Illini look to rebound from first loss of season at Big Ten Tournament
Jeremy Rutherford | ST. LOUIS DISPATCH
Issue date: 3/9/05 Section: Sports
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KRT - As the plane carrying the Illinois basketball team whisked back to Champaign Sunday night, a number of plays from the Illini's 65-64 loss to Ohio State University fluttered through Illini coach Bruce Weber's brain.
For example, with 1 minute 8 seconds left and Illinois leading 64-62, Deron Williams made a heads-up play when he drove the lane, drawing the Ohio State defense to him, and then passed to Roger Powell Jr. But as Powell went up for the basket, his shot was blocked by Buckeyes' center Terence Dials.
"If that thing goes down, or we get free throws, the game is probably over," Weber said.
About a minute later, OSU's Matt Sylvester made the game-winning three-pointer on a play on which Weber admits the Illini defense was lax. But Weber pointed out that with 3:48 left, Sylvester missed a three that was from nearly the same spot as the clincher with 5.1 seconds left.
"An airball from the same spot," Weber said. "It's just part of the crazy game of basketball."
Fortunately for Illinois, the game can be crazy good, too. On the day when the Illini suffered its first loss of the season, three other Top 10 teams were beaten, No. 3 University of Kentucky, No. 6 Duke University and No. 7 University of Kansas. In fact, seven Top 10 teams lost last week, including No. 5 Boston College, No. 8 Oklahoma State University and No. 10 University of Washington.
Probably because Illinois (29-1) has two fewer losses than No. 2 North Carolina (26-3), the Illini kept the No. 1 ranking in the country Monday, despite the Tar Heels' 75-73 come-from-behind win over Duke. The Illini, who had been the unanimous top team for five weeks, had 48 first-place votes to North Carolina's 22.
But more on Illinois' mind than the No. 1 ranking Monday was its projected No.-1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Many believe that the Earth would have to spin off its axis for the Illini not to receive a No.-1 seed. Weber said Monday that the Illini would have to "do well" at this week's Big Ten tournament to secure a top seed, but he certainly can be lumped into the group that feels the team is already worthy.