Sports News,  Sports Talk,  Schedules,  Announcements

Sports News Elsewhere  (fresh daily from the Web)

[FEB. 28, 2002]   

Boys

Rantoul       11  20  32   48

Lincoln       10  23  28   55

Lincoln stats

Bunch 1-1-3, Farmer 0-11-11, Gallagher 2-0-4, Schonauer 2-0-6, Schrader 1-0-3, Welch 1-0-2, Young 6-14-26,

Three-point field goals: Schonauer 2, Schrader

[Photos by Bob Frank]

[FEB. 28, 2002]   

Men

John Wood          23  30 — 53

Lincoln College    25  32 — 57

Lincoln stats

Roberson 5-2-13, Clark 2-0-5, Fowler 1-0-2, Turner 3-5-12, Kehr 1-0-2, Sams 2-4-6, Major 1-4-6, Hollyfield 2-2-7, Bowen 1-0-2

Three-point field goals: Roberson, Clark, Turner, Hollyfield

[FEB. 28, 2002]   Although falling short of a team goal — to reach the eight-team State Farm-Missouri Valley Conference Tournament — Steph Reichle and the Illinois State University women’s basketball team have a chance to become one of the few teams in the nation to end the season with a winning note, when the Redbirds meet Indiana State at 8:05 p.m. Thursday in Redbird Arena.

"Only a few teams, like the national champions, finish the season with a win," said Reichle, whose inspired play at both ends of the court in recent weeks has been a bright spot for Illinois State, 6-20 overall, 4-13 in the Missouri Valley. "We have a great opportunity to become one of those teams. We have a chance. We have to take it."

To Reichle, it’s more than just the trivia of "Which teams won their final game of the 2001-02 season?"

"If the team can finish the season with a win, that’s something positive going into next year," said Reichle, who is one of two juniors on a team which bids farewell to just one senior, Kristi Larson, after the Indiana State game. "We’re also looking at this game not as an ending but as a start to next season. We have a lot of work to do before next season. This can be a head start for this team."

Redbird coach Jenny Yopp believes her team’s chances to reach the goal of going out a winner would be enhanced if all her charges followed Reichle’s recent determination and consistency. The junior guard has moved into the Valley’s top 10 in offensive rebounds and steals with big late-season numbers, including an 11-rebound, seven-assist, three-steal performance Sunday at Wichita State.

"Steph is evidence of how maturity helps you perform as a player," said Yopp. "She has controlled her emotions with her performance, especially in the last few weeks. She does not get rattled or upset. She’s very consistent on the court. Steph is what I expect of the class which will be juniors (next year). It’s maturity."

[to top of second column in this article]

In the context of starting next year now, Yopp has some specific areas targeted for team improvement.

"Getting stronger will make us better rebounders," said Yopp. "Ball-handling and one-on-one shooting are other areas of focus; we’ve seen our ball-handling improve, and it needs to continue in that direction. In shooting, we need our players to move beyond their main strength; players arrive as 3-point shooters or post-up players, and we need them to develop the ‘middle game,’ which includes the jump shot."

Since a 1-5 conference start, Indiana State has been one of the league’s most consistent teams. The Sycamores, 11-15 overall, 7-10 in league play, had won six of nine conference games until losing in overtime in both ends of the Wichita State-Southwest Missouri State trip.

Missouri Valley Conference scoring leader Kourtney Mennen already has broken the Sycamore single-season record for 3-point field goals with 75. If Valley women’s basketball selected a "most-improved" team, junior center Kristin Stewart would be a shoo-in. Her 13 points and eight rebounds per game are double her previous season averages.

[ISU news release]

[Click here for Illinois State vs. Indiana State pre-game notes.]

[FEB. 27, 2002]   ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Illinois State’s Baboucarr Bojang was named to the Missouri Valley Conference second team and all-newcomer squad by a vote of the league’s coaches and media on Tuesday. In addition, Gregg Alexander was elected to the all-freshman team and Randy Rice was chosen for the all-defensive team. Rice, along with fellow senior Shawn Jeppson, were each named honorable mention all-conference.

Creighton’s Kyle Korver, a junior from Pella, Iowa, was named the Valley Player of the Year. In addition to that honor, Korver was tabbed first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference for the first time. Korver becomes only the third Creighton Bluejay to receive league player-of-the-year recognition, joining Bob Harstad (1990) and Chad Gallagher (1991).

Wichita State’s Randy Burns, a freshman from Houston, Texas, is the Valley Freshman of the Year. Ranked among the league’s top 10 for free throw percentage (.819) and 3-point field goal percentage (.422), Burns — a 5-foot-11, 179-pound guard — is the first Shocker to earn freshman-of-the-year honors since former WSU standout Jason Perez received the league’s top freshman award for 1996-97.

The league’s Defensive Player of the Year — selected by the conference’s head coaches — is Southern Illinois’ Rolan Roberts. A senior from Woodbridge, Va., Roberts — a 6-foot-6, 240-pound forward — is the second Saluki taught by head coach Bruce Weber to win the honor. The other was Monte Jenkins in 1998-99.

A Valley player-of-the-week selection on Nov. 26, Roberts is also the conference’s 2002 Newcomer of the Year. The league’s top shot-blocker with 2.63 deflections per game, Roberts ranks among league leaders for scoring (14.3), rebounding (7.2) and field goal percentage (.607), and is the first Saluki to earn newcomer-of-the-year plaudits since Chris Thunell in 1997-98.

For the fifth consecutive season, the league’s head coaches selected a "Sixth Man Award" recipient, and this season’s honor goes to Creighton’s Terrell Taylor. The honor is presented to the league’s top reserve player.

2001-02 Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball all-conference awards

Kyle Korver, Creighton

Robbie Sieverding, Northern Iowa

Kent Williams, Southern Illinois

Luke McDonald, Drake

Rolan Roberts, Southern Illinois

Second team

Mike Wallace, Southwest Missouri State

Scott Brakebill, Southwest Missouri State

Baboucarr Bojang, Illinois State

Brody Deren, Creighton

Terrance McGee, Southwest Missouri State

Phillip Gilbert, Bradley

[to top of second column in this article]

Honorable mention

Shawn Jeppson, Illinois State

Jermaine Dearman, Southern Illinois

David Gruber, Northern Iowa

Terrell Taylor, Creighton

Djibril Kante, Indiana State

Dan Lytle, Evansville

Kelyn Block, Indiana State

Randy Burns, Wichita State

Andry Sola, Drake

Randy Rice, Illinois State

Terrell Benton, Wichita State

Player of the Year

Kyle Korver, Creighton

All-newcomer team

Rolan Roberts, Southern Illinois

Baboucarr Bojang, Illinois State

Terrance McGee, Southwest Missouri State

David Gruber, Northern Iowa

Brody Deren, Creighton

Newcomer of the Year

Rolan Roberts, Southern Illinois

All-freshman team

Randy Burns, Wichita State

Danny Granger, Bradley

Chris Foster, Northern Iowa

Jamar Howard, Wichita State

Gregg Alexander, Illinois State

Randy Burns, Wichita State

Defensive Player of the Year

Rolan Roberts, Southern Illinois

All-defensive team

Rolan Roberts, Southern Illinois

Randy Rice, Illinois State

James Gillingham, Bradley

Marcus Howard, Indiana State

Jamar Howard, Wichita State

Sixth-Man Award winner

Terrell Taylor, Creighton

[FEB. 26, 2002]   Robert Archibald of the Illini and Adam Ballinger of the Michigan State Badgers have been named Big Ten Co-Players of the Week.

Robert Archibald

University of Illinois

Senior; forward; Ballwin, Mo.; Lafayette

Archibald was named the Big Ten Co-Player of the Week after averaging a double-double in two wins on the week, with 16.0 points and 11.5 rebounds per game while shooting an astounding 82.4 percent from the field, hitting 14 of 17 shot attempts. Despite playing with a sprained wrist, the senior forward recorded a pair of career-high performances on the week, beginning with a 25-point effort in Illinois’ win over Penn State to equal a career best. Archibald added 10 rebounds against the Nittany Lions for his first double-double of the year and third of his career. He hit 11 of 12 shots against PSU for a shooting percentage of 91.7 percent, the second-best shooting performance in UI school history. Archibald followed that performance by setting a career high with 13 rebounds against Northwestern while adding seven points, three blocks and three assists.

The Illini senior nabs his first conference weekly honor while becoming the second UI player to be selected this season. Teammate Frank Williams was picked as a co-winner last week.

[to top of second column in this article]

Adam Ballinger

Michigan State

Junior; forward; Bluffton, Ind.; Bluffton

Ballinger becomes the first Spartan to earn Big Ten Player of the Week honors this season, after guiding Michigan State to a pair of wins over teams ahead of MSU in the conference standings. The junior forward shot 60 percent from the field while averaging 16.5 points and 8.0 boards per game in wins over Minnesota and Indiana, as the Spartans climbed into a tie for fifth place at 8-6 in league play. Ballinger set a career high with 20 points against the Gophers, hitting seven of 12 shots and adding nine boards. He added 13 points and seven boards against Big Ten-leading Indiana on Sunday, including a crucial 3-pointer with one minute left to tie the game at 53-53, the first tie since the start of the game.

[Scott Chipman, associate director of communications, Big Ten Conference]

Pre-game notes: Illinois vs. Indiana  (men)

[FEB. 26, 2002]   

[Click here for background information (in Adobe Acrobat).]

[Click here to download Adobe Acrobat reader]

[FEB. 26, 2002]   NORMAL — Senior Shawn Jeppson scored 16 of his team-high 22 points in the second half as the Illinois State Redbirds defeated the Purple Aces of Evansville in overtime, 82-73, on Senior Night at Redbird Arena. The win gives Illinois State the No. 3 seed in the Missouri Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament, which begins Friday, March 1.

The Redbirds, 16-13 overall, 12-6 in the conference, outscored the Aces 16-7 in the extra period, shooting 83 percent (5-for-6) from the field. Besides Jeppson, three other ’Birds reached double figures in scoring. Senior Shedrick Ford and junior Baboucarr Bojang each scored 15 points, while freshman Gregg Alexander chipped in 11. Bojang also paced Illinois State on the boards with a game-high 11 rebounds, collecting his ninth double-double of the season.

Evansville, 7-20 overall, 4-14 in the Valley, shot only 33 percent in overtime after shooting 52 percent (28-for-54) from the field in regulation. Senior Tobias Brinkley led the Aces with 23 points and nine rebounds, while junior Ian Hanavan turned in 22 points and eight rebounds. Both Brinkley (11-for-18) and Hanavan (9-for-18) shot over 50 percent from the field in the game.

[to top of second column in this article]

With the Aces up 39-37 at the half, Illinois State tied it up on their first possession of the second half off a short jumper by Bojang from the free-throw line. Evansville could muster only two field goals in the first seven minutes of the second half, and the ’Birds were able to jump to an eight-point lead, 53-45.

However, hot shooting by Brinkley and junior Larry Ferguson down the stretch brought the Aces back, and Hanavan’s free throw with 1:28 remaining in regulation proved to be enough to send the game to overtime at 66-66.

Illinois State will face the No. 6 seed in the Valley at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, at the Savvis Center in St. Louis, Mo.

[ISU news release]

[FEB. 26, 2002]   WICHITA, Kan. — Wichita State rode Carlesa Dixon’s 20 points and 13 rebounds to a 74-56 victory over Illinois State in a Missouri Valley Conference game Sunday at Henry Levitt Arena, evening the score for a 68-64 Redbird win a month ago in Redbird Arena.

The Redbird loss, which knocked Illinois State out of contention for a spot in the eight-team State Farm-Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, came despite a heroic effort by Steph Reichle, who had a strong floor game, including 11 rebounds, a season-high seven assists, seven points and three steals. With three field goals, Reichle had a hand in 10 of ISU’s 16 baskets, plus one-third of its rebounds and half of its steals.

Redbird coach Jenny Yopp was impressed with Reichle’s all-out effort at both ends of the court.

"Steph’s focus is always on the right things — helping her team win a basketball game," said Yopp. "She isn’t caught up in herself and she helps her team because she does so many things that don’t show up in the box score."

Yopp was less impressed with her team’s total intensity.

"Wichita State is an athletic team," said Yopp. "But we didn’t give the same effort we gave against them at Redbird Arena. You need to come out and play good defense to win on the road."

[to top of second column in this article]

Wichita State, 12-13, 7-9 in the Valley, earned a 50-32 rebounding edge, including 20 offensive rebounds. On Senior Day for the Shockers and the final women’s basketball game at Levitt, WSU went to the free-throw line frequently, hitting 28 of 33 to Illinois State’s 19 of 26.

ISU, 6-20, 4-12, shot cold from the start, hitting just seven of 28 first-half attempts, including a seven-minute dry spell without a field goal. Even though the Redbirds made 11 of 14 free throws in the first half, WSU hit 18 of 19 from the line thanks to ISU’s 15 first-half fouls. The ’Birds finished with 27, matching their team high for a game this season.

Leading 39-25 at halftime, WSU pushed the advantage to 20 points, thanks to eight Dixon tallies during a 13-4 Shocker run to start the second half. WSU led 52-32 with 14 minutes remaining. ISU came no closer than 16 after that.

The Redbirds finish the season in a special 8:05 p.m. start Thursday at Redbird Arena against Indiana State.

[ISU news release]

[FEB. 26, 2002]   WICHITA, Kan. — "Nu-um-ber 12, Beth HU-ston ... THREE-E-EE points!" came the call over the public address system. The "crowd" went wild.

No, it wasn’t Dave Colee or Steve Adams’ familiar call in Redbird Arena... It was Steph Reichle on the Illinois State team bus before it departed for Saturday’s team practice. Reichle gave each a stylish introduction, including Beth Huston, who soaked up the resulting cheers with an embracing, appreciative smile worthy of a political candidate.

Nobody laughed harder than Reichle. But, a few minutes later, the junior guard was on the practice court, in her trademark low stance, face as intense as ever, preparing for the final regular-season road game against Wichita State in Henry Levitt Arena. She expected, and got, the same attitude from her teammates. They are the youngest squad in the Valley.

According to Reichle, the team’s ability to relax and have fun together — like the silliness on the bus — while knowing when it was time to focus, to prepare and play, has helped it to improve.

"Off the court, we’re easygoing and have a good time together," said Reichle. "We’ve stayed together and become good friends. But you can see the change on the court. In practice or in games, we’re focused."

[to top of second column in this article]

Redbird coach Jenny Yopp, a frequently vocal fan of Reichle’s on-court intensity and competitiveness, appreciates her squad’s togetherness and ability to act appropriately.

"This team is relaxed and they enjoy each other off the court," said Yopp. "On the court, this team has learned the importance of focused intensity. You need that to compete with teams like SMS in Springfield."

ISU dropped a 76-63 decision Friday at Southwest Missouri State in front of 7,037 fans.

"We played with composure against SMS," said Yopp. "No matter what happened on the court or how the crowd got into the game, we didn’t waver or get rattled."

Following the Sunday game against Wichita State, the Redbirds finish the regular season in a special 8:05 p.m. start Thursday against Indiana State at Redbird Arena. (Click here for pre-game notes.)

[ISU news release]

[FEB. 26, 2002]   SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Behind the 15-point effort by Missouri native Taren O’Brien, Illinois State led early and pressured Southwest Missouri late, but the Lady Bears prevailed 76-63 on Friday evening before a crowd of 7,073 at Hammons Student Center.

The Bears opened the second half with an 11-2 run to extend their lead to double-digits as ISU made just one of its first six shots and SMS hit five of seven. SMS led by 12 in the first 10 minutes, 55-43, but the Redbirds trimmed that in half with a 9-3 rush, punctuated by an O’Brien trey with 7:49 left. Ninety seconds later, Steph Reichle cut the lead to 60-57 with a 3-point basket.

ISU never got closer, though, and the final score with the biggest difference, reflecting late free throws by the Bears. Carolyn Weirick led SMS with 17 points and Charlotte Nelson added 15. Erica Vicente had 10 assists.

Redbird coach Jenny Yopp thought the SMS crowd helped the Bears with that early second-half run.

"It’s a great atmosphere here," said Yopp, whose team made a season-high nine 3-point field goals. "Their sixth man, their ‘X’ factor, helped them to make that little spurt. It was tough on us because, when the crowd got into it, it was hard for our players to hear what they needed to hear on the court. Give them (the Bears) credit; they came out in the second half and did what they needed to do."

But Yopp was proud of the effort of her team, particularly the Savannah, Mo., native, O’Brien.

"This year, she was ready to return to her home state and return to where she went to camp, and put on a good performance," said Yopp. "Really, I’m proud of our young team because we certainly gave the best effort we have had here (in Springfield) in the time I’ve been at Illinois State. We had some foul trouble and got behind, but we never stopped battling."

[to top of second column in this article]

After SMS took an early 3-2 lead, Katie Donovan, who finished with 11 points, drained a 3-pointer with 17:51 left to start a 13-4 Redbird run, punctuated by a basket-and-free throw 3-point play by O’Brien and a Stacey White 3-point basket as Illinois State took a 15-7 lead with 14:11 left in the half.

Nicole Lehman came off the SMS bench to ignite a Bears rally that brought SMS back to a 23-22 lead. Second-chance points and Redbird turnovers helped SMS, but the ’Birds responded with a 3-pointer by Beth Huston to retake the lead despite the ’Birds missing White and Kristi Larson most of the half because of foul trouble.

ISU took its last lead of the half on Stacey Nickerson’s trey with 1:21 left, but Charlotte Nelson’s rebound basket and two Carolyn Weirick free throws helped SMS lead 35-32 at the intermission. The Redbirds shot 62.5 percent from the field and made five of seven 3-pointers.

The win for SMS, 15-9, 11-4 in the Valley, was the 200th league win for Lady Bears coach Cheryl Burnett, enabling her to surpass former Southern Illinois coach Cindy Scott for the all-time league wins record. Retired Illinois State coach Jill Hutchison is No. 3 with 170 from 1983-99. It was win No. 11 in a row for the Bears over Illinois State.

Illinois State, 6-19 overall, 4-12 in the Valley, remained in contention for a bid to the State Farm-Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, which the Bears host March 7-9.

[ISU news release]

[FEB. 25, 2002]   At Lincoln Christian College on Saturday, Feb. 23:

Women

Emmaus Bible       25  28 — 53

Lincoln Christian   37  51 — 87

Lincoln stats

Szostek 2-0-4, Wright 14-3-33, Wertin 2-1-5, Robbins 8-2-19, O’Malley 5-0-11, Jewell 5-0-10, Urton 2-0-4

Three-point field goals: Wright 2, Robbins, O’Malley

Men

Emmaus Bible         31  18 — 49

Lincoln Christian     40  29 — 69

Clark 9-4-25, Raymer 1-4-7, Gordon 2-0-4, Johnson 1-0-2, Below 4-0-8, O’Connor 1-0-2, Okusami 1-0-2, Grooms 2-0-4, Searby 6-0-15,

Three-point field goals: Clark 3, Searby 3, Raymer

Pre-game notes: Illinois State vs. Indiana State  (women)

[FEB. 25, 2002]   

[Click here for background information (in Adobe Acrobat).]

[Click here to download Adobe Acrobat reader]

[FEB. 23, 2002]   

Boys

At Springfield

Lincoln                           12  26  41  62

Spr. Lanphier                 12  34  49  76

Best 0-0-0, Farmer 7-2-20, Gallagher 1-0-2, Heidbreder 0-0-0, Komnick 1-0-3, Schonauer 1-1-3, Schrader 3-0-9, Welch 0-0-0, Werner 2-0-4, Young 5-4-14, Bunch 3-1-7

Totals 23-8-62

Three-point field goals: Farmer 4, Schrader 3, Komnick

[FEB. 23, 2002]   

Boys

At Glasford

Illini Central            14  27  38  57

Delavan                  18  26  36  58

Miller 2-0-4, Grimsley 5-8-19, Clark 6-0-12, Giesler 3-0-7, Scott 4-3-11, Hieronymous 0-0-0, Swaar 1-0-2, Williams 0-2-2

Totals 21-13-57

Three-point field goals: Grimsley, Giesler

[FEB. 22, 2002]   

[Click here to see stats]

Pre-game notes: Illinois vs. Northwestern  (men)

[FEB. 22, 2002]   

[Click here for background information (in Adobe Acrobat).]

[Click here to download Adobe Acrobat reader]

[FEB. 22, 2002]   INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Sports Corporation, Pacers Sports & Entertainment, Inc., and the local organizing committee for the 2002 Big Ten Women’s and Men’s Basketball Tournaments unveiled plans Thursday for a "Big Ten...Big Times" celebration that will include street signs, banners, music, memorabilia and pep rallies.

The women’s tournament, being hosted in Indianapolis for the seventh time in eight years, takes place Feb. 28-March 4. The men’s tournament, which makes its Indianapolis debut after four years in Chicago’s United Center, is March 7-10.

Both tournaments, taking place in the same city for the first time, will be in Conseco Fieldhouse.

Fans for both tournaments will encounter a festive atmosphere that will include banners flying from street poles and the city’s tallest building, the 48-story Bank One Tower. The IPALCO Building on Monument Circle will display "Big Ten" in lights.

There will be pep rallies and pre-game previews in a "Rally Alley" tent near the fieldhouse prior to sessions of both tournaments. Big Ten fans will be invited to participate in "Fight Song Karaoke Nights" at a downtown hotel. Local restaurants and nightspots are "adopting" Big Ten fans from different Big Ten universities.

For designated area youngsters, there will be for 11 youth clinics in association with the women’s tournament.

Trophy cases in Conseco Fieldhouse will display Big Ten basketball memorabilia and the fieldhouse will be decorated in Big Ten banners and pennants. Eleven downtown streets will be renamed in honor of the Big Ten institutions.

"We look forward to providing the kind of tournament basketball atmosphere that only Indiana and Indianapolis can provide," said Amy Minick Peterson, co-chair of the local organizing committee. "It’s a given that we will have great, competitive basketball. Our committees and volunteers have been committed to providing a great, hospitable and welcoming environment for everyone connected with the tournaments."

"We are excited to showcase Big Ten basketball in the state of Indiana and the city of Indianapolis, the capital of amateur sports," said Big Ten Commissioner James E. Delany. "Indiana has a true affection for the game of basketball, and we think the Big Ten tournaments in Indianapolis will be truly special for our student-athletes, coaches and fans."

"We are eager to share the finest basketball arena in the world with fans from around the Big Ten," said Rick Fuson, executive senior vice-president of Pacers Sports & Entertainment. "The fieldhouse was built with basketball in mind, and we believe players and fans will be enlivened by playing and watching in a venue that combines a traditional feel with modern amenities."

At the news conference, Peterson helped rename Georgia Street "Boilermaker Lane," and Pennsylvania Street "Hoosier Place," as part of the local committee’s plan to rename many of the downtown streets after Big Ten institutions.

The tournaments are being presented by the Big Ten Conference, Indiana Sports Corporation and Pacers Sports & Entertainment.

Ticket specials

Tickets for the women’s tournament are available at (317) 239-5151 or www.ticketmaster.com. Beginning on Thursday, Feb. 28, the following ticket specials will be offered for the women’s tournament. These ticket specials will be available only on game day and at the Conseco Fieldhouse box office.

•  Thursday, Feb. 28 — The 3-2-1-GO! Package

Three games for two people for the price of one ticket.

•  Friday, March 1 — Public Safety Day

Any public safety official in uniform or who can produce proper identification gets two tickets for the price of one.

•  Sunday, March 3 — Dream Big Day.

Any boy and girl in kindergarten through eighth grade is admitted free with one paying adult.

•  Monday, March 4 — Fill The Fieldhouse/Family Night

Watch the Big Ten’s best battle for the championship. Buy one, get one free.

•  LOC Youth Clinic — Tech High School; Saturday, Feb. 23, 1 p.m.; not open to the public

•  Nike Youth Clinic — Conseco Fieldhouse; Sunday, March 3, noon; not open to the public

Designated area youth will have the opportunity to take part in these two youth clinics in conjunction with the Big Ten women’s tournament. At Tech High School, Indiana Fever player Alicia Thompson will conduct the clinic that will emphasize both basketball and life skills. The Nike Youth Clinic will take place at Emmis Practice Court in Conseco Fieldhouse. Former Purdue All-American and Indianapolis native Katie Douglas will speak at the clinic and sign autographs.

At Champions Sports Bar — Thursday, Feb. 28, 9:30-1:30 p.m., and Thursday, March 7, 9-11 p.m.

Champions Sports Bar & Restaurant, located in the Indianapolis Marriott downtown, will host "Big Ten Fight Song Karaoke Night." Competition will begin immediately following game three of the first round for both tournaments. It’s a contest to see who can sing their fight song the loudest and proudest. Prizes will include overnight stays at the Indianapolis Marriott, dinner for two, gift certificates, an autographed Dick Vitale basketball and sportswear.

At 11 downtown restaurants and nightspots — Thursday, Feb. 28; Friday, March 1; Thursday, March 7; and Friday, March 8.

Select Indianapolis nightspots and nightspots will adopt Big Ten schools on Thursday and Friday evenings during both the men’s and women’s tournaments. Fans are encouraged to stop by their partner establishments for pre- and post-game entertainment. Illinois will be paired with Ram Restaurant. Indiana University will be paired with Rock Bottom Brewery. Iowa fans should visit Champions Sports Bar. Michigan visitors should head to the Slippery Noodle. Michigan State will be paired with Claddagh Irish Pub. Minnesota will be paired with Alcatraz Brewing Company. Northwestern fans should visit Ruth’s Chris Steak House. Ohio State fans should visit The Cozy. Penn State University will be paired with St. Elmo Steak House. Purdue University will be paired with Jillian’s. Fans from Wisconsin should head to The Pub.

Championship game pep rallies — Ober parking lot (Conseco Fieldhouse); Monday, March 4, 5:30 p.m., and Sunday, March 10, 1 p.m.

Prior to the championship games of the women’s and men’s tournaments, bands, cheerleaders, alumni and fans are invited to participate in a free pep rally at "Rally Alley" in a tent located on the Ober parking lot, just north of the Pennsylvania Street entrance to Conseco Fieldhouse.

[to top of second column in this article]

Pre-game previews — Ober parking lot (Conseco Fieldhouse); Sunday, March 3, 2 p.m.; Thursday, March 7, noon; Friday, March 8, 9:30 a.m. and 4:40 p.m.; and Saturday, March 9, 11:45 a.m.

The special pre-game previews involving local radio, television and basketball personalities will take place in the tent prior to the start of the women’s semifinals and the men’s first round, quarterfinals and semifinals.

Big Ten tournament fans will know the tournaments are in town. More than 100 downtown streetlight poles are being decorated with the Big Ten logo and "Big Ten ... Big Times" slogan. The IPALCO building on Monument Circle will display a lighted "Big Ten" in its windows. And the top of the Bank One tower will fly a "Big Ten...Big Times" banner. In the immediate vicinity of the fieldhouse, fans will see a variety of Big Ten banners. Circle Centre Mall also will fly Big Ten tournament banners, school banners and tournament brackets.

During the men’s tournament, audio from the post-game press conferences will be piped to the entry pavilion and outside the fieldhouse.

Be sure to check out the trophy cases just past the grand staircase of the Conseco Fieldhouse entry pavilion. Each Big Ten institution will have a display case filled with Big Ten women’s and men’s basketball memorabilia.

Eleven downtown streets will be renamed in honor of each Big Ten institution. Badger Place, Illini Lane, Wolverine Boulevard, Hoosier Place, Wildcat Avenue, Buckeye Street, Spartan Drive, Hawkeye Way, Nittany Lion Drive, Gopher Street, and Boilermaker Lane will all become part of downtown. Not to worry — the original street identification signs will remain in place so fans will still be able to find their way around.

Street, cross streets, names:

•  Capitol Avenue, Ohio Street and Georgia Street, Badger Place

•  Meridian Street, Ohio Street and Georgia Street, Wolverine Boulevard

•  Pennsylvania Street, Ohio Street and Georgia Street, Hoosier Place

•  Delaware Street, Ohio Street and Maryland Street, Wildcat Avenue

•  Ohio Street, Capitol Avenue and Delaware Street, Buckeye Street

•  Market Street, Capitol Avenue and Delaware Street, Spartan Drive

•  Washington Street, Capitol Avenue and Delaware Street, Nittany Lion Drive

•  Maryland Street, Capitol Avenue and Delaware Street, Hawkeye Way

•  Georgia Street, Capitol Avenue and Pennsylvania Street, Boilermaker Lane

•  South Street, Capitol Avenue and Delaware Street, Gopher Street

CDs of Big Ten fight songs have been distributed to downtown area restaurants and pubs.

Beyond the games, one of the most popular, successful and certainly fulfilling aspects of the Big Ten women’s basketball tournament has been the Big Ten Basketball Middle School Curriculum Program.

Instituted for the 1995 Big Ten women’s tournament in Indianapolis and continued every year since, the program pairs local middle schools with Big Ten teams in a manner that is fun, inspiring, informative and, most of all, educational.

This year, not coincidentally with both the women’s and men’s Big Ten tournaments being hosted in Indianapolis, men’s teams have been added to the program for the first time.

Middle schools are assigned a team (and therefore, a university) to follow throughout the Big Ten season. Each middle school is provided information about their teams through media guides, other literature, and accessing the institutions’ websites. Another facet is the Team Pen Pal Program, in which the middle school students correspond with Big Ten women’s players via e-mails or letters.

When Big Ten teams arrive in Indianapolis, they also are given a mailbag filled with letters offering welcome and good luck.

In the meantime, the middle school students incorporate their team into the curriculum. For example, in math class, students examine box scores and figure scoring averages, shooting percentages, assist-to-turnover ratios and won-loss percentages. In art class, students are encouraged to make banners that will be displayed in the teams’ Conseco Fieldhouse locker rooms or on fieldhouse walls. In music class, students learn the university fight song. In physical education, they study the training, dietary and sleeping regimen of athletes, as well as the psychological aspects of sports.

At the end of the season, students enrolled in the women’s middle school program receive free tickets to attend the first-round Big Ten tournament games of the teams they have been following. Their enthusiasm for their teams creates a definite sense of excitement.

This year, 19 middle schools representing Indianapolis Public Schools, township schools, suburban schools and parochial schools have been paired with the 22 Big Ten women’s and men’s teams. More than 2,400 students are enrolled in the program.

Middle schools and the teams they are following are Belzer and Garden City (Illinois), Center Grove and St. Thomas Aquinas (Indiana), Craig and Traders Point Christian Academy (Iowa), Crispus Attucks and St. Andrew (Michigan), Horizon and Our Shepherd (Michigan State), St. Phillip Neri (Minnesota), St. Simon and Trinity Lutheran (Northwestern), Pendleton Heights and Raymond Park (Ohio State), Chapel Glen and Howe (Penn State), Forest Manor (Purdue) and Center Grove (Wisconsin).

[Jeffrey B. Weitekamp, director of communications and media relations, Indiana Sports Corporation]

[FEB. 22, 2002]   NORMAL — As the Illinois State men’s basketball team battles for a top seed at the 2002 State Farm/Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, fans can still purchase tickets to support the Redbirds at the Savvis Center in St. Louis on March 1-4.

The all-session ticket, which is good for all nine games, is only $80. The tickets can be purchased through the Redbird Arena ticket office at (309) 438-8000 until Tuesday, Feb. 26, at 5 p.m.

Patrons who have already ordered the Valley tournament ticket package can start picking them up one hour prior to the men’s basketball game against Evansville on Monday, Feb. 25. Tipoff for that game is slated for 6:07 p.m.

[ISU news release]

[FEB. 22, 2002]  ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — With only one doubles win, the Illinois State men’s tennis team fell to No. 65 New Mexico by the score of 7-0.

With the loss, the Redbirds end a three-match winning streak and fall to 3-4 in dual match play, while the Lobos improve to 4-4.

Ciaran Foley and Ben Pettinari recorded the Redbirds’ only win. Playing together for the first time, Foley and Pettinari defeated Divan Coetzee and David Kowalski (9-7) at No. 3 doubles.

Overall, coach Greg Kennett was not pleased with his team’s performance.

"I am really disappointed in the way we played tonight," said Kennett. "We need to be ready to play tougher teams and be more mentally prepared."

The Redbirds will return to action against Denver on Saturday, Feb. 23, at 9 a.m. in Las Cruces, N.M. Later that day, the Redbirds will face No. 71 Arkansas-Little Rock, also in Las Cruces.

[ISU news release]

The Illinois men’s basketball game at Minnesota has been selected for broadcast by CBS and scheduled for a 3 p.m. tipoff on Sunday, March 3. Below are TV selections for other games that weekend.

•  CBS has selected Illinois at Minnesota for broadcast on March 3. Game time is 3 p.m. CST.

•  Iowa at Michigan State will be an ESPN Plus regional telecast on March 2 at 4:30 p.m. EST.

•  Ohio State at Michigan will be an ESPN Plus local telecast on March 2 at 8 p.m. EST.

[Kent Brown, assistant athletics director / sports information director, University of Illinois]

[FEB. 27, 2002]   Going into last night’s contest with Indiana, Illinois was still mathematically alive in the Big Ten conference race. How in the world that was the case, this semiprofessional writer can’t tell you. When the Illini were mired in a three-game losing streak and a funk that reminded me of the Afro I sported during the swingin’ ’70s, not many were projecting the Illini to be in the title hunt when the final week of the season arrived. But, that’s exactly where they are!

One of the many ugly aspects of their performance in the throes of the losing streak was their lack of intensity on defense and just their overall lack of hustle. They were not closing out on perimeter shooters; they were not choking off entry passes to the post; and because of it, opponents were abusing the Illini inside and out.

On top of all that, Indiana coach Mike Davis commented earlier in the week that no one could stop Jared Jeffries. Somehow that word filtered through the basketball community and found its way to Lincoln’s own, Brian Cook. And the first few trips down the court, Cook made sure that Jeffries got the message that Brian isn’t no one. And even though Jeffries may win the award as the league’s best player (and it pains me to say it, but he probably deserves to), he wasn’t last night! Cook made sure of that.

[Photos by Jeff Mayfield]

Brian kept good position on him and on IU’s other would-be post players all night. He looked as if he was auditioning for a spot on the SWAT team as he rejected four Hoosier shots and altered several others. He led all players with six rebounds, and though he didn’t get a lot of touches, he finished the game with 15 points — many of which came at the line down the stretch in crunch time. Maybe he didn’t get the memo that it was Senior Night, because he was definitely the difference in the contest.

Illinois jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead, but IU came storming back and actually took the lead themselves at the 11:32 mark at 9-7. But 3-pointers from Sean Harrington and Cory Bradford gave the Illini a 36-24 cushion at the half.

However, I did not feel that that lead was safe. Former Lincoln resident Curt Swan was at the game, visiting from Florida. I leaned over and told him at the break that this game would go to the wire, and in many ways it did.

For some reason IU (18-10, 10-5) seemed to be distracted by the officials from the opening tip. That eventually did not play in their favor, as they were rightly slapped for two technical fouls and one intentional foul. The outcome might have been different if poise and composure would have set in.

[to top of second column in this article]

The Illini were led in scoring by Frank Williams, who had 24 points, six rebounds and three assists and was 7-of-9 from the line during crunch time. Joining Cook and Williams in double figures was Bradford with 13. Nick Smith and Roger Powell had nice outings off the bench, which really helped the Illini, as Robert Archibald spent half the night on the bench in foul trouble.

IU had four players in double figures. Kyle Hornsby led the way with 14, Tom Coverdale had 13, Jeff Newton finished with 12, and Jarrad Odle chipped in 10.

Illinois won the battle of the boards 33-30 and forced 17 Hoosier turnovers while limiting themselves to only 13!

The fans said goodbye to Robert Archibald, Damir Krupalija, Lucas Johnson, Cory Bradford and to Frank Williams.

Senior nights are always hard for me personally. I know it’s crazy, but I think of these guys as part of my family and in very few cases have I ever been glad to see one of our seniors go.

On behalf of the LDN sports staff, I would just like to thank all of our seniors for the way they have carried themselves during their time here at Illinois. You’ve read our game reports, but we’ve gotten to see these guys on the road, in restaurants and in hotels, and they always reflect well on the fans of the Illini. I don’t know about you, but I appreciate that! While I marvel at their abilities and their stats, their good character is the thing I hope my son is picking up on. And by the way, the character stat is a stat that never slumps!

But the stat of the night was Cook’s stifling defense on Jeffries and the Hoosiers.

Illinois now has a record of 22-7, and 10-5 in the league, and will play for a piece of the conference title Sunday afternoon in Minnesota.

[Jeff Mayfield]

For a game report from the University of Illinois, see http://fightingillini.fansonly.com/sports/
m-baskbl/recaps/022602aaa.html.

Announcements

[FEB. 28, 2002]  The Lincoln Pony League will have their sign-up period for both baseball (boys) and softball (girls) over the next three weekends, beginning this Saturday, March 2, and continuing on March 9 and 16. Sign-ups will take place in the lobby of the Lincoln Rec Center from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

 Anyone interested in playing ball this summer can get signed up during these dates. Representatives of the Lincoln Pony League will be on hand to answer any questions and to assist with the sign-ups.

Back to top