(Ed. note: We apologize for the lateness of this article, due to travel)
I’ve stolen my headline from Smile Politely’s best sportswriter, Jamie Newell. It’s appropriate for analyzing Thursday’s win over Lipscomb.
Something didn’t work in the first half of the the Lipscomb game. Maybe it’s that Meyers Leonard picked up two quick fouls, and sat for 90% of the period. But even in the second half, Illini guards and wings were too slow at feeding the post. Leonard and Nnanna Egwu got position, signaled for the ball, and then watched for entry passes that never came.
Sam Maniscalco and DJ Richardson provided enough offense, sometimes driving, sometimes popping for an open jumper.
But Sam had only three assists, and DJ just one. As a team, the Illini managed only eleven (and 21 turnovers).
The Illini won by 15, but their opponent — an Atlantic Sun team missing its best player — posed too many unanswered questions. The final margin represents a six-minute run early in the second half, a 14-0 run by the Illini. Otherwise, Lipscomb played the Illini to a draw.
At halftime, Illini assistant coaches led by Jerrance Howard shared some thoughts about the defensive effort. Jerrance likely employed words that could be printed in a family newspaper, just not very many.
These two concepts, defensive inteensity and feeding the post, were the focus of my post-game interviews. Tyler Griffey, Brandon Paul, Joseph Bertrand, Sam and DJ shared their thoughts:
The Matto numbers doubled in the second half. The Illini shut down their guests just long enough to create a workable margin.
Lipscomb coach Scott Sanderson acknowledged the defensive intensity during that spurt as the difference in the game.
It must have been discouraging for Sanderson, whose late game management and leisurely post-game presser suggested he’d hoped the night would last forever. (Harry Caray never failed to point out how slowly Scott Sanderson preferred to work.)
IN THE BLEACHERS
Richard Bates and Keita Bates-Diop didn’t stay for the whole game. One of them had to go to school Friday morning at Normal U-High, and the other had to keep your insurance rates low by beating back corrupt hordes of ambulance chasers and feral chiropractors. (If you’re curious about the LinkedIn profile, remember: the best attorneys are inactive.)
Don Berardini’s double-secret wristband gets him access to the Media Room popcorn machine. But Don walked upstairs to pay for a bucket, just like the regular people. “Four dollars!” Terri Berardini chided him.
But that’s the least of their expenses. Kevin passed up the chance to room with Brandon Paul this year, because Brandon’s ideas for the perfect apartment are guided by factors excluding rent. The Rebounders’ Club, ESPN and Don’s bucket of popcorn will pay Brandon’s rent. Don & Terri will pay Kevin’s.
The night’s big story, arguably bigger than the basketball game, was the appearance of Trulon Henry and his wife Morgan. The Henrys sat with other members of the football family. Trulon was mellow. In fact, he appeared stoned. He chuckled when I told him, and acknowledged that he was quite relaxed due to all the painkillers.
Trulon agreed to share his thoughts with Smile Politely, but Terry Hawthorne reminded him that he’s off-limits to the media. After the game, I passed on the story to Illinois sports’ Minister of Information Kent Brown, and suggested that Hawthorne get special treatment. “I should make him an assistant,” Kent mused.
Morgan Henry is not subject to team rules. She shared the latest on Trulon’s condition, and her own state of mind … teetering on the precipice.
My friend Todd Short and his boss Barbara O’Connor (U of I police chief) sat nearby. He told me they were on a stake out. I did not believe him.
On the other hand, she did grill me on my professional activities. I demurred, and pestered her for more frequent responses to my inquiries for hard news. I enjoy a bit of good cop-bad cop, now and then.
IN THE CHEAP SEATS
My friend Jan, one of the supervising ushers at Assembly Hall events, guesstimated the night’s attendance at 6500. The entire crowd could’ve fit in A and B tiers, with room to spare. And yet some people chose to sit in the last row of C section. I think I understand their reasoning. The spectacle of big-time sports seems more impressive from far away.
I never made it up to C. But I saw familiar faces in the middle section.
Naomi and Eric Jakobsson have always been with the people, even though B section is, when you get right down to it, bourgeois.
Scout photographer Holly Birch Smith is usually on the floor, but wore her mom hat on Thursday.
