Sports News,  Sports Talk,  Schedules,  Announcements

Sports News Elsewhere  (fresh daily from the Web)

[FEB. 7, 2002]   Pairings have been released for the "Little Sweet Sixteen" Class 8A and Class 8AA Boys State Basketball Tournaments on Feb. 9, 11, 13 and 14. The Class 8A tournament will be at Fieldcrest East Middle School in Wenona. Class 8AA tournament play will be at Tri-Valley High School in Downs. Scores will be updated after each game on the IESA website: www.iesa.org.

[Class 8A and Class 8AA tournament schedules to be posted]

These are the 18th annual eight-grade boys tourneys sponsored by the Illinois Elementary School Association, and this is the 73rd year of IESA boys basketball. 

[FEB. 7, 2002]   

Women

Lincoln College      41  40 — 81

Lewis & Clark       42 30 — 72

Bossingham 2-5-10, Beebe 3-0-6, McLaughlin 7-3-17, Story 1-0-2, Dullard 9-3-21, Bausley 1-0-2, Graham 0-1-1, Scott 3-0-6, Calhoun 4-2-10, Sims 2-0-5

Three-point field goals: Bossingham, Sims

Men

Lincoln College    30  36 — 66

Lewis & Clark     31  32 — 63

Robertson 2-1-5, Clark 3-0-9, Fowler 1-0-2, Turner 3-0-6, Sams 4-0-9, Major 9-0-21, Hollyfield 3-0-7, Bowen 3-0-7

Three-point field goals: Clark 3, Major 3, Sams, Hollyfield, Bowen

[FEB. 6, 2002]   

Boys

Mount Pulaski         10  22  32  53

Rochester               10  29  46  64

Blaum 2-0-4, Erienbush 1-0-3, Schilling 2-3-7, Anderson 5-2-13, Coers 3-0-6, Olson 0-1-1, J.Tierney 2-2-6, N. Tierney 3-1-7, Waymire 1-0-2, Clements 1-2-4

Three-point field goals: Erienbush, Anderson

Girls

Olympia                 11  17  31  52

Central Catholic     17  34  48  65

Floyd 4-1-10, Prager 2-1-5, Short 1-0-2, Gaither 7-6-22, Goebel 1-0-2, Canopy 1-0-2, Litwiller 0-2-2, Brand 2-0-4, Wilcox 1-0-3

Three-point field goals: Gaither 2, Floyd, Wilcox

[FEB. 6, 2002]   The Illinois State Redbirds rode an impressive run just before halftime last night en route to a 60-51 defeat of the Bradley Braves. The win vaults the ’Birds into a third-place tie in the Valley alongside Northern Iowa.

Lincoln’s Gregg Alexander was not his usual self on the offensive end, but defensively he continued his stellar play.

Coach Tom Richardson said, "Gregg was not out of this game at all. Just because he wasn’t hitting his shots ... he still stays focused. He never lets one aspect of his game affect another. He’s a tough kid."

In fact, Alexander helped Redbird defenders limit the Peorians to 4-of-22 shooting from the arc.

The Redbirds move to 11-12 on the year, 7-4 in the MVC, and had a rare sweep of the Braves for the first time since 1998.

Shedrick Ford, the Bradley killer, tossed in 16 points, while Shawn Jeppson continued his inspired play by adding 14. Boo Bojang chipped in 13 points to go along with seven rebounds.

Next up for the ’Birds is a trip to Indiana State.

[Jeff Mayfield]

[FEB. 6, 2002]   NORMAL — For the first time in four years, the Illinois State men’s basketball team swept Bradley, taking the second meeting of the year with a 60-51 decision Tuesday night at Redbird Arena in front of 8,663 fans.

Illinois State (11-12, 7-5) last swept the Braves in 1998. Bradley falls to 7-14, 4-8 in the Valley.

Early in the first half, Illinois State’s Baboucar Bojang and Shawn Jeppson took control of the Redbird offense, giving them a 9-2 run over the Braves after Bojang followed a shot by Randy Rice by pounding it through the hoop, giving the ’Birds their first two points of the game. Then it was Jeppson keeping the run going, scoring an early five points after being fouled by Bradley’s James Gillingham on a 3-point attempt, sinking all three of his free throws and finishing a reverse layup over the Braves defense.

Then the Braves made a run of their own around the 16-minute mark, when freshman Brandyn Heemskerk nailed a jumper over Bojang, starting a 6-0 run and tightening the game to 9-8.

It was all Illinois State after that, when power forward Shedrick Ford came into the game and scored nine points in seven minutes to help the ’Birds go on an 11-0 run for a 28-18 lead over the Braves.

At halftime, Jeppson led all scorers with 12 points, followed by Ford’s nine. The score was 34-22, Redbirds.

[to top of second column in this article]

With 9:26 left in the second half, the Braves made a comeback when Phillip Gilbert hit a 3, bringing the Braves within five points, 37-43. The ’Birds answered Gilbert’s 3, going on a 6-0 run and pushing the score to 49-37. Gilbert again responded to the ’Birds

offense, hitting four free throws and a jumper to bring the Braves within four, 51-47, with 3:25 left in the game.

Still up by six points with 2:06 left in the game, the Braves tried to make a comeback, but the Redbirds held the lead after free throws by Bojang and Ford in the final minute and secured the win.

Marcello Robinson and Danny Granger both fouled out for the Braves.

Ford led all scorers with 16 points, followed by 14 from Jeppson and 13 from Bojang. Gilbert and Hall led the Braves with 12 each.

The Redbirds return to action on Saturday, Feb. 9, against at Indiana State, with a 3:05 p.m. tipoff.

[Kellie Johnson, athletic media relations,
Illinois State University]

[FEB. 5, 2002]   Hartsburg-Emden "biddy basketball" team parents report that the third-grade team won against the undefeated West Lincoln-Broadwell team, 45-32, on Saturday, Feb. 3.

Proud parents said that the kids have "done a wonderful job so far this year," adding, "We got to shine [Saturday] ... Our kids played a wonderful game of teamwork to fulfill this win. It was a hard-played game."    

The kids regularly practice at the Emden Community House, which has been the place for practice for many years.  The game was played on a different court, so this win was especially valued.

[FEB. 5, 2002]   

Girls

Warrensburg    24  45  61  77

Mount Pulaski   7  17  24  35

Sanders 2-2-6, Faith 5-1-16, Rucks 1-2-4, Hudson 2-0-4, Jason 1-1-3, Howe 1-0-2

Three-point field goals: Faith 5

El Paso           12  26  38  50

Olympia          13  30  40  52

Floyd 2-5-10, Prager 2-0-4, Short 1-1-3, Brand 1-0-2, Gaither 9-6-27, Canopy 1-0-2, Goebel 0-2-2, Litwiller 1-0-2

Three-point field goals: Gaither 3, Floyd

[FEB. 5, 2002]   

Women

MacMurray           42  37 — 79

Lincoln Christian    35  29 — 64

Robbins 9-3-27, Urton 1-0-2, Szostek 0-2-2, Wright 4-7-16, Wertin 1-2-4, O’Malley 3-0-6, Jewell 2-1-5, Davies1-0-2

Three-point field goals: Robbins 6, Wright

[FEB. 4, 2002]   The LCHS boys swimming team placed second in the conference meet at Springfield on Saturday, Feb. 2.

Boys

First place: Springfield High School, 404 points

Second place: Lincoln Community High School, 253.50 points

Third place: Jacksonville High School, 250 points

Fourth place: Springfield Southeast, 166 points

Fifth place: Chatham Glenwood, 126.50 points

Click below for Lincoln results:

Individual

Relay

[LCHS' four senior swimmers;
photo provide by LCHS]

[Photos provided by LCHS]

[Bill Barmes]

[Omar Obaisi]

[Bradford Scott]

[FEB. 4, 2002]   

Boys

At Rantoul

Lincoln                       16   31   48    67

Rantoul                      12   29   39    55

Bunch 2-2-6, Farmer 6-2-17, Komick 1-0-3, Schonauer 3-1-7, Schrader 3-2-9, Welch 2-0-4, Young 10-1-21.

Totals 27-8-67

At Stanford

Midwest Central          7   14   21    34

Olympia                      2   14   22    36

Cheek 1-0-3, Sherman 2-0-4, Wright 1-2-4, Dillenburg 5-1-12, Elliott 1-2-4, Olson 1-0-3, Wise 3-0-6.

Totals 14-5-36

Girls

At Pontiac

Olympia                    15   31   46    74

Pontiac                        8   24   34    54

Floyd 5-3-14, Short 2-1-5, Brans 0-1-1, Gaither 13-10-40, Canopy 5-2-12, Litwiller 1-0-2.

Totals 26-17-74

[FEB. 4, 2002]   

Men

Illinois Central               39   48   --87

Lincoln College             47   39   --86

Roberson 4-2-11, Fowler 3-0-8, Turner 3-1-8, Kehr 2-0-6, Sams 2-2-6, Major 5-5-18, Hollyfield 8-7-27. Bowen 1-0-2.

Totals 28-17-86

Men

Lake Land                    33   39   --72

Lincoln College             20   46   --66

Bausley 0-2-2, Graham 2-2-6, Story 2-0-4, Scott 2-2-6, McLaughlin 3-1-7, Bossingham 3-2-9, Beebe 3-5-11, Calhoun 2-2-6, Sims 1-0-2, Dullard 7-4-18, Harper 1-2-4.

Totals 26-22-66

[FEB. 4, 2002]   

Men

CBC                           29   47   6   9    --91

LCC                           33   43   6  12   --94

Clark 12-2-31, Raymer 1-0-2, Below 11-2- 24, Turney 2-0-5, Okusami 1-0-2, Grooms 5-0-10, Searby 9-2-20.

Totals 41-6-94

Women

CBC                           31   24   --55

LCC                           20   46   --66

Robbins 6-3-19, Urton 3-0-6, Wright 5-1-12, Wertin 4-4-12, O’Malley 4-1-9, Jewell 3-2-8.

Totals 25-11-66

[FEB. 4, 2002]   Almost from the tipoff Sunday, you had a sick feeling in your gut.  From the time the Michigan State Spartans got off the bus, they had already dictated the tempo of the game. It would be a slow and methodical one — one that would not favor the Illini in any way.  And with Marcus Taylor making a bevy of shots, the Spartans built an early lead, and you wondered if the Illini could get off the mat, much less would they.

[Click here for more pictures]

Thanks to the heroic efforts of one Lincoln young man, Brian Cook, the Illini would not be left for dead.  Cook erupted for 20 first-half points.  He was hitting them inside and out and refused to let Illinois get yet another deficit that they could never return from.

[Pictures by Tom Seggelke]

However, a big blow to the Illini’s hopes was the loss once again of Damir Krupalija.  He was called for an offensive foul slashing to the hoop, but what was worse for the Illini was that he may be lost for the season.  He may have re-aggravated his injured foot that caused him to miss about 10 games earlier in the season.

Injuries struck the Spartans as well.  Marcus Taylor, who finished the day with 12 points, hit the floor extremely hard on one possession and suffered a concussion, never to return to the action.

But it didn’t matter. Chris Hill hit for 13 points, Alan Anderson for 11, and the rest of the troops made up the difference en route to a huge road win, 67-61, over the beleaguered Illini.  The guy who really killed the Illini was Adam Ballinger.  As the Illinois defense collapsed, Ballinger hit 18 points, mostly from long range.

[to top of second column in this article]

The win vaults MSU to 15-7 and 4-4 in the Big Ten, while Illinois fell to 15-7 and 4-5.  Cook finished the game with 22 points, and Frank Williams added 19.  That was not enough, as Illinois’ 28-game home court winning streak came crashing down, and the woes continue…

Many people have been jumping off the Illini bandwagon the last three games like rats off a cheap cruise ship in the Caribbean.  But we’re going to ride a while longer.  While so many want to leave this team for dead, we say we’re just in ICU a little longer than we wanted to be.

It won’t be easy coming back.  It’s not just the losses.  It’s the psyche.  Rebuilding the team confidence is one of the most difficult things to do in all of sports.  But we say, if you give coach Bill Self some time and these players can stay united, don’t be surprised if they make a comeback later in the season.  But it is getting dark.

[Jeff Mayfield]

[FEB. 4, 2002]   NORMAL — Michelle Harakas came off the Illinois State bench to score a career-high 15 points, leading Illinois State to a 70-62 win over Bradley in Missouri Valley Conference basketball Sunday. Harakas led five players in double figures for the Redbirds.

"The opening was just there for me, and I felt I just needed to step up and show everyone what I could do," said Harakas.

With the win, the Redbirds improve to 4-7 in the Valley and 6-14 overall, while the Braves drop to 4-7 in the Valley and 13-7 overall.

Sara Bailey led Bradley with 29 points, 16 in the first half, but had just five more in the first 16 minutes of the second half as Illinois State built leads as big as 14 points. Bradley made just seven of its first 28 field goal attempts after halftime.

ISU had a 63-49 lead with 4:30 left, but the Braves put on a rush. Bailey hit the second of back-to-back treys to trim the Redbird lead to 65-62 with 1:12 remaining. But Steph Reichle, who had 10 points and a team-high 10 rebounds, answered for Illinois State, hitting five free throws for the final five points of the game as Illinois State got three straight stops on the defensive end.

"They handled our defensive pressure and just executed a lot better than the first time we played," said Bailey.

Reichle was where she wanted to be in the final minute.

"Every player wants to be at the line and knock them down late," said Reichle, who had her fifth career double-double.

Katie Donovan hit her first three shots, all on drives to the basket, and Kristi Larson, who finished with 13 points, had four early buckets as ISU took a 22-17 lead after 11 minutes. But Sara Mozingo came off the bench to hit a 3-pointer to spark a 5-0 Bradley run for the tie. After Larson scored again, Bradley took a 25-24 lead on Kayla Hackman’s trey. ISU responded with a 6-0 run to put the ’Birds up 30-25 with 3:44 left in the half.

[to top of second column in this article]

"Illinois State did a great job of dribble penetration, and I felt we put them at the line way too many times," said Bradley coach Paula Buscher.

The Redbirds led 36-31 at halftime despite Donovan, Larson and O’Brien missing significant minutes with foul trouble. When Chris Kutschinski hit Harakas with a pass for a layup just ahead of the horn, the ’Birds had matched their 40-minute point total in a 71-36 loss to the Braves Jan. 4 in Peoria. With a 53 percent shooting mark and a 13-9 turnover edge, it was a huge turnaround from the 30-percent shooting, 24-turnover performance in Peoria.

Stacey White, who scored 12 points, hit a one-hander to put the ’Birds ahead 38-31 in the opening seconds of the second half, but Rasheeda Love started Bradley on a 7-0 roll with a 3-pointer that hit the front of the rim, spun up and dropped in. Dena Williams tied the score at 38-each with a low-post shot.with 16:56 left in the second half.

White hit another short shot to put the ’Birds back in the lead, 40-38, with 14:59 left. Illinois State stretched the lead to 14 with a 20-6 run starting with White’s bucket.

"Clearly I think today solidified that we can put behind us the first meeting with Bradley," said Illinois State coach Jenny Yopp, whose team didn’t score a 3-point field goal for the first time in 57 contests. "We are a much better team than we were the first time we saw Bradley."

The Redbirds will return to action on the road against Creighton on Thursday and Drake on Saturday.

[Erica Fricke, assistant director of media relations, athletics media relations, Illinois State University]

[FEB. 4, 2002]   SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Southwest Missouri State found their offense in the second half and used it to score 45 points and rally to defeat Illinois State, 68-63, Saturday night at the Hammons Center in Springfield, Mo.

The Bears, 11-12, 6-5 MVC, shot 63 percent from the field in the second half compared with the 27 percent they shot in the first half. Senior Scott Brakebill led SMS in scoring with 20 points, while senior Mike Wallace just missed a double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds. Junior Terrance McGee chipped in 16 points and six assists for the Bears.

Illinois State, 10-12, 6-5 MVC, was led in scoring and rebounding by Baboucarr Bojang with 13 points and nine boards respectively. Gregg Alexander and Shawn Jeppson each contributed 10 points.

The ’Birds had a 36-23 lead at halftime and shot 63 percent from beyond the arc in the first half, but they managed only 36 percent from the field for the rest of the game.

Illinois State returns home to host MVC rival Bradley at Redbird Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 5, at 7:35 p.m. (Click here for pre-game notes.)

[Rob Huizenga, athletics media relations, Illinois State University]

Illinois State vs. Bradley pre-game notes  (men)

[FEB. 4, 2002]   

[Click here to view background information (in Adobe Acrobat)]

[Click here to download Adobe Acrobat reader]

[FEB. 2, 2002]   

Boys

At Stanford

Central Catholic        12  16  27    45

Olympia                      2    6  14    33

Dillenburg 4-1-10, Sherman 0-2-2, Wise 0-1-1, Olsen 1-0-2, Schultz 1-1-3, Elliott 5-3-13, Slager 0-0-0, Cheek 1-0-2, Wright 0-0-0, Thornton 0-0-0, Kieser 0-0-0.

Totals 12-8-33

At Lincoln

Chatham                     6  13  23    36

Lincoln                      15  27  44    62

Bunch 4-0-9, Farmer 6-0-13, Komnick 0-0-0, Carnahan 0-0-0, Gallagher 1-0-2, Peters 2-0-6, Schnauer 2-0-4, Bast 1-0-3, Schrader 3-0-8, Welch 2-2-6, Werner 3-0-9, Young 1-0-2, Heidbreder 0-0-0.

Totals 25-2-62

Girls

At Stanford

Central Catholic        13  28  45    66

Olympia                    12  23  32    46

Wilcox 1-0-3, Floyd 2-4-8, Prager 3-0-6, Wittmer 0-0-0, Short 3-2-8, Hieser 0-0-0, Brand 1-0-2, Gaither 5-2-15, Crabtree 0-0-0, Canopy 2-0-4, Litwiller 0-0-0.

Totals 17-8-46

[FEB. 2, 2002]   Lincoln Christian College tournament

Men

GBC                  27   39   --66

LCC                  25   33   --58

Clark 3-6-12; Raymer 0-0-0, Gordon 0-0-0, Below 4-1-9, Turney 2-0-5, Okusami 3-0-4, Grooms 1-2-4, Searby 10-2-22.

Totals 23-11-58

Women

GBC                  12   32   --44

LCC                  35   32   --63

Robbins 9-2-23, Urton 2-0-4, Wright 12-1-27, Wertin 1-1-3, O'Maley 2-0-4, Devore 1-0-2, Jewell 1-0-2, Davis 1-0-2.

Totals 29-4-67

[FEB. 2, 2002]   NORMAL — The Illinois State Athletics Department has announced that a bus trip has been scheduled for the men’s basketball game at Indiana State on Saturday, Feb. 9.

Fans interested in going to the game can ride on the bus, which leaves from the G-82 parking lot at 11:30 a.m. that day. The game is scheduled to begin at 3:05 p.m. (CST).

To make reservations, patrons can call The Redbird Club office at (309) 438-3803 or e-mail redbirdclub@ilstu.edu. Cost of the event is $25, which includes a game ticket as well as a reserved seat on the bus.

The bus will not be stopping on the trip to or from Terre Haute, so everyone needs to bring food and beverages (no glass).

Reservations will be taken until Feb. 5.

[Erica Fricke, assistant director of media relations,  athletics media relations, Illinois State]

[FEB. 2, 2002]   NORMAL — The Illinois State Athletics Department is encouraging fans to take advantage of the free shuttle bus service Tuesday night for the men’s basketball game against Bradley, since there is a Normal Community High School athletic event at the same time and the NCHS parking lot will not be available for Redbird fans.

The free bus service, which has been implemented for all Redbird men’s basketball home games, shuttles fans between the Motorcycle Instruction Range parking lot located on Gregory Street, west of the Illinois State Golf Course, and the south entrance of Redbird Arena. At the completion of the game, the shuttle bus picks up the fans at the south entrance on College Avenue and returns them to their vehicle.

In addition to the free shuttle service, there are also $3 parking lots located at the soccer and baseball complex on Adelaide Street and by University High School.

Tipoff for the game is slated for 7:35 p.m.

[Todd Kober, director of  media relations, Illinois State University]

[FEB. 2, 2002]   NORMAL — After dropping matches to No. 29 Illinois and No. 13 Notre Dame, Illinois State looks to pick up its first wins this weekend, against Cincinnati and DePaul.

The weekend presents the Redbirds with the chance to bring their winning percentage to .500. Illinois State, the highest ranked of the three teams competing this weekend, can look at their tough meets thus far this season, against Illinois and Notre Dame, as good preparation for the meets they face on Saturday and Sunday.

"I'm confident we should do well this weekend," said Hoover. "We just have to be prepared and play hard."

The action will begin on Saturday at 3 p.m., when Illinois State faces off with Cincinnati, whose season record is currently 1-2.

The Redbirds will return to the court on Sunday, taking on DePaul, with a 2-2 season record thus far.

All matches will take place at Bally’s Fitness Club in downtown Chicago.

[ISU sports news release]

[FEB. 1, 2002]   The West Lincoln-Broadwell Wolverines defeated the Carroll Catholic Crusaders Thursday night to win the 8A regional championship.  West Lincoln-Broadwell (18-3) will face Christ the King (20-1) in sectional play Tuesday night at 6 p.m. at Mount Pulaski.

[Provided by Dennis Willmert]

[FEB. 1, 2002]   ...In what WL-B coach Bret Farmer called "a very emotional game."

“Carroll coach Brian Brackney and I have been friends for a long time,” Farmer said, “and it was tough to go up against him. While it’s nice to win and we’re happy to move on in the tournament, it is personally hard on me to see them that disappointed. Carroll Catholic could easily be called the best team in our area throughout the regular season!"

Brandon Farmer led WL-B with 16 points, four steals and two assists, while Jake Hedenberg pumped in 13 points and pulled down eight rebounds.  Max Goodrich had nine points and five rebounds, and Jacob Carey added seven points.

[to top of second column in this article]

WL-B’s record now stands at 18-3, while Carroll finished an outstanding season at 20-2.

WL-B will now face Springfield Christ the King on Tuesday night at 6 in Mount Pulaski.  Should they win that contest, they will advance to the Sweet Sixteen in the IESA playoffs in Wenona on Feb. 9.

Congratulations and good luck, fellas, from all of us here at LDN!

[Jeff Mayfield]

[FEB. 1, 2002]   Girls, Mason City:

Mount Pulaski       9  17  19   37

Illini Central        28  45  68   94

Mount Pulaski — Maske 1-0-2, Sanders 1-0-2, Faith 4-2-13, Rucks 0-2-2, Reeley 1-0-2, Jason 1-0-2, Howe 3-3-9, Gleason 1-3-5

Three-point field goals: Faith 3

Illini Central — Damm 11-5-35, Oney 10-0-28, Francis 1-0-2, Bitner 3-0-7, Montgomery 7-3-20, Durdle 0-2-2

Three-point field goals: Damm 8, Oney 8, Montgomery 3, Bitner

Junior varsity: Illini Central 41, Mount Pulaski 28

[FEB. 1, 2002]   NORMAL — Taren O’Brien scored a career-high 20 points, but Northern Iowa matched that with 20 by Amy Swisher as the Panthers topped Illinois State 71-59 in Valley action at Redbird Arena Thursday.

The Redbirds fall to 5-14 overall and 3-7 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while Northern Iowa improves to 12-9 overall and 7-3 in the MVC.

Kristi Larson chipped in 12 points, and Katie Donovan recorded 10 rebounds for the Redbirds. Swisher got scoring help from Kate Miller, who had 15 points, and Abbi Schutte, who chipped in 13 points.

In a tight game for the first 13 minutes, the Panthers edged out to a 21-15 lead on a 7-0 run punctuated by Angela Bork’s 3-pointer with 5:59 left in the half. O’Brien scored back-to-back baskets to cut the lead to 21-19, but Miller’s 3-pointer started a 13-4 run to take a 34-23 halftime lead.

It took the Redbirds only nine minutes to get the lead back. O’Brien scored six points and assisted on six more to lead a 20-5 Redbird run which ended in a Donovan jumper with 12:14 left to tie the score at 41-41. Michelle Harakas hit a jumper 42 seconds later to put ISU ahead 43-41, the first Redbird lead since 15-14 in the first half.

[to top of second column in this article]

Northern Iowa coach Tony DiCecco was impressed with Illinois State’s improvement over the past four weeks.

"Illinois State is much improved since they visited Cedar Falls," said DiCecco. "They have really solidified what they do."

ISU led 45-43 on two free throws by Michelle Harakas with 9:28 left before Swisher hit the first of three straight UNI shots, the last two by Kate Cline, and the Panthers went back ahead 49-45 heading into the last eight minutes.

The Redbirds caught up, 51-51, at the 6:05 mark on a pair of White free throws, but Swisher scored seven and Schutte added a basket for a 9-0 run to make it 60-51 Panthers with 3:40 left.

"We started giving them a lot of second chances, particularly in the last seven minutes," said Yopp, who was missing center Sharon Blade and guard Heidi Harnisch and had a couple of other players weakened from a virus.

[Erica Fricke, assistant director of media relations, athletics media relations, ISU]

[FEB. 1, 2002]   NORMAL — Illinois State sophomore Dirk Williams broke the first cuneiform bone in his left foot Thursday at practice and will miss six to eight weeks.

Williams, who started all four games during the winning streak for the Redbirds, came down on his foot in practice and felt a sharp pain but wasn’t really sure how the injury happened.

"I’m certainly disappointed for Dirk," Richardson said. "He’s been playing some strong minutes for us, and he’s a guy that I thought could really contribute in the final weeks of the season. This will certainly change our rotation on the court, and some of the other guys are going to have to step up and take advantage of more playing time due to Dirk’s misfortune."

Williams, a native of Pekin, played in all 21 games for the ’Birds with eight starts. He was averaging 4.3 points and 3.0 rebounds per game.

[Todd Kober, director of media relations, Illinois State University]

[FEB. 1, 2002]   

[Click here to view background information (in Adobe Acrobat)]

[Click here to download Adobe Acrobat reader]

[FEB. 2, 2002]   In May of 2000, then Illinois coach Lon Kruger accepted the head coaching position with the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA. While many Illini fans were stunned, disappointed and unsure of the future of Illinois basketball, others wondered if Kruger had what it took to succeed in the professional arena. Almost 21 months later, things look bright in Champaign-Urbana (minus the Indiana and Ohio State games), and many fans may have forgotten Kruger even coached at Illinois.

However, this writer (and the entire Lincoln Daily News sports staff) still credits Kruger with the resurrection of Illini basketball and paving the way for the success coach Bill Self has enjoyed at Illinois. As a result, the LDN wanted to catch up with coach Kruger and was able to spend time with Lon prior to the Hawks game against the two-time defending world champion Los Angeles Lakers. Listed below is the text of the interview that took place at Phillips Arena in Atlanta on Tuesday night Jan. 29, just 90 minutes before game time.

Q: Coach, thanks for taking time to sit down with me this evening. All of us at the LDN thought you did a great job while coaching at Illinois. Please take a moment and talk about the pro game vs. the college game. What do you like about the NBA? What do you miss about college basketball?

Kruger: Well, the biggest difference is of course the number of games being played: 82 in the NBA and only around 30 in college. It is difficult to find time to practice in the NBA, while in college you might only play four games every two weeks and be able to practice six or seven times during that period of time. The long season can also wear on you with the travel and such.

GT: Do you see yourself staying in the NBA from here on out, or could you see yourself returning to the college game?

Kruger: It’s really hard to say. I really enjoy the NBA game. I hate the losing, like we all do, but I love the challenge of what we are doing, and this is a challenge, to turn things around here in Atlanta. We’re going to be OK. We just have to get some people healthy and back on the court (Toni Kukoc, Theo Ratliff and Alan Henderson are all currently injured and not playing).

GT: What about 10-15 years from now? Possibly back coaching on the college level?

Kruger: I really do not plan to coach that long, so no, I do not see myself coaching on the college level again.

GT: Reflecting for a moment on your four seasons at Illinois, can you list the most memorable moments at Illinois — any games that really stick out?

Kruger: That is really hard to do — just so many exciting moments — but I would have to say just the people in general. They were so passionate about basketball, and the Assembly Hall crowd was just great. The players that we had were terrific. It was a great college atmosphere and one my family enjoyed a great deal.

GT: Let’s talk about the 1998 Big Ten champion team. They didn’t have a lot of preseason hype and many would say did not have a great deal of talent, yet overcame a slow pre-conference start to finish 13-3 and share the Big Ten title with Michigan State. What made this team so special?

Kruger: Definitely the selflessness of the players — always willing to make individual sacrifices, never really caring who would get the credit, just wanting to win. They would move the ball in our motion offense really well. They were a group of players that showed up every day for practice wanting to get to work and strive to get better each day. They were not a real big team but loved to move around defensively and stir things up.

GT: Brian Cook, one of Lincoln’s favorite native sons, played for one year under you at Illinois and many feel [he] has a future in the NBA. In fact, Sports Illustrated has a feature article on him and his mother, Joyce, this week. What is your opinion of his game, what he needs to do and if he has a professional future?

Kruger: Brian is a great young man and has all the tools and size necessary to make it in the NBA. He just has to commit himself to continual hard work and the sky is the limit. He has done a great job under coach Self progressing, but like many players, he is working real hard to become more physical and stronger.

[to top of second column in this article]

GT: I can remember back in the ’98-’99 season, when Illinois was struggling somewhat, you were asked which of your players were "pro prospects." The first name you mentioned was Robert Archibald, a then freshman center who seemed to make more mistakes than baskets. Now, three years later, he is a leader on this Illini team as a senior captain and projected by most as a first-round draft pick. What is it like to see a player move from the "project" stage to probably being a NBA player?

Kruger: You always get satisfaction in seeing the development of players both on and off the court during their four years with you. And Robert is a guy that had an inner toughness, was very competitive and had great skills. He just had the desire to work and get better, and I am just really pleased to see where Robert is today with coach Self.

GT: Coach, give us the Kevin Kruger (Lon’s only son who played two seasons at Champaign Centennial HS before moving to Georgia) update. How is he doing in high school and does he plan to continue his basketball career next year in college?

Kruger: Kevin is doing great. He is a senior guard this season at Walton High School in Marietta, and his team is having a good season. They are competing well and should have one of the top four seeds in their region. In terms of college, Kevin would like to play but is wide open and has made no college choice at this time. We are actually going through the recruiting process right now.

GT: Lon, do you feel cheated at all that you were the "table setter" for last year’s Big Ten championship team, but were not in Champaign to experience the success firsthand?

Kruger: Not at all. I am from afar their biggest fan and cheerleader and was just really happy for coach Self, his staff and the players.

GT: Finally, the Final Four this year is in Atlanta. If Illinois were able to put together a streak and make it to Atlanta, will you be able to experience it firsthand or will you be on the road?

Kruger: Actually, we will be in Atlanta Easter weekend. We have a Sunday game here at Phillips Arena, and I would love to see the Illini playing on Saturday and Monday night!

GT: Coach Kruger, thanks for your time and good luck tonight. Go get those Lakers!

Kruger: You are welcome, and tell the good folks in central Illinois I said hello.

Simply put, Lon Kruger is one of the best. While his four seasons at Illinois now seem much too short in length, his impact on the Illinois program will be forever felt. Will Kruger break the Rick Pitino, John Calipara and P.J. Carlisimo trend of "college coaches" failing on the professional level and find success on the court in Atlanta? I have no idea, but I sure am rooting for him to do so. Coach Kruger took time at the end of the interview to check in on the Lincoln High School program and to wish coach Neil Alexander good luck as he moves toward career win No. 400 — typical Kruger class!

Postscript: Kruger’s Hawks struggled from the beginning against the Lakers, and lost by 32 points in a game that was never close. Atlanta looked badly overmatched against a Los Angeles team that is on base to make yet another world championship run. Kruger, however, was gracious, as always, and thanked the LDN for taking the time to catch up with him, even after the game. This is an example of what makes Lon Kruger really special, and for this, the LDN salutes Lon Kruger!

[Greg Taylor]

Announcements

[JAN. 8, 2002]  NORMAL — The Illinois State men's and women's basketball teams are inviting youth, ages 18 and under, to Redbird Arena Jan.12 and Feb.15 for "Take a Kid to the Game" day, when a child accompanied by an adult can attend a game free of charge.

The special promotion begins this Saturday when the men match up against the Sycamores of Indiana State at 4:05 p.m. Any adult who buys a regular price game ticket will receive a free youth ticket for a child 18 years and under.

The same special will take place for the women's basketball game on Feb. 15 when Illinois State faces Evansville at 7:05 p.m.

Anyone with questions can call the Illinois State Athletic Marketing Office at (309) 438-7429.

[ISU athletic media relations release]

Back to top