Illinois recruits Chicago in loss to UNLV
GOOD NEWS FROM SATURDAY
Lost in the malaise of Illini basketball's latest Headless Chicken routine, an important point demands attention: Meyers Leonard was fantastic against UNLV's big, butch, bearded front line.
From the opening bell, Meyers moved through the low-post with purpose. He set hard screens. Really hard. No Illini big man since ... actually, I can't remember an Illini big man setting so many great screens.
It appeared, at the beginning, that Illinois had a plan. That's when Meyers looked active and involved. Eventually they scrapped that plan, or forgot it. They played slow-ball and straight motion. Passing around the arc, dribbling and holding the ball evoked choruses of "BRUUUUCE!" from the stands. (At least I think that's what they were saying.) As possession after possession went nowhere, Illinois hoisted umpteen airballs, finishing at 25% on field goals.
Eventually Meyers wore down, but that's to be expected. He got no help in battling the bigs. His flashy passes found jump shooters, but the jump shooters couldn't find the basket. He didn't get many clear looks at the basket himself, but watched Rebel bigs laying the ball in unchallenged, mostly in transition.
But don't lose sight of how good Meyers was at the opening. If he'd had a Nehemiah Ingram (or even an Abe Djimde?) blocking for him; if Illini guards had demonstrated any offensive threat; the slaughter could've gone the other way.
RECRUITS IN DA HOUSE
DeLaSalle's Gavin Schilling and Alex Foster sat behind Kenny Battle and Kenny Battle Jr., just behind the Illini bench. Behind the scorer's table sat another tandem of bigs, Cliff Alexander and Detalion Jackson from Chicago Curie.
NCAA RULES ARE STUPID, IN CASE YOU HADN'T HEARD
Michael Orris, mom Lisa and sister Lauren will not likely complain about their seats for Saturday's game. The front row at United Center is far better, for visibility purposes, than the front row at the Assembly Hall.
But an Orris neighbor had an extra seat in his skybox. That neighbor is Bob Falato, a member of the U of I committee that selected Mike Thomas as new Athletic Director. Orris says he's known Falato since he was about 5 years old.
Most people would not think twice about visiting a skybox at a pro sports arena, and perhaps even enjoying a few thousand calories of hospitality. But because Michael Orris is an Illini basketball recruit, Falato stopped mid-invitation. Representatives of the University of Illinois, and even boosters, are not allowed to convey fun of calculable value to prospective student athletes.
At halftime, Michael shared his thoughts on the game, and his senior season at Crete-Monee.
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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.