2005 Elite Eight - Illini vs. Arizona on BTN Jan 13

[apk1]

Can never get enough of this one!

January 13, 7pm ET - 3/26/2005 - NCAA Elite Eight - #1 Illinois 90, #8 Arizona 89 (OT)

Top-ranked Illinois engineered one of the most amazing comebacks in NCAA Tournament history, rallying from 15 down with four minutes to go. Deron Williams' three-pointer tied the game at 80 with 39 seconds left. Then, the Illini made two defensive stops in the closing seconds of regulation and on the final possession of the game to reserve their place in the Final Four.

source: fightingillini.com

[bonick03]

Someone should record that and make a DVD to share. . .

[IlliniSteve]

Nice, maybe the email I sent them about this game worked. Such a great game, DVR will be in effect.

[WesterveltVictoryCigar]

I've got it saved in glorious HD to watch whenever I want.

[ill07]

One of the best games I've ever seen. I remember distinctly that I had thought it was over, and had taken a phone call in a different room (lesson learned, trust me), and I heard my mom let out a (happy) yell when the run got started. By the end of it, she was in tears, and the rest of my family was going nuts.

[U of I 89-05-10]

First of all, people don't do this comeback justice by simply saying that our Illini were down 15 with four minutes to go. What is more impressive is that they were down by eight with ONE minute to go and went on an 8-0 run in TWENTY SECONDS to tie the game!

Secondly, does anyone know where I could find (if such a thing exists) a full list of "The Big Ten's Greatest Games" scheduled games? I know the Flyin' Illini have at least two games on there and I know Illinois is in like five or six of them. Granted some are losses, but that is the down side of being a successful program: many of the games people remember you were upset in.

[IlliniSteve]

Originally Posted by ill07

One of the best games I've ever seen. I remember distinctly that I had thought it was over, and had taken a phone call in a different room (lesson learned, trust me), and I heard my mom let out a (happy) yell when the run got started. By the end of it, she was in tears, and the rest of my family was going nuts.

I too thought for sure it was over. I walked out of the room, very upset because the best basketball team I've ever seen was about to get knocked off. But I heard my dad yell at me, "This thing's not over", whenever we cut it to like ten. I was like, whatever, then I sat down and watched the madness. The loudest I've ever heard our living room.

It certainly is one of those moments where you remember distinctly where you were and what you were doing. I'll remember it for the rest of my life and I'll be glad to relive it again on the 13th.

[IlliniSteve]

Originally Posted by U of I 89-05-10

Secondly, does anyone know where I could find (if such a thing exists) a full list of "The Big Ten's Greatest Games" scheduled games? I know the Flyin' Illini have at least two games on there and I know Illinois is in like five or six of them. Granted some are losses, but that is the down side of being a successful program: many of the games people remember you were upset in.

Here you go:

http://www.bigtennetwork.com/greatest/

Actually after looking harder at it, it only shows the games not when they are going to be replayed and stuff. I don't know when they'll show those Flyin Illini games, though I do know I've seen them on there before.

Here's a full TV shedule: http://www.bigtennetwork.com/schedule/index.asp

I see on the 30th their gonna replay the game vs. IU from last year if anyone wants to relive that one. I dunno if I can take that 25 foot bank shot to tie it by Gordon or not. The game where McCamey went off and Eric Gordon and the Loosiers get lucky.

[ilphotog]

Can they edit out Dee's pass in the last few seconds? My heart sunk like a rock for about three seconds.

[fightingillini fan 4-ever]

Originally Posted by bonick03

Someone should record that and make a DVD to share. . .

ah, the young ones dont know but the older ones havent forgotten...GO ILLINI my good friend.

[Dan]

What a game.. everyone remember we had the lead at halftime?

Like U of I 89-05-10 said, it wasn't just the 15-point deficit with 4 minutes to go that made the comeback special. The score was 77-68 with 1:30 to go. 9 points in 90 seconds is tough to overcome in the college game.

(9 points was also the deficit Kansas had to overcome against Memphis in the 2008 NC game, with 2:12 to go. Memphis helped out by going 1-5 in FTs down the stretch.)

Unlike Memphis, Arizona hit their FTs, going 5-6 during the comeback.

The Illini went on their crazy run fueled by creating turnovers. After the 1:30 mark, Illinois scored 12 points in 50 seconds to tie the game. Absolutely ridiculous.

Besides the comeback, you should check out the entire game, the whole thing was a thing of beauty

http://www.illinoisloyalty.com/GoIll...llinois_vs_ari

[fightingillini fan 4-ever]

I was going out of my mind jumping up and down in our squad room. I thought we were done. I thought it was over. I was so excited when we started comming back. The greatest comeback ever. GO ILLINI!!!

[uiba99]

Best sporting event I've ever seen. I actually started tearing up when I thought we were going to lose, thinking, "I can't believe we've come this far to lose this way."

Then after we won, I cried. It's nice to be a girl and be socially allowed to do such things.

[bonick03]

Hey, uiba99 - is that a picture from Emmit Otter's Jug Band movie (can't remember the title exactly)? I LOVED that movie as a kid!

[menacing growl] RIVERBOTTOM NIGHTMARE BAND! [/menacing growl]

[IlliniRunIn07]

Originally Posted by uiba99

Best sporting event I've ever seen. I actually started tearing up when I thought we were going to lose, thinking, "I can't believe we've come this far to lose this way."

Then after we won, I cried. It's nice to be a girl and be socially allowed to do such things.

Don't worry. I'm sure some guys cried too! One of my favorite videos from this game...

[IlliniFanZ]

Nice! I just watched the video while sitting on a boring conference call. I could watch that over and over again. I remember hiding in my friend's kitchen, watching through one eye as the comeback began.

Cool vid, but you can't see my favorite moment when Luther is frantically trying to call time out and then blocks a pass and gets a steal.

I do believe!

[bonick03]

Most heartwarming sentence ever spoken:

"Williams to tie it with a three. . . HE DOES!!!"


Lets not forget that they were down 15 to Arizona. THE Ariziona. An extremely talented Arizona. In Chicago. With the weight of all the expectations generated during a one-loss season.

When they went down by double-digits to AZ, it was the first time they had trailed by that many the entire season. Does anyone remember the stat - Illinois only trailed for something like 40 minutes over the course of the entire season. So to be down 15. . . to Arizona. . . with the weight of expectations. . .

W. O. W.

[illynifan34]

Originally Posted by IlliniRunIn07

Don't worry. I'm sure some guys cried too! One of my favorite videos from this game...

*Raises Hand* I did, twice, when I thought we were done, and we we won.

[WesterveltVictoryCigar]

Originally Posted by Dan

Like U of I 89-05-10 said, it wasn't just the 15-point deficit with 4 minutes to go that made the comeback special. The score was 77-68 with 1:30 to go. 9 points in 90 seconds is tough to overcome in the college game.

Not only that, but Arizona had the ball as well as that 9 point lead.

Also, Arizona really didn't screw up that much. They only missed one FT. I guess you could debate about some of their passes leading to steals, but most of those were just good defense by the Illini.

[bonick03]

Originally Posted by WesterveltVictoryCigar

Also, Arizona really didn't screw up that much. They only missed one FT. I guess you could debate about some of their passes leading to steals, but most of those happened due to the PHENOMENAL, SPIRITED, AND RIDICULOUSLY DETERMINED defense by the Illini.

Corrected for accuracy.

[Ress]

I thought it was a terrible basketball game to watch------- until the last few minutes of regulation. :-)

[chiefilliniwek2345]

I still can't believe I missed that game, I parked in the grocery store and my brother was giving me the play by play. On another note I recently rewatched the championship game highlights, forgot the calls they called on Augustine and how they let May literally do whatever he pleased.

[OrangeFever]

Originally Posted by chiefilliniwek2345

I still can't believe I missed that game, I parked in the grocery store and my brother was giving me the play by play. On another note I recently rewatched the championship game highlights, forgot the calls they called on Augustine and how they let May literally do whatever he pleased.

Yes, Augustine was called for two or more touch fouls, while Scott May ran roughshod and they protected him. I'm not excusing Augsutine entirely, because he struggled with committing silly fouls throughout his Illini career, and he did commit a couple of classically dumb ones in the title game, too. But, the refs unquestionably sheltered Scott May.

[Ryan Riot]

Yeah that was a great game, And gave me chills. I remember sitting on my couch and thinking to myself saying "Arizona is going to beat us" I got so mad, I punched my wall, And then once I heard Luther Head hit 2 of his threes, Then they stole the ball and Dee Brown hit the layup, And then it was 77-70 AZ. So I came and watched still with under 1min to go I was still thinking that we weren't going to comeback, But once we got steal I hopped up out of my chair and once he hit it I fragiely remember me jumping on my mom's old back lol :P

Then when AZ mist that shot and we went to OT, I knew we had that game. Then Derron Williams hit 3's in OT as well. Then the last possession for AZ I was holding my breath "PLEASE GOD, MISS THE SHOT!" And he did :P


I SCREAMED! LOL

[uiba99]

Originally Posted by bonick03

Hey, uiba99 - is that a picture from Emmit Otter's Jug Band movie (can't remember the title exactly)? I LOVED that movie as a kid!

[menacing growl] RIVERBOTTOM NIGHTMARE BAND! [/menacing growl]

It sure is! I posted the Riverbottom Nightmare Band on my blog - can't find any good videos of any other part of the special...LOVED that movie as a kid!

http://reasonableprogressive.blogspo...stmas-gem.html