Run Out The Building

This photo by Darrell Hoemann is just one instance from last night's game where a lightning fast Dayton player blew by an Illini defender and got to the basket for a layup or dunk.

Dayton's team is 10-11 guys who can run the floor and explode to the basket. With that mind, if they're also hitting their outside shots - as they were last night - and your team is missing its outside shots - as the Illini were last night - your team is definitely going to lose.

So much for my grand plans to drink 15 beers and watch the Illini play at MSG next Tuesday.

Now I'll have to find somewhere else to drink 15 beers.

Scouting The Dayton Flyers

Everyone knows that the coolest thing about Dayton, Ohio is the U.S. Air Force Museum at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. My Dad and I went there about 8 years ago and I can tell you that it is choice.

Of course Dayton also has a university - the University of Dayton - which, year-to-year, has a solid basketball program. The Flyers finished 22-12, 8-8 on the season and, like the Illini, were sitting on the NCAA tournament bubble come selection time.

Also like the Illini, the Flyers were shoved off to the NIT where, tonight, they will travel to Champaign for an NIT Quarterfinal matchup against Bruce Weber and the Boys.

So what do we need to know about the Flyers?

A few things jump out at me as I peruse their season peformance:

- Dayton has played a handful of good teams - Villanova, Kansas St., New Mexico - and though they lost those three games, they did manage victories over tournament teams Georgia Tech, Lehigh, Old Dominion, and a big 25-point win at home over Sweet 16 entrant Xavier. Bottom line: the Flyers aren't going to be intimidated by the Illini.

- Dayton, like Illinois, entered the season ranked in the Top 25. They failed to live up to those pre-season expectations, but have won their two NIT games by an average of 18 points. They're playing good basketball.

- Dayton likes to run and their leading scorer, forward Chris Wright, was an All-Atlantic 10 selection. He gets about 7 rebounds a game. Look for the Flyers to try to outmuscle the Illini on the boards and get points in transition.

As for the Illini, tonight's game is, surprising to say, big. Illini fans would be hard pressed to stomach another loss at Assembly Hall, and it would be outstanding experience for Brandon Paul, D.J. Richardson and Tyler Griffey - three freshmen who figure large in the Illini plans for the next three years - to get some playing time at Madison Square Garden. It's also another opportunity for the juniors - Demetri, Tisdale, Davis and Cole - to show they can lead the team to tournament-style wins.

I'm way more excited about this game than I thought I'd be.

Illini Get It Dun Against The Golden Flashes

Strong victory.

That's how men get it dun.

A Visit To Stony Brook

A plush benefit of the Illini not making the NCAA Tournament was that, by odd circumstance, they played a road NIT game at Stony Brook University on Long Island.

Stony Brook is about an hour and 45 minute train ride from Manhattan. I made it out there a few minutes after tip-off. My friend Jeff and I had tickets in the front row. Unfortunately, Stony Brook had double-sold some seats, and someone was already sitting in our spot. We managed to move around the packed arena and eventually grabbed some seats on the other side of the court.

It was a crazy fun atmosphere, made all the better by the Illini victory.

This was our view as we stood along the sideline in the first half. Demetri McCamey had just drained a three here.

Another good shot of our first-half vantage point. Stony Brook hung tough throughout the game, running a steady halfcourt offense.

I believe that's Brandon Paul setting up a free throw shot.

The old-school scoreboard hanging from the rafters.

For a few minutes we sat a few feet behind the ESPNU announcing crew. I didn't recognize any of them.

The Stony Brook mascot is a wolf. Considering their team name is the Seawolves, I thought the wolf should be wearing some kind of Navy uniform. But he wasn't.

We had a great view of the Illini as they walked out of the locker room for the second half.

This is during halftime warm ups.

Bruce Weber walked right past us on his way out for the second half.

This was our view for the second half. The Stony Brook cheerleaders and dance team got a major work out during the game. They danced at every time stoppage.

Weber doling out some instructions during a timeout.

And there you have it. The Illini held on to win a competitive game 76-66 over a frisky Stony Brook squad.

Chaz Whitehurst No Longer A Bolt

A.J. Smith got it dun again today, trading third-string QB Charlie Whitehurst to the Seahawks in exchange for the 'Hawks' 2011 third-round draft pick. The trade also included a swap of the teams' second round picks in this year's draft, with the Bolts moving up 20 spots to the 40th pick in the second round.

That's a nice haul for a third-string QB.

As has been reported, this is likely a win for all parties involved. The Bolts get some return for a player who likely was never going to see the field. The Seahawks get a quality backup and potential starter in the well-regarded Whitehurst. And, perhaps most of all, Charlie gets some nice caysh and a very good shot at legit playing time with the oft-injured Matt Hasselback the only thing in his way.

Of course the Bolts now have the difficult task of finding someone to replace Charlie as the handsome, rakish third-string QB that never gets his uniform dirty and looks good in a beard and a headset.

Here's hoping its not Tim Tebow.

I Bet Bill Murray Wept

Considering how great a sports fan he is, particularly of the Cubs and the Illini, I bet Bill Murray wept tears of sadness Sunday evening when it was announced the Illini failed to make the NCAA Tournament.

As always, I think a quote from Murray's character in Groundhog Day, Pittsburgh weatherman Phil Connors, captures what most Illini fans are feeling right now.

Phil: You want a prediction about the weather, you're asking the wrong Phil. I'll give you a winter prediction: It's gonna be cold, it's gonna be grey, and it's gonna last you for the rest of your life.

Yep. That about sums it up.

Illini Bubble Watch: Selection Sunday

This photo makes me a feel a little better but I'm still hurting after yesterday's college hoops debacle.

I don't think we could have scripted a worse day for bubble teams and, specifically, the Illini.

Horrendous start to the day when Houston upset UTEP in the Conference USA final. Boom. One tourney spot gone.

Then the Illini took the floor against Ohio St. and led by 11 points midway through the second half. A few minutes later, however, the Illini were down by 9 points. I wouldn't believe that was possible if I hadn't watched every painstaking second of the 2o-point turnaround. Adding to the misery, the Illini had the ball and a chance to win the game at the end of regulation and at the end of the first overtime. Both times they couldn't get a shot off. Killer.

The rest of the day just continued the dagger tossing. Minnesota crushed Purdue, San Diego St. beat UNLV, Mississippi St. beat Vandy, Washington beat Cal and, as a final insult, New Mexico St. upset a 27-win Utah St. squad.

I'm gonna have scars from all these stab wounds.

So where do things stand?

According to Lunardi the Illini are the second team out, behind Mississippi St. The last two teams in are Virginia Tech and Minnesota. Obviously both Minny and Miss. St. could secure the final two berths if they win the Big Ten and SEC conference tournaments, respectively, this afternoon. The only chance the Illini have is if one or, better, both those teams lose today.

The Illini are better than both Minny and Mississippi St., and for that matter, Virginia Tech. But the selection committee won't have a chance to even balance the Illini's resume against these teams if the Golden Gophers and Bulldogs take care of business today.

Those two games are absurdly important.

If you care about the Illini, root HEAVY for Ohio St. and Kentucky.

Games on.