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Saturday, March 15
Illinois blows away Northwestern by Greg Taylor [MARCH 15, 2003]
First, top-ranked Arizona loses to a really bad UCLA team. Then, Marquette succumbs to a very average UAB. North Carolina over Maryland? Florida losing to LSU? Then, in the first game in Chicago Friday, Ohio St. knocks Big Ten #1 seed Wisconsin all the way back to the cheese state. What's next? Would #13 Illinois have trouble with Cinderella-wanna-be Northwestern? In a word? NO! Behind a strong effort from Lincoln's Brian Cook, Illinois led early and often and absolutely destroyed the Wildcats, 94-65, in a game that was not as close as the final score would indicate. The hometown upstarts jumped out to an early 7-5 lead, but Illinois responded with a 25-6 run and cruised to a 47-21 halftime lead. Cook paced Illinois at the break with 12 points and finished the game with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Illinois placed three other players in double figures, as sophomore Roger Powell hit for 14 and Dee Brown and Nick Smith each scored ten. Brown also dished out 9 assists in just 26 minutes of game action (Cook played 27 minutes). Illinois shot a sizzling 64.5% from the field in the first frame, including 5-10 from three-point land, and finished at 52% for the game. Coach Bill Self started clearing the bench with about 8 minutes to go and even Kyle Wilson, the freshman who left the team and the university for about three weeks in February, saw game action and scored 7 points in 7 minutes. The lead swelled to 40 @ 79-39 before Northwestern made up ground against the walk-ons. Even with the late Northwestern charge, this game was the largest margin of victory in Big Ten tourney history.	Illinois continued its streak of never losing in the Big Ten tourney on Thursday or Friday. Now for the bad news: Each of the last two years Illinois has followed up impressive Friday victories with disappointing Saturday defeats. I vote they change this pattern starting today! Illinois now moves into a rematch of the 2001 tourney semi-finals against Indiana, a team they destroyed on February 25, 80-54. Coach Self really summed things up well, stating "I thought we played really well from the beginning - now we just have to carry it over to tomorrow". With Friday evening's win over Northwestern, Illinois became the all time leader in wins in the conference tourney with nine. With their victory Friday, it is the opinion of the LDN that Illinois has locked up a top-four seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament. Common thought in the press room after the game said Illinois could still play their way into a three seed with a strong finish on Saturday and Sunday.


The Big Ten is at it again By the LDN staff [MARCH 15, 2003]
Once again it's that time of the year again that leaves fans & Big Ten administrators salivating. And what time might that be you ask? Its Big Ten tourney time, of course. We'll bet it still makes Bobby Knight spittin' mad every time he thinks about it. As for us, we don't care one way or the other. We do wonder what became of the importance of the regular season? It used to mean something. Now these weaker, lower seeds can go put together one lousy weekend of just better than mediocre play & punch their ticket to the Dance. If that's not absurd we don't know what is! Isn't the season something like 5-6 months long? And isn't the Big Ten season 16 games long? And you're going to tell us that some mangy team that strings 3 games together is going to take home the league's NCAA invitation? Is there anything more ridiculous in America…well maybe, health insurance…but, we're just asking? The money that flows through this carnival is staggering. We'll be honest, the games are fun. And it is interesting to see all 11 teams in one place. But we truly come for the friendship and the fellowship. Our fun and joy is NOT dependent on our team winning the tournament although none of us would probably object if that happened. It's just fun to be here. To give you a taste of the action…the United Center is subdivided into supposedly 11 equal areas with each of the schools getting a piece of the pie for the ticket allocation. But don't think for a minute that that means that any average citizen can go right in and get a good seat. Heck NO. Any average citizen with a boat load of money might struggle getting a decent seat in the lower bowl. It's tough enough to get a seat in the outer reaches!	It is kind of a kick to see all the mascots and all the bands and student groups; and you should see the halftime shows. You'll soon be seeing some of the acts at an upcoming Super Bowl. However you slice it, not many can come up with the money for tickets especially when they force you to buy them for the whole weekend up front! But that's o.k. to the Big Ten. They know they're going to make a lot of money, get some pretty good TV exposure & crown their pimped weekend King, for the Road to the Final Four! What do they care if they inconvenience their own conference schools as they're making their NCAA plans? And what IF one of your league's best players from one of your league's best teams gets injured in one of these really important games? Or worse, what IF it happens in practice or at a shoot-around? Talk about costing a school and your league some dough? But rest assured that will all get sacrificed on the altar of the almighty dollar because of the millions the league tourney generates! How do we know this? Because a leopard can never change its spots! The Big Ten and the NCAA has been doing stuff like this since we were knee-high to a grasshopper and they will still be doing it when the cows finally come home. Sadly, we'll probably be right there to witness it. But we live on the prairie…what in the heck else do we have to do? That's our excuse…what's the Big Ten's and the NCAA's?


Big Ten Tournament Friday notes By Greg Taylor [MARCH. 15, 2003]
Day Two games No. 8 OHIO STATE 58 vs. No. 1 WISCONSIN 50 Big Ten regular season champion Wisconsin exited the Big Ten tournament quickly for the second year in a row, losing to #8 seed Ohio St. by eight in the first game of the day. Last season, it was the 8th seeded Iowa Hawkeyes that surprised the Badgers. This year, it was an Ohio St. who is fighting for their postseason lives. Wisconsin started fast, leading 11-5 early, but could not sustain a lead into halftime, trailing the Buckeyes 30-25 at the break. Ohio St.'s Sean Connolly was 3-3 from three-point land in the first half to pace the Bucks. Wisconsin came out of the locker room on fire in the 2nd half, quickly grabbing a five point lead, but again could not sustain the momentum and Ohio St. controlled the last twelve minutes of the game, never trailing. For the game, Connolly led Ohio St. with 21 points while LDN favorite Brent Darby scored 16. Wisconsin had three players in double figures, Kirk Penney with 14, Alando Tucker had 13 and Freddie Owens scored ten. Ohio St. moves into the first game of the semi-final session on Saturday (12:40 p.m. tip) and will face Michigan State. The teams played twice in the regular season, with Michigan State winning both games by double figures. The game can be seen on CBS. No. 5 MICHIGAN ST. 54 vs. No. 4 PURDUE 42 In the second game of the day, Michigan St. defeated Purdue in a game that featured strong defense, poor shooting and the typical Gene Keady act. Michigan St. just shut down Purdue in the first half, holding the Boilers to a season low 12 points as Purdue shot just 20% from the field. The bad news, however, for the Izzoners, is State shot just 32% in the opening frame and only led by 12, at 24-12. [to top of second column in this article]	Purdue's do-everything senior Willie Deane led the Boilers with seven points, while Alan Anderson and Maurice Ager each chipped in six points for the Spartans. Making matters worse, Keady picked up a technical foul for riding reference Artie McDonald one to many times. No confirmation on exactly what was said, but I'm sure the two won't be exchanging Christmas cards this year. The second half started with a different Purdue team, as they sprinted out of the gate and went on a 19-10 run to pull with three. The Boiler fans were going crazy, but their excitement would be short lived. State promptly went on a 14-2 run and never looked back on their way to victory. The win is a good omen for Spartan fans, as State's history at this tourney is either all or nothing: two years of tourney titles and three years of first round exits. No. 6 INDIANA 63 vs. No. 3 MICHIGAN 56 In the final game of the Friday session of the Big Ten tourney, Indiana rallied and defeated Michigan 63-56. Michigan, however, jumped out early on the Hoosiers, leading by as many as eight in the first half, before Indiana rallied to tie the game at 24 late in the half. Michigan closed the half on a 6-1 to lead at the break 30-25. Michigan's senior LaVell Blanchard scored 14 points in the first half to pace the Wolverines, while senior guard Tom Coverdale led Indiana with ten. Michigan extended the lead back to eight about midway through the second frame before the Hoosiers rallied behind super sub A.J. Moye. The Hoosiers outscored the Wolverines by 15 in the second half as Moye finished with 18 points and Tom Coverdale and Jeff Newtwon each scored fifteen. Blanchard led Michigan with 21 points as Michigan closed their season in defeat. Indiana moves into the second Saturday semi-final against Illinois at 3:05 p.m. Saturday's Big Ten tourney schedule: Game 1: No. 5 Michigan St. vs. No. 8 Ohio St. 12:40pm CBS Game 2: No. 2 Illinois vs. No. 3 Michigan 3:00pm CBS Sunday's Big Ten tourney game: 2:30pm on CBS MSU or OSU vs. ILL or MICH 2:30pm [Greg Taylor][


Announcements

Ticket News Release [MARCH 15, 2003]
Lincoln will play Tuesday, March 18 at Redbird Arena in Normal at 7:30pm. Tickets will be sold as follows: Varsity players and managers, varsity cheerleaders and sponsor may purchase tickets for their immediate families on Sunday evening at 7:30pm at the ticket booth. Monday morning (March 17) LCHS Board of Education, administrators, scorekeepers, timers, Freshman-Sophomore players, JV cheerleaders, pep band and poms may purchase their tickets in the main office. LCHS Students may purchase tickets during their lunch hours or after school on Monday in the main office [to top of second column in this article]	SEASON TICKET holders may purchase their tickets on Monday March 17 from 6:00pm to 7:00pm and the GENERAL PUBLIC may purchase tickets from 7:00pm to 7:30pm in the main office. Tickets may be purchased on Tuesday morning until 10:30am in the main office. Pat Zurkammer Ticket Manager 732-4131 ext. 226


High School Basketball [MARCH 15, 2003]
Class AA Sectionals MacArthur 8 18 28 42 Lincoln 15 29 38 54 Lincoln - Farmer 6-0-15, Komnick 1-0-2, Young 3-2-8, Gallagher 2-0-4, Bunch 6-2-14, Schrader 4-0-8, Werner 1-0-3, Peters 0-0-0, Heidbreder 0-0-0. Totals: 23-4-54 Next Game Tuesday: 7:30pm at Normal (Redbird Arena). Lincoln vs. Peoria Central	Class A State Tournament Quarterfinals: Warrensburg 13 28 39 63 CPCI 16 29 40 50 Calmes 9-8-27, Traugher 2-0-5, Long 5-4-14, Aughenbaugh 1-2-4, Binkley 2-2-8, Heinkel 0-0-0, Kronshagen 0-0-0, Doyle 2-0-5, Littrel 0-0-0. Totals: 21-17-63. Warrensburg is currently playing Hale Franciscan Chicago in semi-quarter finals. If they lose, they play for third place at 6:00pm. If they win, they play for the championship at 8:15pm. LDN will update this later today. There will be pictures later, also.
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