IlliniKrush

Kind of a tough question. Right now i would say NCAA championship. I have never been so emotionally attached to a team in my life. Being a student here and being at every home game and a ton of road games and almost every tournament game over the past 3 years just adds on to the mental and emotional energy put into this team. I've invested so much into this team it's unreal. This is nothing against the Sox, but i want the NCAA title right now.

SEE YA BY THE ARCH

Aboz, i know you're a dedicated fan to all your teams...congrats on the win. I'm a bit late on this, but the past 2 days have been a whirlwind. I was yelling at the TV yesterday for MSU to pull it out. Hopefully cya in the championship game.

Who didn't see this coming?

I HAVE FINAL FOUR TICKETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's what i have to add to this game thread: When there was a TV timeout with just under 4 minutes remaining, or whenver that was, down 14 people were heading up the aisles with their coats on in every section. If there's one thing i've learned, don't leave a game til the clock reads 0.00. Never know what you'll end up seeing. And when it's out last breath for Christ's sake, stick around. And if we lose, you give this team a standing ovation regardless. On the Score this morning they got a report from a cop that said he didn't see the end of the game in the stadium cuz they called them onto the street with a few minutes left because "hundreds of people were leaving the parking lot" Um...sucks to be those guys?

Speaking of the bulls game and chicago regional. I guess at the bulls game last night hundreds of people were in the concourse watching the Illini game instead of in their seats watching the Bulls game. And they said as word spread, more and more people got up and left to go watch the Illini game.

I should probly add this as well: The last few minutes of regulation, with me crying and sulking in my chair, my mom (who's not hardcore obviously, but she cheers for them and watches almost every game because i'm there) is like "we can do this, come on there's time left...it's not over til it's over" and all that cliche stuff. I was so close to just being like "shutup already mom" because it was typical mom-style positive attitude in a time of utter disbelief and sadness in my life..down 14 freakin points. Who woulda thought mom was right

We are

Soxbader, Illini Nation is behind you guys. On Wisconsin!!!!

Wow. There really aren't words in the dictionary to describe the emotional roller-coaster i experienced last night, and am still feeling today. I still don't believe we won. I don't know how we won, it's all a blur. Yes, i was at the game. Before the game my parents said i was white as a ghost, and i almost threw up before tip off. I was a nervous wreck, i was shaking...i was so emotional. The most important game of my life was right before me. The unity of the Illini Nation shown last night was really something. To have everybody minus about 750 people screaming at the top of their lungs when the Illini came out for the game was something i'll never forget. Zona fans were shocked at this...they knew they were in for a long night. I have never seen such a home-court advantage. This was honestly better than Assembly Hall because everything was closer to the floor. I barely had a voice by halftime, but i used the 20 minutes to chill out and recover for what would be the most important half of basketball this season. I was still nervous, but relatively calm because it was only a 2 pt game at half, so nothing was close to being decided. It all changed from there. I have no idea what happened for the first 15 minutes of the 2nd half. It was the ugliest thing i've seen all year from this team. I was so shocked, so sad...i didn't know what to do. I kept standing and screaming and clapping, trying to will this team on. But you look up at the scoreboard and you're still down 6, down 8, etc...and we are not closing the gap at all. Then it just slips away even further. 15 freakin points. People were leaving with 3 and change left at the TV timeout. This game was over. Done. The dream had come to an end. I was saying out loud "this team doesn't know how to play from behind...this team doesn't know how to play from behind" I was finally relegated to sitting down in my seat...and i was crying. There were already tears streaming down my face. I was trying to cope with the reality of our season being over. I couldn't believe what was happening, i really couldn't. I have never felt so bad in my life. We start to cut into the gap a little bit...Luther drains a three here, Dee gets a put back here...but i'm still thinking "great, but we're still down 9"...this just isn't happening. Finally, Roger gets rejected on a put back with about 1:40ish left, still down 9. Knowing Zona will now run 35 seconds off the clock, i say aloud "that's game" to my friend in a very low voice, and start crying again. Then the madness hits. Head gets a steal, easy layup. Down 7. Damn, that's still a lot of points with only over a minute left. This isn't happening. Two free throws go down, and we're down 8 with basically a minute left. No chance. Deron very quickly makes a sweet move for a layup, and it's cut to 6. I stand up and wipe the tears from my face. You never know...i'm praying for Zona to choke their lives out at the line, because i know that's what it will take. It's basically all in Zona's hands. Two more free throws...didn't choke at the line...we're f***ed. We need a miracle, we need a million threes to fall in no time, we need something, i don't even know. Head drains one from long range. 5 pts with 50 something left. By this point all of us are on our feet, screaming out last screams, trying to get this team back into the game. We're all holding our breath. I think it was at that point was when i said a prayer to God. A steal!!!!! Brown on the break, barely gets the layup in without overrunning the basket or getting it blocked. 3 pt game. This is doable now. We still need them to choke at the line though, i'm thinking. Wrong. The inbounds pass is somehow batted up into the air by Jack and we recover it. There was an electric feeling in the place at that moment. We hit this, we're tied. But that's no guarantee. Deron drains it. Pandemonium. I'm jumping over rows (nearly breaking my ankle) high fiving people i don't even know. It's loud as hell in there - i don't know if i've heard anything louder in my life. Problem is, Zona has a chance to win before OT. So we can only lose at this point. I think every Illini fan lost their voice during that last possession, hoping we could get a stop. I know it's going to Salim, you know it's going to Salim, the guy down the street knows it's going to Salim. Out loud i'm saying "please don't hit this salim, no, no, don't hit this please no." Then McClellan hits rim, we get a rebound...AND DERON IS OPEN DOWN THE FLOOR WITH ENOUGH TIME LEFT!!!! But the pass gets tipped, and Zona has it again. OH MY GOD, NO. I couldn't believe we were then gonna lose after having the ball with 5 seconds left. We get a block and a missed shot, and we're going to overtime. I collapse on the floor under the seats and lay there for the whole intermission. There's a buzz in the crowd. For all the great that this comeback was, all it is now is a 5 minute game. We didn't win anything yet. However, we have all the momentum. There is no way in hell we are going to lose now right? My big worry was that we were in some bad foul trouble due to the last 5 minutes of the game. We get the tip, we get the lead. We end up getting up 90-84 on some Deron threes, one of which i thought would hopefully break Zona's back, and the place is up for grabs. I know there's a lot of time left, and this is far from over. But we got this...we got this. Zona brings it to 90-89, our ball. I want Deron to count down the clock and make a play...quite possibly his pull back jumper from the top of the key. Instead, Luther has the ball, and attempts a no chance layup from way outside the lane...f***. Now Zona's gonna have ANOTHER shot to win this thing on the last possession. I can't take this, i just can't. I would like to know what my heart rate was at that point. This one is different though...i know this game is over in 11 seconds. There's no one point basket. They make, they win...they miss, we win. There's no more overtime. And in this timeout i reflect while observing the crowd all around me. This whole season, all these games, all this time, all the ups and downs...and we have an 11 second season. Are you serious? One ball, one shot, will determine the fate of this season. I'm beyond nervous. I'm scared for my life. But this team can win it with defense right here. We can do this. They aren't making this, they just aren't. Salim's gonna get the ball AGAIN for the game. I saw this Thursday...not again...but no, in the most uncomprehensible series of events on a final possession in a game of this magnitude, Adams tries to penetrate for a second then throws up a prayer (and this thing was a prayer if i've ever seen one). I'm in the 3rd row behind the basket he's shooting at, so before the thing is even at it's peak, i know it has no chance of going in. The horn sounds. I jump as high as i've ever jumped in my life and hug my friend, my mom, and my dad...and about 10 other people i don't even know around my seat. We were tackling each other, rolling all over the seats...people were just out of their minds. And man, was it loud. Then i tried to just absorb everything in front of me. I looked to Bruce, i looked to the players, and i made sure i looked at Lute and the Zona players sprawled out on the floor. I can't imagine what it's like for them, none of us can. I honest to God feel bad for them. If you don't feel the least bit sad for them, you don't have a heart. I looked at the Zona fans. Motionless, mouths open...shocked. They didn't move for minutes, they even watched the celebration. I couldn't stop hugging people. Finally, something went right. I felt so...so..i don't even know. Relieved? Damn it, we deserved this, bruce deserved this, the players deserved this, the Illini fans deserved this, i deserved this. And we got it. This was meant to be. There's no other way to put it. I'm pretty much still in shock. It was all a blur, just a total blur. After the game, we tried to recap what happened the last few minutes of regulation, and we could barely remember anything. I was living by each possession, and once it was over it was like i had no clue what happened, just that the other team had the ball now. It all happened so fast, just so fast. The emotional roller coaster was just unbelievable. This game was over, i was crying, i was trying to deal with the fact that this season basically was a waste. Who's going to remember a team who died in the elite 8? No one. A one game season, and we lost it. It's just not fair...it's just not fair at all. Then, in the nick of time, we tie it up. I still can't believe it. How the hell did we tie it up?!?!?! Then hang on in OT by the skin of our teeth, one point. Thank you God. I'm still so emotional the day after. I've never felt so happy in my life. We did it. We got to the final four in this amazing year. We're going to St Louis...WE'RE GOING TO ST LOUIS!!!!! To all the other Illini fans out there, enjoy this. For the absolute hardcore ones out there that live and die with this team...this is just amazing isn't it? I love all of you. For any of you out there (and there's a lot of you) that live and die with your teams, whoever they may be, and show the passion that i've shown for this team this year, i hope one day you can experience this with your team. Because it's really something. You don't know what it's like until that's YOUR team out there. That's your school. I love this team, i love this school...i can't wait to get back to campus tonight. This week should be incredible. I've got a week's worth of finding final four tickets coming up. I will be selling body parts, whatever...i'm going to be there. I've been there every step of the way, and i'm gonna be there in St Louis. In the meantime, i need to relax and enjoy this week. But we have two more to go. I want the whole thing, i want it so bad. Can this team be stopped after this game? Some people are like "it's over, illini are guaranteed to win it now." No way. LONG way to go, going to have to win two more games against excellent opponents. Nothing is guaranteed. Destiny? We'll see ILL INI -Kenny

Someone did the "michigan goal" against us this year in roller hockey. We were actuall playing University of Michigan at the MCRHL Championships...this real sick kid who had 5 goals against us did it while on the power play. Most disgusting goal ever scored in a game i've played in.

The Cameron Crazies can go back to their regularly scheduled programming. Congrats on the win Aboz, hope you guys take out Kentucky Nice game by Davis... Go Big Ten

Alright it's gameday. You feelin this? I sure do. I'm still trying to deal with the fact that this whole season, 30+ games, has come down to this: a one game season. What a reality we're facing today. It's unbelievable. Some random thoughts on the game tonight: Salim - He's gonna get his points. Have to try to contain him, not stop him. Can we hold him to 20ish? My guess is Luther will not be healthy enough to take him (at least for the whole game, that's for sure). We'll see Deron/Dee on him a lot tonight. Deron is the better defender, while Dee is quicker. We'll see how Bruce plays this one tonight. We have to stop him from catching and shooting as much as possible. If he's going to take a shot, make him create it, shoot it off balance, whatever. All i know is that Salim can't beat our team single handedly though. We're too good to get beat by one player. Luther - He's going to play...'game time decision' i think not. How effective he is, we'll see. He was noticeably slower on defense Thursday and his elevation wasn't there (see the breakaway layup that got blocked from behind, etc). Hopefully he doesn't spend the whole day running around on Salim and can focus on getting open for some threes and contributing more in the motion offense. Inside game - "Illinois doesn't have one"...well we'll see today. I think Frye is a damn good player, he can pound inside but also hit jump shots along the base line. It's going to be tough to stop him. I was also very impressed with Adams on Thursday. Augie and Powell have to come up big...and Powell HAS to stay out of foul trouble early. However, we should be able to beat this team up on the boards. They are not a particularly strong rebounding team. Those 2 guys have to have big rebounding days. I think we have to win the rebounding margin, or we're in a bit of trouble. Dee - Hopefully this is the game that defines his career, especially with Luther hurt. We all know Deron will do his thing, but we need Dee to shoot again and make plays in transition, etc. I'm looking at Dee more than any other player in this game for us. Bench - It would help if we got some scoring from the bench today, as we had zero points thursday. Jack should have a better game. We also might see more of McBride today, hopefully he can keep his intensity on defense and hit a few threes if he gets the open look. Zona doesn't have much of a bench either, so i'm not too worried about the benches unless foul trouble comes into play. But it would be nice if they contributed SOMETHING besides fouls. **** Other than that...what more can I say about this game? It's really a one-game season, a game that will forever define this season in my memory. Scary when you think about it. It's put up or shut up time. I'm confident in our guys, sure as hell not cocky, and am nervous as hell. We are playing a good basketball team, no doubt about it. In the end, i think if we play Illini basketball for 40 minutes, i'll be pleased with the results. Leaving around 3:45. Can't wait to soak up this atmosphere and game. It's going to be really something. Probably the most important game of my life to this point. I love this team, i love my school. Let's do this.

ACC BABY!!!!!!!!!

Good luck the rest of the way

I L L

That's probly not too far off. It's going to be insane saturday, that's all i know

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Mar 25, 2005 -> 11:48 AM) watching Salim Stoudemire reminds me of watching Ben Gordon play for the bulls kind of. Im going to really enjoy the Illini-Zona game and i hope Dee Brown guards Salim. Deron will be on Salim is my guess, especially with Luther not at 100%. Dee does not draw the toughest assignment for us, it's always Deron or Luther, or both. Dee is not our best on the ball defender.

The place was about 80% orange UWM had a decent amount of fans, as did OSU...though OSU was wearing orange as well Zona had the least amount of fans there, and they weren't very loud at all. They are gonna be domminated in that area saturday.

I don't agree with Olsen being twice the coach Sutton is, just my opinion. Lute's teams have been bounced earlier than their talent says they should have been a few times.

I hear you there Harris

Soxfanforever, i hope to hell you aren't referring to me... Alright the game and atmosphere last night was awesome. It get pretty damn loud in there when all the Illini fans started cheering, it was a great feeling. Guards stepped up, more importantly Dee shot the ball well. He's back. That was a huge positive. Negative was Tucker owning our ass. That guy can play. The Zona/OSU game was epic. Everyone in the building knew stoudamire was shooting the ball, and he still drains a fadeaway shot. Unreal. I was pulling for Zona over OSU. I think OSU's best potential game is better than Zona's best potential game, for what it's worth. However, they were separated by a single point last night. No matter who we were gonna play, it was gonna be a tough as hell game, i knew that. Believe me, i wasn't dancing in my seat when Zona won. Zona can play. I don't see them shooting 66% again, but who the hell knows right? It's gonna be a battle. Also, i'd rather play a Lute Olsen coached team than Sutton coached team. So we get the zona/ill matchup for what seems like the 80th time. Gonna be a flat-out war. No game from here on out is easy. Wanna get to the final four? We're gonna have to prove ourselves saturday. Can't wait.

Alright, i'm leavin for the game in an hour. Enjoy the games folks. Zona/OSU should be a sweet game after ours

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Mar 24, 2005 -> 02:18 PM) Is he talking about Bobik? Yes