Fighting Illini Stories
How do you survive in college basketball these days? Think like an ex-juco coach
Brian Hamilton, writing for The Athletic, has a great story on Brad Underwood and the advantages of being a former JUCO coach in the NIL era.
It’s sad, he says, that college basketball players often are rentals. It’s sad that it has occurred to him to think like a junior college coach again and only expect to work with a given player for two years, tops. He has fought against that reality at Illinois, with some success; Ayo Dosunmu and Cockburn both played three seasons in Champaign, and Illinois has more true freshmen on its roster than transfers. He’d prefer to build. At the very least, he’s trying to.
But reality is reality. Underwood gets that, too. A guy he once gushed about as a near-generational passer, Andre Curbelo, now plays for St. John’s. Players will come and go. So while the Cockburn-centric system wouldn’t function without Cockburn, this rewired system should be somewhat personnel-agnostic. Yes, Illinois’ coaches probably have to regularly find Hawkins-like big men who can trigger the offense for optimal results. But it should work, generally, no matter what, starting with a three-freshmen recruiting Class of 2023 that is ranked in the top 20 nationally.
And, in so doing, it should mitigate any insidious variances college basketball throws Illinois’ way. “I’m banking on that,” Underwood says as Christmas music plays softly through one of two massive televisions in his freshly renovated office. “I think you can have a system. I do. It’s why we went to this. I think our system can sustain, and if (players) stay, then it can be special.”
The Giorgi Bezhanishvili Story
Shannon Ryan, writing for the Chicago Tribune, has an excellent feature on Fighting Illini Basketball’s freshman Giorgi Bezhanishvili. He’s certainly a fan favorite. I learned a great deal about his life growing up in the former Soviet republic of Georgia.
I Ain’t Braggin’
Michael Berns at The Champaign Room has a superb look back at the last five years of the annual Illinois versus Missouri Braggin’ Rights games. Illinois is on a five-game run of victories, but I’m just not sure this year’s team is going to get the win. No matter who wins, I’ll be having a great time.
Over the last few years, there has been a March Madness atmosphere prior to tipoff, and I anticipate it getting crazier with several players on the Mizzou squad committed/decommitted/transferred from the Fighting Illini.
Of course, I’ll be there cheering on the team.
The Next Great Hope
Brian Hamilton in The Athletic has a pretty great profile of Fighting Illini freshman guard Ayo Dosunmu.
I do not entirely believe the premise that Dosunmu hopes he is ready for the NBA and will be off making millions a year from now. I think it’s much more likely he’ll test the waters after his junior season.
Something Special
Shannon Ryan has a fantastic article on Illinois Basketball’s Freshman phenom Ayo Dosunmu.
Not since Dee Brown — another charismatic, supremely talented player from Chicago — arrived in 2002 from Proviso East have Illinois fans felt so justifiably convinced about a player’s potential.
I watch a lot of Illinois Basketball and have been lucky enough to be around the program a little bit. He’s the real deal. I can’t wait to watch him get better and help usher in a new era for the program.
Reggie Corbin: The Journey
Illinois Football running back Reggie Corbin was featured on the Big Ten Network The Journey. What a great story about facing adversity losing his mom at an early age. His rugby background is cool.
What a heartwarming story.
Why This Athletic Director Runs with Fans Before Every Home Football Game
Danielle Zickl, writing for Runner’s World, tells the tale of University of Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman’s home football tradition―the Game Day Run Club.
I used to be a runner, but I’m old and decrepit now, and even running a 9-minute mile seems entirely out of the question. Still, I’d like to join.
Maybe. Someday.
First Family
Jeremy Werner covers the University of Illinois sports at his site, Illini Inquirer.
His story on Athletic Director Josh Whitman and his family is a must-read. This is great, even if you don’t care about sports or Illinois sports.