After some back-to-back positives, the bottom fell out on the Illinois basketball team… again.
Last Tuesday the Illini took care of business, easily defeating a undermanned and poor performing Rutgers team 82-66. Illinois dominated that entire game, never relinquishing the lead after capturing it in the first three minutes of the game, and never letting Rutgers get closer than 11 points in the second half.
With all due respect to the Scarlet Knights, I do of course realize how horrible they are this year. And to add insult to injury, they were missing their point guard and best player, Corey Sanders. Sanders was the sole reason that it took Illinois three overtimes to beat Rutgers in Piscataway.
None-the-less, Illinois did what it needed to do and what would be expected in that situation.
On the heels of that victory, the very next day, came the welcome news that Illinois finally hired an Athletic Director.
On February 17th, the university announced the hiring of Josh Whitman, erstwhile tight end for the Illini and most recently the AD at Division III Washington University in St. Louis.
It became apparent very quickly that Whitman has a very deep and abiding commitment to seeing Illinois succeed. Whitman also said the right thing when he stated that Groce (and Cubit) had his full support. How stupid would it be for a new AD to come in and say anything else?
Whitman displayed all of the initial characteristics that should give the Illni faithful confidence that he can do this job.
In his first few days he has been passionate about his love and respect for Illinois, smart in his comments, and decisive. He is an Illini guy who has been working his entire career to get to this position.
If you think about Maslow’s Hierarchy, Whitman is primed for self-actualization. He is very smart, highly educated, motivated, and energetic. I see good things in our future.
Then we all woke up the morning of Friday, February 19th, to the news the Leron Black had been arrested and charged with aggravated assault, a class 4 felony, for brandishing a knife at bouncers in a night club.
This was the first of two gut punches in a row. Black has pled not guilty, and I refuse to go down the path of negativity that is so well trod by so many fans.
There are many people who don’t know this guy at all but who have no end of negative things to say about him in general, despite not really having a clue.
Of course Groce, being an unpopular coach currently with many people, gets implicated in this matter too. In my opinion that isn’t fair or justified, but I certainly get the frustration being directed his way.
Personally, I am very hopeful that this matter is resolved favorably and Black is allowed to play for us next year. I remain absolutely convinced that he will be a special player when he gets healthy. The only question now is what team he will be special for.
The next gut punch came against Wisconsin in Madison on Sunday.
The first two-thirds or so of that game was a bit of fools gold. Illinois was playing well, hitting key shots, and playing decent defense. But the lead Illinois built in the second half was largely due to the Badger’s horrendous first half shooting that carried over into the second. And that was something that you knew wouldn’t last. This would ultimately be a game that Illinois would have to “gut out” and they would need to do it with some offense.
At the 12:22 mark of the second half, Illinois had built a 13 point lead but it was all down hill from there. And mostly because Illinois couldn’t find the basket and Wisconsin could. Illinois sunk into an offensive deep freeze for seven minutes, while the Badgers racked up 17 straight points.
More from Writing Illini
- Illinois Football: 5 Illini players who need more snaps against FAU
- Illinois football vs. Florida Atlantic first half and game betting lines
- Bret Bielema has made Illinois football a nationally competitive program
- Illinois Football: Predicting how the Illini will finish the 2023 season
- Illinois Football: Illini quarterback controversy is on the horizon
What was most disappointing to me about that game wasn’t so much that Illinois lost – though that always sucks – but that they couldn’t compete down the stretch. They needed to respond to the fact that the Badgers were finding the basket and finding their defensive intensity. Illinois wilted completely at the end of this game.
What could have been a really good win to help offset the Black arrest, did nothing but feed the negativity around the program. They were soft. They played uninspired basketball when it mattered the most at the end of the game.
Tonight Illinois faces a Hoosiers team in Champaign on ESPN.
IU has one of the most dangerous offenses in the country, despite the loss of James Blackmon Jr. earlier this season. The Hoosiers are a contender for the final 4, in my opinion.
According to kenpom.com, as of Tuesday night, IU ranks #5 on three point shooting and #9 on twos. And they play decent defense.
Obviously if Illinois can beat IU that will be a very big deal and perhaps give us some momentum to finish the season strong and for a miracle in the B1G tournament. I don’t believe in miracles and beating IU is unlikely.
So the real issue to me is whether this team can fight? Can it find a way not to wilt down the stretch? Can it find a way to give the fans something to cheer about? Can it find a way to give the fans hope… even if only for next year.