Thursday, February 10, 2005

Plays to Remember

When the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at Illinois put together the basketball schedule for this year, they obviously didn't consult Illinitalk. That's because my wife, Skinny Sweetcheeks, and I have commitments from 7-9 p.m. every Tuesday night this spring...and the past three Tuesday nights, Illinois has had a game. On the road. Against tough opponents. On ESPN.

Full Disclosure Alert
Actually Illinitalk didn't exist when this year's basketball schedule was put together. But...it will next year and we deem ourselves so important to the success of the program, so vital to its rise to prominence on the national level, so encouraging to coaches, fans and players alike that we sincerely believe we will be consulted next year...if nothing else so no games will not conflict with our schedules.
End Full Arrogance Bellyachin'

Anyway, because we couldn't watch the game Tuesday night, Skinny Sweetcheeks and I plopped down on the couch last night and watched the tape. Here are my quick thoughts:

Although the Illini obviously had to gut out the victory (I attribute this mostly to tired legs because their flight was messed up and schedules were off combined with Michigan's slow-down strategy) I will remember the awesome plays made by the Illini in this game for a long time.

Here is my list:

1. Dee's three steals that led to lay-ups.
2. Luther's alley-oop to Deron.
3. Dee's behind the back pass to Augie for the jam.

Although, in my mind, none of these plays overtakes the one at Purdue where Dee saved the ball out of bounds, passed to Augie, who, I believe from the floor, passed to Deron who passed to Luther for the jam.

To be sure, this is definately a season to savor.

# posted by Chief : 8:00 AM


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