The experts told us what would happen. James Augustine would get tossed around like Toto in the tornado. Roger Powell would be eaten by Jason Maxiell. Nick Smith would be used like a toothpick by Eric Hicks. Jack Ingram would soil himself with fear at the scorer’s table waiting to check in.
But a funny thing happened on the way to Cincinnati’s second round pummelling of Illinois. The Illini decided they wanted to be the pummeller, not the pummellee. Like what your dad told you to do to any bully, Illinois punched the Bearcats in the mouth before they knew what hit them.
Then they unleashed a scoring barrage headed up by Deron Williams and Powell.
Oh, it was a thing of beauty.
Up next is Duke. CBS’ favorite team (Sean McManus even said so), in the prime time, 9 p.m., Friday night game. No doubt Billy Packer and Jim Nantz will be on hand to irritate the hell out of us, and the hype will have you believe that the winner is off to San Antonio. The reality is that Oklahoma State will be hanging around waiting to thrash the survivor. But that’s for Sunday to worry about.
Duke-Illinois is a matchup too good to look past. Six great guards. Two sets of underrated and underappreciated big guys and one Luol Deng. He’s the guy the Illini have no match for. They did have one, actually, his old high school teammate, but we try not to think about Charlie Villanueva around these parts anymore. And as much as Deng could hurt the Illini, they get most of that back with the reality that JJ Redick’s going to have to actually guard somebody.
But we’ve got all week to look ahead. Today we look back at the day Bruce Weber was Don Larsen and Illinois tossed the perfect game.
The Illini are no wallflowers, they’ve won 14 of their last 15 and for the last six weeks few teams have been tougher to handle. Yesterday they donned those ugly orange uniforms and did to Cincinnati what everybody’s dad tells them to do to the neighborhood bully. They punched them in the mouth before the Bearcats knew what hit them. After trading baskets early on, Illinois went on a run to make it 20-10. Only the most worrisome and pessimistic of fans (BC) didn’t realize at the time that the Illini were about to put Cincinnati in the rear view and not slow down.
James Augustine started with such manic energy that Weber had to sit him down about four minutes into the game to settle him down. When Augie returned he took it out on Cincinnati. Roger Powell got hot early and stayed hot, pulling Bearcat big men out onto the floor where they looked sea sick and knocking down jumpers.
Luther Head just kept flying in from the wings to grab rebounds and then pushing the ball up to start fast breaks. Dee Brown made every highlight reel in the nation with a steal and around the back layup that had to signal to the Cincinnati faithful that the day belonged to the guys in the pumpkin suits.
And Deron Williams? When he plays like what he is (the best player on the court most nights) the Illini can not be beaten. That’s just a fact. He did that on Sunday. Check out this line.
31 minutes, 10-13 from the field, 6-8 threes, 5-7 free throws, seven assists, three boards, one block and ZERO turnovers.
That’ll do, Deron. That’ll do.
What fired him up? According to tag-team partner Dee Brown, it was when a Bearcat told Deron, “You’re too pretty to play basketball.”
Guess not.
—
My bracket went into the toilet on Saturday night when in the span of two hours and twenty minutes my championship game matchup of Gonzaga and Stanford went bye-bye. It was a new low for me.
Oh, well.
—
Yesterday marked the second WGN-TV Cubs spring training broadcast and I watched it in fits and starts while clicking back and forth between it and the tournament. Chip was in midseason form, and the “little ground ball” and “rocket shot” references were in abundance. The thing that struck me immediately is just how clueless Chip is that he’s the biggest geek in any room. And, you’ll be happy to know that his habit of doing a phony laugh while he tries to be funny is back in effect. Ahh, we’ve really missed him, haven’t we?
Didn’t think so.
—
How old am I? Halfway through “Deadwood” on HBO last night I had to lean over and hit the record button on the TiVo remote because I was falling asleep. But it wasn’t because of the show, which has a lot of promise. I did manage to remain coherent during an excellent episode of “The Sopranos” and “The Simpsons” take on the “new” Star Wars’ movies last night was excellent.
I love TV.
—
Wow, who is Jimmy Greenfield and why is this dumbass on my computer? Oh, and Jimmy, your point about Illinois would be better proven had you actually gotten the final score right.
If you can’t get fired up and optimistic about this performance, perhaps the Rogaine is seeping through your scalp?
Bruce Weber is actually willing to talk about the Final Four. I wonder where his tickets are?
Juan Cruz didn’t get lit up, he just got scorched a little. This is progress?
Former Cub Jason Grilli may have lost the fifth starter’s job, but the Sox plan on keeping him. They have to, he’s a rule five pickup from Florida and if they ever try and send him to AAA Florida gets him back.
Boo freakin’ hoo, the Badgers lost in Milwaukee.
Herb Gould on Cincinnati’s inability to keep their yappers shut.
Mariotti puts down the doughnut to throw himself on the Illini bandwagon. For now.
Looks like The Franchise will start 2004 on the DL. How’s that for an omen?
Bruce Miles with a good one on Greggie and his healthy breakfasts.
Tuft McGraw on revamping the Bulls…again.
Jayson Stark with spring training expert Reggie Sanders. It’s pretty funny, actually.
Peter King’s Monday Morning Quarterback.
Aaron Boone says he’ll play this season. Hoops?
Paul LoDuca has turned into Tony Robbins.
If your name is Mitt, you’d better have a sense of humor.
Scarlett Johanson says she’ll never go nude on film. This will have to do for now.
A British lesbian sold her “virginity” to some poor schlub and then, “cried and cried.”
Really, though, is Angelina Jolie really an actress anyway?
America’s finest news source on the new Dawn of the Dead movie.
Did we get placed in a new region? Last time I checked we were to play in East Rutherford, not Atlanta.
This is what I get for making fun of Jimmy Greenfield.
That should read "Texas." God, I’m a dope.
Where the hell’s our Assclown tournament?
Regarding the MVP baseball crap yesterday, I would like to make it known that there is no better baseball game than Sega Sports’ World Series Baseball 2K3. NONE!
Hey look, my own page is ripping me off!
From what I hear, Nantz and Packer aren’t calling the Duke/Illinois game. CBS wants them up in East Rutherford doing the St. Joe’s/Wake Forest tilt. Something to do with a controversy involving Billy and St. Joe’s coach…
T-minus 12 days until Amanda Bynes becomes street legal (no picture until then).
I-L-L…
I-N-I!!!!!
M-O-U-S-E
Duke’s gonna beat Illinois soundly and then beat OK State soundly. They’re the only team in the tournament to have yet to even had a bad half. Hell, they’ve yet to have a bad minute. Every other team’s shown vulnerability.
Well, I guess I shouldn’t have been worried at halftime after that 8-0 Cincy run. Other than that it was, indeed, the perfect game for an Illini fan.
I would be surprised if Nantz/Packer were to go to Atlanta. Although the only bracket I would send them to over Atlanta’s (If I were CBS) would be the East Rutherford one.
Personally I would prefer a Lundquist/Raftery pairing for the Atlanta bracket.
CBS announced that Nantz and Packer were doing the St. Joe’s game instead. As a guy who’s been to almost every game at Cameron over the past three seasons I’m very wary of the Illini. The Devils haven’t had to play against a team nearly as athletic, big or skilled as Illinois this tournament. I think Duke will prevail, but it will be a great game and Duhon or Ewing will make a clinching play in the final minute.
Using that logic Vandy’s going to win it all. Thanks, now I don’t have to watch any more.
GO KU!
Of course Vanderbilt’s going to win it all. Go Dores!
Hey,
I also went to Vandy!
Who ya Wit?
Skip,
I don’t know to what you are a bigger disgrace: my alma mater or my profession. Isn’t there a bathhouse in the Bay Area you are supposed to visit?
I got my first coaching job at Vanderbilt! Go Commodores!
Frankly, Grantland, I’d say I’m just a disgrace to humanity overall. And I hear you might be gay, like Troy Aikman.
Let’s not hate on the Commodores…They’re mighty mighty, you know, letting it all hang out.
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