite choice. looking forward to seeing how it and its patronage grow and develop over the course of the year. could be a neat little ecosystem.
“It was at this point, before he started his business, that working with city employees should’ve raised red flags…” But they didn’t because: 1) The City Clerk’s office originally mis-interpreted the rules, or are indeed re-interpreting them. 2) Champaign’s brick-n-mortar merchants hadn’t yet started whining about The Crave Truck.
Super cool! Excellent track, Excellent band.
Looking forward to trying this place!
I’m in the middle (or the beginning or end, depending on how you look at it) of re-reading Slaughterhouse Five. What a great companion column.
Get yours early. The Rave’s CD will be available at Exile and at The C-U Flea on Saturday. C-U Flea details here: http://www.smilepolitely.com/news/sp_radio_podcast_c-u_flea_arrives/
I don’t know about Gerard and a random police sargeant. My (mild) outrage is based on this: “...he worked closely with Champaign City Clerk Marilyn Banks to make sure he was licensed properly as a transient food peddler, filling out the necessary paperwork and paying a $225…
Local Yocal pretty much nails it here. I suspect there will be merchants who oppose food trucks because they arguably don’t pay their fair share to locate their trucks in high traffic (high rent) areas. The food trucks take away business from rent payers, park in city…
Oh nice! I’d totally vote for Matt Campbell!
“Smile Politely sports writer announces candidacy for city government.”
I also got to visit Big Grove Tavern during the soft open and definitely enjoyed the pork belly the most of all the dishes I sampled. The cheesy grits and the vinegary pickled vegetables were a perfect compliment to the rich pork belly.
The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
Food trucks are the start-up, small businesses of the future for those unable to afford real estate. No surprise, that merchants who pay rent, utilities, and maintenance on a property would despise the traveling competition. Or developers who build more empty retail spaces would want to close…
Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…
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@Dan - Wow. Unfortunately, I have to refrain from further comment due to a previous employment relationship. But with that brief context you might be able to imagine possible comments or responses I could have.