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It all came down to the final possession. A ball was knocked out of
bounds under Iowa’s basket [surely by two Hawkeyes?] and after a
lengthy video review, the visitors were granted possession with 1.6
seconds left and a chance to send the game to overtime. I think
everybody in State Farm Center knew who was going to get the ball
and of course it was inbounded to Iowa center Luka Garza. He grabbed
it and immediately went up for the shot. Unfortunately for him,
Illini freshmen center Kofi Cockburn, who had been saddled with 4
fouls [a couple of them highly questionable], went up with him too,
and hammer blocked his would be attempt for the 78-76 game winner.
It was a fitting end to the battle that had ensued before a raucous
sold out SFC crowd on Senior Night!
Before we go any further-let’s hand out some kudos. First to Coach
Underwood’s son, Tyler. Tyler started and had two of the prettiest
post entry assists of the season [I even asked Coach Underwood at
the presser IF he considered leaving Tyler in longer and he said
that he did but that Iowa went big for a while and so he put
Da’Monte in instead]. I never got to coach my own son on a big stage
but that has to be one of the toughest things to do in sports. I
marvel at their relationship and am just thrilled that Tyler will
take this wonderful winning memory with him for life!
Kipper Nichols is next and it’s no surprise to any reader that our
man Kip has been an enigma the last couple of seasons. Maybe calling
his play maddening at times is over-reaching, but he just always
seemed to be on the cusp of breaking out and we always were waiting
for it to happen. Beating Iowa last night was sure a good time to
break-out and have his best game of the year with 10 points, 3
rebounds, and the highest plus minus of anyone on either team with
8! He is a joyful soul that is loved by his teammates and you
couldn’t have scripted a better Senior Night ending for him.
Andres Feliz, the Junior College transfer, is a guy that I feel will
be impossible to replace. His intensity, scrappiness, hustle, grit,
etc. has helped turn this program around. In fact, Coach Underwood
said after the game that if we writers [or media folks] were putting
together a lexicon of what it means to be a Fighting Illini player,
we should post Feliz’s picture and leave it to that! High praise
indeed…and it just happens to be what this reporter has been saying
since the first time I saw him on the court. I look for the little
things, the nuances of the game, the full court vision and
awareness, the hustle plays that beat opponents, and just a player
who consistently makes winning plays possession after possession,
and game after game. Feliz is that guy. I miss all of our guys when
they go…I will miss none more than Feliz! What an unbelievable
player especially at his diminutive size!
And of course thanks to the final senior in the Illini contingent,
Samson Oladimeji. I really haven’t gotten to know him but the word
is that he is a great teammate and a good member of the scout team.
I love all our seniors and they all make us what we are, a program
that is the envy of most all others in the nation! The LDN’s best to
all seniors as they go forward in life!
Ayo Dosunmu of course led the way once again for the Illini narrowly
missing a triple double and finishing with 17 points, 7 rebounds,
and 8 assists. Andres Feliz contributed 14 points, including two
monster 3’s and all of that in the 2nd half of action.
And Kofi
Cockburn demonstrated why he has been the Big Ten’s best Freshman
all year, scoring 12 points, yanking down 8 rebounds, guarding the
BT’s best player in Garza, coming away with two steals, and a few
rim rattling dunks himself!
[to top of second column] |
Sometimes you look at the stats page and you wonder how it was even
possible to get a win. Iowa lucked in several shots on their way to
50% shooting for the game and they out rebounded the Illini 32-30
and went 15-15 on free throws. So, how was Illinois able to overcome
all of that? Great question and glad you asked! The Illini garned 5
more offensive rebounds than the Hawks by just out-hustling them,
and by committing 6 fewer turnovers [Illinois only had a season-low
5 for the game!]. The Illini also outscored the Hawks off the bench
25-14!
Some Observations
Media pundits have questioned Illinois’ shooting prowess but the
Illini shot almost 50% from the field last night finishing a little
over 49%. I’ll take that number every night and take our chances in
every game.
Illinois’ improvement on the defensive end this season, their
overall tenacity and intensity, their ability to compete on every
possession, may make our team a tough out the next few weeks.
Two double technical fouls were called with 1 minute to go in the
first half. I’m just telling you what I observed without trying to
sound like a homer. But I saw maybe one of those [and it was very
doubtful a double tech]…the other one was not a double technical in
my opinion. They don’t pay me to make those calls, but they do to
make observations. I know the officials were trying to settle both
teams down and to not let things escalate, but those were among some
of the many baffling calls all night.
Home court advantage. When the Illini travel we reporters are asked
to explain almost every night why there is such a huge discrepancy
in the free throw totals, but last night once again the Illini, the
home team, only had two more free throws than the visitors.
I only bring that up because I question what has happened to the
local home court advantage that seems to exist everywhere else
in this league, that some basketball announcers say is good for
at least ten points. I don’t think that is happening in the
State Farm Center. My observation…Illinois is just not getting
the respect this team deserves! I don’t know if it’s because
this team has been a non-factor for so long. OR if it’s because
we are not a blue blood like maybe Ohio State or Indiana, but it
is troubling to witness and not see change when it has to be
dealt with everywhere else we go.
And that whole respect thing…is that why Illinois keeps getting
mentioned on lower seed lines than they’ve already achieved? I
know that the non-conference schedule is pointed to as the
reason to drop the Illini a line or two, but you still have to
play and beat those people on your schedule! AND Illinois had
the 2nd best ROAD record in the number 1 conference in America
and was the only Big Ten team to win at Wisconsin, a team that
has won 8 in a row! I’m just saying. Just because a team has not
had a high profile for some years is no reason to downgrade them
and it appears that’s what’s happening….though I hope that the
committee is not swayed by so-called experts. It’s supposed to
be all about what your team has done THIS season and Illinois
[yes, I know there were a couple of hiccups] has mostly taken
care of business all year long.
There is a thing called the eye test in sports. We used to look
at teams and say they were the All-airport team. In other words
they looked good in warm-ups or on paper but until you actually
saw them you didn’t know how good they were. Well, we’ve seen
the Illini. And I watch way more college basketball than the law
ought to allow, but since I’m compensated to give you my opinion
I think the Illini pass the eye test and are as good or better
than anybody. And while that doesn’t mean they will win some
games or even one I hope they go into the Big Dance as loose as
a goose and wreak havoc. It would be great to see them wake up
some pundits along the way and show the nation the renaissance
we have all witnessed this season in Chambana. [By the way, I
thanked both Coach Underwood, and Athletic Director Josh Whitman
last night on your behalf. I’m compensated for my work, but I
don’t just do it for my health. It is great to not only be
relevant again, but also to be one of the better college teams
in the country!]
Junior college players. I know there were several in our area
that didn’t want to recruit JC players for basketball or
football. They didn’t like that they’re only here for two years
and it can create some weird scholarship numbers, etc. They also
thought it took away from recruiting in-state players. I already
told you what Andres Feliz has accomplished…any questions? I
grew up surrounded by great athletes as I was surrounded by
dozens of junior colleges. Many of those players were prevented
from going D1 right away and I have been clamoring for years
that we’re totally missing the boat on this thing [look at how
our former football coach Mike White recruited them]. We should
have a coach or someone scouring the JC scene at all times! You
would be amazed at how many great players would love to be
Illini IF they were just given the chance. And since Feliz has
been such a great example both on and off the court-I hope there
are more players like him in our future!
As for further observations…why do we have a coaching box? I
remember refs meticulously sharing with me during my coaching
days the many reasons they wanted me/us to stay in the box. But
I saw coaches all season, like one last night hardly ever in
it?! What is up with that? You can now go out to the baseline
and out to the center circle any time you want? I’m more than a
bit confused. And while we’re on this subject-does college
basketball really want a game where the coach who is the best
lawyer, gets the calls? I really feel that that has damaged the
game immeasurably and it needs to be addressed. I’ll let you
know what I hear and observe at the upcoming tournament meetings
and coaches gatherings.
It has also been great to see the Hall [I know it’s the SFC now]
rocking again. I don’t have many hobbies. And covering these
hoops contests is not necessarily world altering stuff, but it’s
what I love to do. And to be able to do it for the nation’s best
fans-that’s way over the top for me! Just notice the kooks and
nut job fans that come here rooting for their teams and compare
them to our fans. There is no comparison. Our fans outshine all
the others! I hope our recruits are watching. There is no better
place to play or watch this game than Chambana, Illinois!
One final question. Is there anything better than beating
Indiana and Iowa in back to back home games? My great late
mother was right…Sunday really is the best day of the week! [By JEFF MAYFIELD]
Respond to the writer at
jeffqmay@gmail.com.
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