Illinois 84, Tennessee-Martin 46         

By Greg Taylor

[JAN. 3, 2006]  CHAMPAIGN -- Let me give the 10 Big Ten Conference teams Illinois will play over the next two-plus months a tip: Don't refuse to shake hands with the Illini during the pre-game introductions. More than likely, all that will do is fire up the Orange and Blue. Over 15,000 witnessed just that up close and personal Friday night at the Assembly Hall. At about 7 p.m. Tennessee-Martin, a Division I team from the Ohio Valley Conference, acted more like a summer league team without a legitimate coach, as all five starters refused to meet at the center court line to shake hands. By 7:16 p.m., Illinois led 17-0. Did you catch that? 17-0! By 7:29 it was 27-1. The game was never close, and Illinois cruised to an 84-46 victory.

Fellow LDN writer Jeff Mayfield remarked on the way to Champaign through the slush and muck how Dee Brown and crew seem to really raise their level of play when sensing disrespect by an opponent or unjust whistles by the men in stripes. If I were coaching a team about to face Illinois, I think I would send flowers and chocolate. I would consider greeting cards and might even ask for an autograph. This much I know -- I wouldn't refuse to shake hands. I wouldn't leave them standing alone at center court. Not after what transpired Friday night.

Several positives took place for Illinois on Friday night, including:

• Great shooting by Springfield's Rich McBride to open the game. The junior made his first three long-range attempts and was in double figures by the 11-minute mark of the first half. He would make six in the first half. McBride finished with seven 3s for the game, a new career high. His 21-point total was one short of his career high.

• Illinois' defense was, in a word, stifling -- especially early on. Tennessee-Martin didn't score in the first five minutes of the game and had just one point for the first 10 minutes. They didn't reach double digits until the 4:57 mark, and it was 34-9 by that point. For the half, the Skyhawks scored just 15 points. For the game, Tennessee-Martin scored just 46 points.

• Senior James Augustine continued to pile up the rebounds. The senior from the south suburbs entered the game just 10 rebounds shy of the all-time Illinois career record held by Efrem Winters, and Augie grabbed seven in the first 20 minutes. He broke the record at the 10:51 mark of the second half with his 11th board of the night and finished the game with a double-double, scoring 19 points to go with the 11 rebounds. Congrats, James!

• Dee Brown continued to improve in his transition to true point guard -- dishing out seven assists during the first half while attempting just two shots. Dee finished with 10 assists on the night.

Illini Dee Brown brings the ball down court. 
[picture by Ed Bacon]

• The crowd was awesome once again. Not long ago, when the students were on break and the opponent had a hyphen in their name, it would be tough to get more than 10,000 rears in the seats. Friday night, however, not even an unannounced onslaught of sleet and snow could keep the best home crowd in the land away.

• The Orange Krush was great once again, with some wonderful chants, including "double digits" when Tenn.-Martin finally reached 11 points for the game and "He's a walk-on" when walk-on Chris Hicks scored two baskets late in the game. Many of the students are gone, but you would never know by the excitement and passion of the Krush.

• Reserves Jamar Smith, Warren Carter and Chet Frazier each had positive moments. Smith knocked down another three long-range shots and finished with 11 points. Carter played strong down low, and Frazier did a good job running the team when Brown was on the bench.

• Finally, Riverton H.S. 7-footer Michael Tisdale, a key Illini recruiting target in the class of 2007, was in the house, and many in the press room expected to hear about a verbal commitment at some point very soon. He would join Indy superstar Eric Gorden and Peoria big man Bill Cole as 2007 commitments.

Mayfield and I were able to catch up with McBride after the game, and it was good to see a Central State Eight alum playing well for the team we love. McBride talked about how nice it is to enjoy success after a long summer of hard work. He shared about some of the discouragements from his freshman year but affirmed how glad he was to end up in the orange and blue. When asked if he ever thought what it would have been like to play for Missouri (Snyder recruited Rich hard), Rich made my night by stating, "I don't ever think about playing for Missouri." Here's wishing McBride a great 2006 consisting of many made 3-point shots and solid defense, along with yet another Big Ten title.

Illinois completed nonconference action a perfect 14-0 and now awaits a top 10 battle on Thursday night at home against No. 9 Michigan State. The Spartans will want to make a statement in the conference opener and will probably also remember the beat-down they took at home last Feb. 1 by the then-No. 1-ranked Illini. Everyone from Dick Vitale to Digger Phelps to Billy Packer looked for Michigan State to finally beat Illinois, and all the Illini did was play their most complete game of the year. My guess is Michigan State has not forgotten that evening and will be looking to do the same thing to the Illini.

Illinois' start to conference play is no walk in the park, with home games against the Spartans and a much improved Michigan squad, along with trips to Iowa and Indiana. LDN favorite Clark Kellogg of CBS sports ordained State and Indiana as his co-favorites to win the conference. Michigan State returns four starters from last year's Final Four team, and -- gulp -- Indiana may have the best one-two post game in the land with Auburn transfer Marco Killingworth and 2005 conference freshman of the year D.J. White. Kellogg predicted a third-place finish for the Illini, just ahead of his alma mater, Ohio State. Illinois has finished first or second in the conference every year since 2000.

Illinois is now on a 53-1 streak in the regular season over the past three seasons. The only loss during this span was the Ohio State road loss in the final seconds last March. I'm convinced Illini fans are living and loving through the greatest period in the history of Illini hoops. Pinch yourself as we head toward 2006 -- this is truly an incredible run. One person omitted from this article up to this point is the man who really deserves so much of the credit -- coach Bruce Weber. He doesn't make many "superstar coach" rankings and may not dress like the Pitinos or the Caliparis. But what he does is this: teach and win. American Express can have Coach K and O'Reilly Auto Parts can have the General. Bottom line -- the Illini Nation has the best: Bruce Almighty!

[Greg Taylor]

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