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[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]   

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[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.

[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]   

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[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]   

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[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.

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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]

[FEB. 21, 2002]  The Winter Olympic Games are winding down, with only three more days of events after today.  Cross-country skiing and ice hockey will be followed by the closing ceremony Sunday evening from 6 to 9.  (If you haven’t gotten your brush with the Olympics, tickets to the closing ceremony are only $885.)

Stories have poured forth from many who have had a major part or even a slight touch with that prestigious event. Local resident Bob Albert adds one more: "Olympic medal and the Alberts … any connection???"

From Bob Albert

Curious now???  Well, let me tell you the story! 

It all started on Feb. 24, 1996, in Granville, Ohio. My daughter Susan was expecting a child, and Kathyrn was her name. When Susan started to have labor pains, she decided that she still had time to take a shower before heading off to the hospital.  Wrong!  Little Kathyrn decided to enter this world before the shower was done. So a frantic call was made to 911, and the Granville Fire Department and the paramedics responded.  A young firewoman (and paramedic too) answered the call and helped give birth to my granddaughter Kathyrn. This firefighter had never delivered a baby before, but she did a good job and was excited with all of the happenings.  Her name was Lea Ann Parsley.

Lea Ann rode in the ambulance with Susan and Kathyrn to the hospital and helped soothe all of the excitement. Since that event, Lea Ann has become a friend of daughter Susan, and they meet and talk occasionally, since Granville is a small town.  Lea Ann and Kathyrn have a history bonding that will last forever.

[to top of second column in this article]

And now for the rest of the story…

 If you watched the Olympics on Wednesday night and watched the sled event called the "skeleton," you then saw Kathyrn’s friend Lea Ann perform. From the small town of Granville, Lea Ann had won a spot on the USA Olympic team as a member of the skeleton sled team.  Not only did she perform, but she won a silver Olympic medal, and her teammate won the gold.  There was also an interesting lead-in TV story about Lea Ann and how she had always dreamed of being on the Fire Department and how she loved her job.  And we are glad that she does!

Well, my friends, you can see that my granddaughter Kathyrn does know some very important people in this world. Kathyrn will probably get to hold the silver medal when the two meet next week in Granville. And you never know, but maybe Kathyrn will win her own medal at the Olympics in about 12 years!!  Yes… small-town people can create big-time news!

And now you know the whole story!

Bob

[Bob Albert and LDN]

[Click here for a related account from the Salt Lake Winter Olympics.]

[FEB. 21, 2002]   At Lincoln:

Women

Spoon River         33  47 — 80

Lincoln College    51  42 — 93

Lamb 3-0-6, Bausley3-0-6, Graham 2-1-5, Story 1-2-4, Scott 4-2-10, McLaughlin 3-1-7, Bossingham 6-0-14, Beebe 4-8-17, Dobey 0-1-1, Massenburg 0-2-2, Calhoun 2-0-4, Miller 0-1-1, Dullard 5-2-12, Harper 1-2-4

Three-point field goals: Bossingham 2, Beebe

[FEB. 21, 2002]   WICHITA, Kan. — Gregg Alexander broke the Illinois State freshman record for 3-point field goals in a season but missed ISU foul shots, and Wichita State’s inside muscle helped the Shockers avenge a January loss by beating the Redbirds 77-66 Wednesday in a Missouri Valley Conference basketball game at Henry Levitt Arena.

The Redbirds, 14-13 overall, 10-6 in the Valley, were No. 3 in the nation in free-throw percentage at the game’s start. They slumped to just eight of 16 from the stripe in losing just their second game in the last 10. Shawn Jeppson led the Redbirds with 16 points.

WSU, 14-13, 8-8 in the Valley, avenged an 81-71 loss Jan. 7 in Normal thanks to Troy Mack’s toughness in the second half. Scoring 15 of his game-high points in the final 20 minutes, Mack included nine of 11 free throws as the Shockers hit 17 of 23 from the line while winning  for the seventh time in eight league home games. WSU out-rebounded the ’Birds 32-24 as ISU’s Baboucarr Bojang and Wichita State’s Jamar Howard collected eight each.

Alexander needed just one 3-pointer to pass Dan Muller for the Illinois State freshman record for treys. He took care of that early, draining back-to-back 3-point shots to log the first six points for the ’Birds, who led 6-2 early. Alexander now holds the record with 52, including his three against the Shockers.

"We played offense probably well enough to win, but our interior defense just wasn’t there. They got inside, they drove the ball, they shot more free throws, and they were more aggressive than us," said Richardson, whose team shot 49 percent from the field and made eight of 19 3-pointers. "They scored at will inside."

[to top of second column in this article]

The ’Birds saw a 27-23 lead dissolve into a 32-27 Shocker edge as WSU went on a 9-0 run from 6:35 to 3:39 remaining in the first half. Bojang ended the ISU dry spell with a bank shot with 3:02 left. Randy Rice followed with a jumper to cut that lead to 32-31 2:40 before halftime. Rice, with all nine of his points in the first half, dropped in two driving shots to put ISU up 35-34 with 14 seconds left, but C.C. McFall beat the buzzer and WSU led 36-35 at intermission. The ’Birds never led again.

With Andy Strandmark lost to four fouls early in the second half and Dirk Williams out with a foot injury, the beefy Mack went after the ’Birds in the paint in the second half, scoring six points in three minutes as WSU opened up a 45-40 lead. Chad Mazanowski came off the bench to help the ’Birds stay close, scoring six points in eight minutes to help the ’Birds draw within 51-50. Mazanowski pulled the Redbirds even at 58-58 with a hoop on a goaltending call, but Randy Burns’ field goal with 6:15 left began a 9-1 Shocker run to put WSU safely ahead.

Illinois State plays its final regular-season road game Saturday at Northern Iowa before returning home to close the regular season Monday against Evansville.

[ISU news release]

[FEB. 21, 2002]   For a report on the Illini men’s basketball game Wednesday night, see http://fightingillini.fansonly.com/sports/ m-baskbl/recaps/022002aaa.html.

[FEB. 21, 2002]   ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Steph Reichle repeated as a second-team choice on the Missouri Valley Conference Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete team as voted by the Valley women’s basketball media relations contacts.

Reichle, with a 3.86 grade point average as a public relations major, leads the Redbirds in steals and is No. 2 on the team in rebounds and assists, including 24 steals in her last nine games.

The junior guard from Lincoln, Ill., and fellow 2002 second-teamer Abbi Schutte of Northern Iowa are the only repeat selections from the 2001 team. Reichle is one of six players on the second team. The first team features seven players, and four made honorable mention.

The criteria for the scholar-athlete team balloting parallels the Verizon/CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) standards for Academic All-America voting. Nominees must be starters or important reserves, have played at least 50 percent of a team’s games, and must carry at least a 3.00 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale).

Student-athletes must also have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at their institution (true and redshirt freshmen are not eligible) and must have completed at least one full academic year at the institution. Honorable mention selections are awarded to student-athletes who receive a minimum of two votes. A total of 25 Valley student-athletes met the criteria for scholar-athlete honors in 2002.

Reichle is the 14th Illinois State selection to the team in the 10 years the Missouri Valley has had a scholar-athlete team. If she makes the team as a senior in 2003, she will join only Jenny Schmidt and Valarie Trame as Redbird players selected three times to Valley Scholar-Athlete teams.

[to top of second column in this article]

Missouri Valley Conference Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete selections

Sara Bailey, Bradley, junior, 3.38

Carla Bennett, Drake, junior, 3.05

Jenny Burns, Creighton, junior, 3.98

Jennifer Kaczka, Wichita State, senior, 3.143

April Kirby, Indiana State, senior, 3.79

Kourtney Mennen, Indiana State, junior, 3.46

Lora Weber, Bradley, senior, 3.88

Jenna Hayes, Evansville, junior, 3.80

Kara Opp, Northern Iowa, junior, 3.94

Erin Richards, Drake, senior, 3.44

Abbi Schutte, Northern Iowa, senior, 3.27

Kristin Stewart, Indiana State, junior, 3.71

Jayme Anderson, Drake, senior, 3.67

Nadine Brandt, Northern Iowa, senior, 3.36

Katie Miller, Northern Iowa, junior, 3.63

Shinko Ono, Evansville, senior, 3.17

[ISU news release]

[FEB. 21, 2002]   NORMAL — Five or 200? Illinois State’s 7:05 p.m. Friday basketball game at Southwest Missouri State will either be conference win No. 5 for the Redbirds this season or career conference win No. 200 for SMS coach Cheryl Burnett.

The Redbirds, 6-18 overall, 4-11 in the Missouri Valley Conference, could receive a huge boost toward their goal of reaching the 2002 State Farm-Missouri Valley Conference Tournament with a win at Hammons Student Center. It’s the first of a two-game road trip that ends with a 5 p.m. Sunday game at Wichita State.

Redbird coach Jenny Yopp is enthused about the possibilities because of the way her team played on its last road trip and the way it played at home against Wichita State and Southwest Missouri, beating the Shockers 68-64 and dropping a 59-55 decision to the Bears.

"On our last road trip, we played well against Creighton and Drake, the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the league," said Yopp. "We just had to sustain that for longer periods. Against these two teams (SMS and WSU), we played well for 40 minutes to beat Wichita State, and we were in control of the game for 30 minutes against SMS before we struggled against their zone defense."

Burnett, who has disdained the zone for much of her coaching career, felt it was necessary to slow down Illinois State’s drives to the bucket. Yopp conceded that her team has been inconsistent against the zone.

"In some games, like at Southern Illinois, we handled the zone really well," said Yopp. "But, against SMS we struggled, and against Southern (at home) we struggled. We have a team which takes the ball to the basket well, and lately, we’re shooting well from 3-point range, and our post player, Kristi Larson, is giving us good offense. We have the ingredients and we can put them together."

The noise from the 7,000 or so patrons expected at Hammons Student Center excites Larson, who has been there three times before.

[to top of second column in this article]

"It’s an exciting atmosphere," said Larson. "I think most players enjoy playing in front of enthusiastic fans, like the ones we have at Redbird Arena. Their (Lady Bear) fans get excited and are into the game."

Sophomore forward Stacey White has led the recent spurt of 3-point success for Illinois State, hitting 14 of 27 over her last four games and scoring in double figures in five straight. Achieving the balance Yopp likes, the Redbirds have had four or more players in double-figures scoring in four of the last five games.

Without top offensive players Jaci McCormack (out for the season with an ankle injury) and more recently Sharon Blade (listed as day-to-day after missing nine games with a foot injury), the Redbirds have struggled to score at times this season. At SMS, they will face the league’s No. 2 defense.

The Bears, 14-9 overall, 10-4 in the Valley, are hoping to hoist Burnett into the No. 1 slot in all-time league coaching victories. Burnett is tied with former Southern Illinois coach Cindy Scott at 199. Retired Redbird coach Jill Hutchison is third with 170.

Burnett’s success inspires Yopp. At first, the winning didn’t come easily for Burnett, whose first two Lady Bear teams were a combined 16-37. But she weathered those early storms to lead the Bears to a pair of Final Four appearances.

"The success of SMS, and of coach Burnett, and the competitiveness of the Missouri Valley Conference are all reasons I wanted to come to Illinois State," said Yopp. "In this league, it’s possible to have a competitive, national program in women’s basketball.

[ISU news release]

[Click here for a link to pre-game notes.]

[FEB. 20, 2002]   

Boys

Olympia                     7  13  28  31

University High         20  29  41  45

Olympia stats

Kieser 2-0-5, Cheek 2-0-5, Sherman 5-0-11, Elliott 1-0-2, Olsen 3-0-6, Wright 1-0-2

Three-point field goals: Kieser, Cheek, Sherman

[FEB. 20, 2002]   

Women

St. Mary-of-the-Woods    37  34 — 71

Lincoln Christian               27  20 — 47

LCC stats

Robbins 5-0-11, Urton 0-2-2, Szostek 1-0-2, Wright 5-2-12, Wertin 5-0-10, O’Malley 1-0-2, Jewel 1-2-4, Davis 2-0-4

Three-point field goals: Robbins

[FEB. 20, 2002]   Frank Williams of the Fighting Illini and Kirk Penney of the Wisconsin Badgers have been selected Big Ten Co-Players of the Week.

Illinois

Junior; guard; Peoria; Manual

Williams was named the Big Ten Co-Player of the Week after averaging 20.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals in a pair of road wins last week, as the Illini stretched their winning streak to four straight games.

The 2001 Conference Player of the Year opened the week with 22 points and eight boards in a crucial road triumph at Michigan State, as Illinois improved to 2-4 on the road in league play. Williams followed that performance with 19 points and five assists on the road at Seton Hall, including three treys, to spark an Illini rally after the team fell behind 13-2 to start the game. Illinois has won three straight road games after opening the year with a record of 0-5 on the road.

Williams earns his second weekly conference honor this season and the fourth of his career.

[to top of second column in this article]

Wisconsin

Junior; guard; Auckland, New Zealand; Westlake

Penney shares Big Ten Player of the Week honors after averaging 20.0 points on 50 percent shooting in two Conference road victories last week as Wisconsin improved to 9-5 to stand alone in third place in the league standings. The Badgers handed both Indiana and Minnesota their first home losses in conference play this season.

The UW junior started the week with 10 points in the win at Indiana before exploding for 30 points, on 69 percent shooting (9-13), in the victory at Minnesota. Penney hit six 3-pointers against the Gophers, equaling a Big Ten high this season, and added five rebounds.

Penney earns his third weekly conference honor this season, the most in a single season by any Wisconsin player in school history. The previous record was two Big Ten Player of the Week selections by Michael Finley during the 1992-93 campaign.

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

[FEB. 20, 2002]   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. 18, 2002]   Sometimes you have great sports weekends; other times you come up empty.  We here at the LDN always hope things come up rosy for your local teams and for the college and pro teams that you’re rooting for too.  This weekend seemed to be another example of just that.

Local college teams continue to roll on toward good seeds in the upcoming postseason.  The Railers and other scholastic teams are having great seasons.  At least one area wrestler, Jacob Fatheree of Clinton, came away with a state championship in Champaign-Urbana.  Locals Brian Cook and Gregg Alexander put Lincoln on the map Saturday, as both of them had monster games for their respective teams.  The weather continues to impress, and that means we can start thinking and talking about golf and other spring sports as well. And of course it was another wild week at Daytona, and we haven’t even mentioned the Olympics yet, have we.

Olympic controversy

We don’t know anything about figure skating.  We are glad that the skating judges won’t be giving the marks for the Illini basketball, or the French judge may have already have our team out of the running in the Big Ten.  We do know that it seems strange to change the outcome of an event so long after that actual event was over.  I am sure that the funky scoring that occurred in the pairs skating was not the first time that has ever happened in that sport.  Even an untrained eye like ours knows when somebody hits a jump or not or whether the skaters are in sync or not.  It’s almost a slap in the face of us fans the way they’ve gone about righting this wrong.

We mean, we guess it’s nice that a second gold was awarded to a pair that some experts said was jilted, but what about the other pairs?  What about the Americans?  Who, really now, should own the silver and bronze?  And if at least two pairs were affected, wasn’t every pair affected in some way?  And, hasn’t this shameful situation put in place the fact that probably the rest of the skating events will be affected in some way?

Maybe it’s just us, but we’re leery of any sport that uses a group of so-called impartial judges to determine the final outcome.

We bet Maryland is glad that Amaker, Hurley or Laettner or any other assembled group of former college greats now linked with a federation, won’t be allowed to decide if the Terps get the gold and Duke gets the silver!

Or, how ’bout the Raiders?  Don’t you think they’d like to have a team of judges ruling on whether Tom Brady fumbled or not?

For that matter, we’re sure a team of judges could tell you how many times the ball bounced before Franco Harris rumbled for a very undeserved score several years ago.

You Illini fans might be interested in a team of judges looking at how many times Dicky Beal traveled in the regional on Kentucky’s home court, and they might even want to look at how a game of that magnitude could have ever been played to someone’s home court advantage.

And Cardinal fans, no doubt, would take their chances with even the French and Russian judges over Don Deckinger in the ’85 debacle in Kansas City!

If you want in on this debate, give us a call on the radio show tonight!

Why is there so much corruption in amateur sports anyway?  We thought it was supposed to be the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat — NOT the thrill of making a voting deal in exchange for putting a gold medal in your pocket; and the agony of the rest of us having to watch their stinking pious faces every four years!

We just wish Jim Thorpe were alive today.  We think we could help put together a heck of a gang to rule the sports empire.

Oh well, let’s get back to professional sports; at least we expect greed, crime and corruption there!!!

Daytona 500

Ward Burton in the No. 22 car wins the Daytona 500; that is, if it’s OK with the skating judges?  Somebody who’s familiar with NASCAR, please call in tonight and enlighten those of us whose sports knowledge is weak in racing … please?

Railers split weekend set

While we’re sure that the Railers are not one bit happy about losing to Southeast, we did like the way they came out in the second half versus Jacksonville Saturday night.  There’s been a lot of history with the Crimsons over the years, so we were even more happy than the casual observers to win this one going away.

Hats off to our three seniors, Brandon Welch, Adam Schonauer and Ryan Bast, for going out in style with a win and with all three of them in the scoring column.  We’ve known these three for a few years and appreciate their efforts on behalf of our team and our community.  Good luck in the playoffs, and good luck in your college and other future plans.

Next up for the Railers is a road tilt with the No. 2-ranked team in the state, the undefeated Lions of Lanphier High School.  While Railer coach Neil Alexander did not say that the Lions would be impossible to beat, he made it quite clear that it would take a near perfect performance for Lincoln to come away with the upset.  Win or lose, we hope they come out of the game with enough info that, should the two combatants meet again at the PCCC, the Railers could avenge the spectacular three-overtime game played there a few years ago!

Lincoln will host a very difficult opponent in Rantoul at Roy S. Anderson on Tuesday, Feb. 26.  That is the same night the Illini will host Indiana.

[to top of second column in this article]

Former Railers make good

What can you say about Gregg Alexander and his Illinois State Redbirds?  While we have covered some of their games and mentioned them a little bit here, they were left for dead earlier this season.  At one time ISU was four or five games under .500 and going nowhere fast.  Now they have won seven of the their last eight, are 10-5 and solidly in third place in the Missouri Valley Conference, and are looking more and more like a team with postseason aspirations.

We had been talking NIT here and at FIX 96, but one local fan said, “how ’bout an NCAA bid?”  We said, “How ’bout one?”  We would be tickled to death with an NCAA bid.  But we’re not greedy!

Other Redbirds contributing to the huge 84-70 upset over SIU on Saturday afternoon were Shawn Jeppson, Shedrick Ford, Boo Bojang and Andy Strandmark with another huge performance.  If Strandmark can bring a consistent effort to the court game after game, that may very well dictate how far this Redbird team goes.

Tough road games loom on the horizon for ISU, as they still need to go to Wichita State and to Northern Iowa.  They will also play one more home contest against Evansville.

Illinois on the mend

We wonder how much the physical health of the Illini corresponds to the team’s recent four-game winning streak, which includes three road victories. And will people still bash Cook, Williams, Self, Mayfield or the cowboy that sells tickets in the parking lot every time things don’t go Illinois’ way?

One wonders how much perspective the Illini received on the importance or unimportance of college basketball in the grand scheme of life after visiting ground zero on Friday. One also wonders what effect that road trip will have as far as team chemistry and bonding are concerned the rest of the way.

Illinois is set to host Penn State at the Hall Wednesday night.  Illinois now stands at 19-7 and 7-5 in the Big Ten and would still like to secure a high seed for the conference tourney.

...Although as tough as our league is, doesn’t it really matter what you’re seeded?  The Big Ten bashers have been all over us saying that we are so weak this year.  They point to the very flawed RPI ranking to support their claims.  We’ve got a little somethum-somethum for them.  Don’t be surprised to see the Big Ten advance at least one team to the Final Four — and yes, we have one team in mind that we would really like to see in Atlanta!  Our league from top to bottom is the best in the nation once again this year — and yes, we do have some stats to back that position.

Baseball breakfast

My son and I attended the Railer baseball fund-raiser Sunday morning on our way to church.  Glad to see the diamond boys working to improve their lot.  Coach Hake has done a great job with this program, and here’s hoping that they will have a wonderful season!  We intend to get some 411 to you loyal LDN readers soon in this column and hopefully on the FIX 96 call-in show!

Lincoln swimmers

The Lincoln High School swimmers participated in the sectional at Pekin on Saturday. No info was available when we went to post.

Shameless promotion

Please join Greg Taylor and some other joker on the new FIX 96 sports call-in show every Monday night starting at 6!  We want your calls and we want to talk about the stuff you want to talk about.  Hopefully, we’ll have some more giveaways and a few surprises for you along the way.

Shameless promotion — Part 2

We want to let you know that Lincoln Christian College will be dedicating their new sports arena and fitness center next Saturday, Feb. 23, at 10 a.m.  We’re sure that LCC would love to see dozens of community people come out and join us for this truly historic event.

And is there a better Lincoln resident that a building should be named for than Lynn Laughlin?  We think not!

Eight-time Boston Marathon champion Jean Driscoll will be the keynote speaker for the event.  LCC’s women’s basketball team will officially open the facility with a 1 p.m. game, followed by a men’s game at 3 featuring Matt Clark, who still has a chance to become the all-time leading scorer in Illinois small-college history!

The LDN sports staff would be happy to give you a personal tour of the facility or of our campus. Come and join us!

Ramblings

We’re ramblin’ guys, so how ’bout some ramblins…

•  Was it just us or was this one of the best years ever for area junior high basketball?

•  I sure hope the Illini don’t have to face Duke, Maryland or Georgia until the NCAA championship game.

•  Did you happen to catch that Southeast went to Quincy on Saturday night and won for the first time there in over 20 years?

•  Notice how many people are sheepishly climbing back on the Illini bandwagon?

•  We would really like to see the Railers advance to the sectional level and see how good all these teams really are.

Hope you all have a great sports week and an even better week in the classroom and as a citizen!!!  See you all tonight on FIX 96 at 6!!!

[Jeff Mayfield]

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