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And long overdue, I might add. I just didn't see the football win
coming. I mean there were times this season that our team played
well. However, there were other times when Illinois laid the biggest
eggs you've ever seen. Therein lies the frustration. So, when I saw
that we were playing a team as quick and as fast as Baylor, I
stupidly felt like we might be in trouble. In the past when we've
faced speedy teams, the outcomes usually do not favor us. My fears
were never realized. What I didn't take into consideration was how
our offensive and defensive lines wanted to make a name for
themselves. I can tell you about our stars -- Mikel Leshoure, Nathan
Sheelhaase, Martez Wilson, Corey Liuget, Derek Dimke and a host of
others -- but if I were a coach, I would give the game balls to our
two respective line units. They dominated the contest!
Liuget, Clay Nurse and their teammates camped out in the Baylor
backfield. They neutralized Baylor's star quarterback, Robert
Griffin III -- so much so that he looked rattled most of the game.
Instead of hurting Illinois with his running, he had to resort to
the pass, and that was only when he had enough time to heave the
ball downfield and hope a teammate in green was somewhere near the
football. Illinois' ferocious rush at the point of attack was a
sight of pure beauty. Liuget finished the night with five tackles
(2.5 of them for lost yardage) and one sack.
And don't forget the contributions by almost forgotten Terry
Hawthorne, who was starting his first game of the year, recovering
from a foot injury. He led the team with nine tackles (1.5 of them
for loss) and helped keep the potent Bears' offense in check all
night. Nate Bussey and Tavon Wilson chipped in with eight and seven
tackles respectively to aid the cause.
On the offensive side of the ball, Illinois' offensive linemen
were creating gaping holes so big that yours truly might have gained
some valuable yardage. While that may be a slight exaggeration, that
should tell you how their push was coming off the line of scrimmage.
Illini linemen were blowing defenders off the ball. It helped
Leshoure on his way to 184 yards' rushing for the evening. And when
they weren't knocking heads all over the field, there were other
guys. Jason Ford was a tank banging his way to another 54 yards of
offense.
Then there was Nathan Scheelhaase. All he did was run for 53
yards and a touchdown, pass for another 242 yards (18 for 23), and
he may have been working the concession stand between plays for all
we know. He was everywhere. The last touchdown was probably
unneeded, but it wasn't like he was throwing them deep. I will sum
it up this way: He was about as efficient as a quarterback can be.
Not bad for a freshman. If he's not the Big Ten Freshman of the
Year, I don't know who is. He has to even be in the conversation for
best freshman (and yes, I know he's a redshirt freshman) in the
country. While I realize that he probably doesn't qualify, all I
know is that the kid is pretty darn good. How's that for spot-on
expert analysis? His poise and composure went a long way toward
stabilizing the team in the early going, even though the Illini were
having to settle for field goals.
Pencil me in as a guy who likes our chances every time we start a
game with a 24-0 lead! Congratulations to Illini coach Ron Zook on
the first bowl victory of his career!
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While all this was going on in the Lone Star State, the hoopsters
were putting it on the Hawkeyes up in the frozen tundra of Iowa
City. I mean when you hit your first seven 3-pointers and 11 of your
first 13, you are going to put your team in a good position. To
Iowa's credit, they didn't melt or fold. They kept fighting and made
a game of it.
The Illini were once again led by senior guard Demetri McCamey,
who torched the nets for 20 points and 10 assists. He did commit
five turnovers as Illinois made 17 on the night, which is just way
too many for this team. That needs to be fixed as quickly as
possible. Possessions need to be prized, and passes can't be thrown
up for grabs.
D.J. Richardson continued his improved play as he added 17 points
to go with five assists. Mike Davis added 15 points, and here's
hoping he is rediscovering his shot. We'll also need some big
rebounds out of him over the next few games. Bill Cole came in
firing off the bench to add 14 points to the Illini win.
Jereme Richmond also had a nice game by contributing 12 points on
hot shooting and pulling down five big rebounds. His tough,
hard-nosed play hopefully will inspire his teammates to keep taking
it up a notch.
I know that many fans will downplay the win since it was against
a rebuilding Iowa team. However, I have been around long enough to
tell you and them that any road win in this league is a great win! I
would also tell you that IF Illinois can even approach these numbers
-- total field goals, 67 percent; 3-point field goals, 72 percent;
and free-throw shooting, 77 percent -- for the rest of the season,
they will be in a lot of games.
That likely will not happen. Mostly because I predict that an
uglier, more physical, defensive brand of basketball is headed to
the Assembly Hall in the next couple of games. Illinois stills needs
to hit the glass a lot harder but did manage to win the rebounding
battle in Carver Hawkeye Arena.
All in all, it was a scintillating night in Illiniland. And to
think, going into the night I was willing to settle for a split. The
Illini slapped my lack of confidence down and came away with what I
felt was an improbable sweep. I'll take it. It's good to be ORANGE!
Have a happy New Year, everybody!
[By JEFF MAYFIELD]
Respond to the writer at
jmayfield@ctitech.com.
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