IHSA Boys State Basketball Tournament to Return to Champaign!
3 point girl
- texas
I loved Clyde Turner!
This is great, Now move back to a single class and wait for the reincarnation of the Hebron Green Giants
dgcrow
- Kelso, WA
Bogie Redmon!
Never gonna happen. Going back to two class system would work better but I doubt it will happen anytime soon.
Indiana still two classes?
Deleted member 8896
D
Guest
Indiana was never two classes. They went from single class to 4 classes as of the 1997-98 season.
Do you mean Jay Shidler from Lawrenceville?
Yes ....damn spell check kept changing it on me
Fred Riddle was the stud on that Collinsville team but ruined it all by going to Iowa.
Ryllini
- Lombard
I'm glad it is back in Champaign. The first one I distinctly remember what the 1993 championship. The 7 footers from King, Danville finished 3rd with Keon Clark and Durrell Robinson(Danville beat them earlier in the year). I believe Rockford Guilford lost to King in the final.
drsmitty74
- Rochester
M
My fondest memory of the State tourney was 1984, when Mt Pulaski beat Providence St Mel and Lowell Hamilton in the semis. No one thought we had a chance against them. We lost to McLeansboro and Brian Sloan in the championship though.
Sloan's dad also starred at McLeansboro. He actually committed to and enrolled at Illinois. Went home for Thanksgiving and never returned to play for Harry Combes. Transferred to Evansville.
Illini in OC
In. The. Alley.
Love this. Supports the notion that UIUC is the basketball capital of the state. Sorry for not checking, but would assume similar story at Rupp, Allen, etc. where the state college basketball king is undisputed.
I will assume both JW and BU (and staffs) deserve significant credit for this. I'd bet this was a long term goal discussed the first time our AD and HC talked at any length. Fits into BU's storyline of him sitting on the Western bench and being so impressed with how awesome this program is ... a legitimate sleeping giant.
I will assume both JW and BU (and staffs) deserve significant credit for this. I'd bet this was a long term goal discussed the first time our AD and HC talked at any length. Fits into BU's storyline of him sitting on the Western bench and being so impressed with how awesome this program is ... a legitimate sleeping giant.
Looking online, the state of Kentucky's is held at Rupp but theirs is a 16 team tournament held over 4 days. Surprisingly Allen Fieldhouse doesn't host any of the 6 classes in the state of Kansas. All of their state tournaments are spread across the state. The largest class actually plays at Koch Arena at Wichita State. The second smallest class plays at Bramlage Coliseum at KSU. As far as the other surrounding states to Illinois, here's where they hold theirs:
-Indiana: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
-Wisconsin: Kohl Center
-Iowa: Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines
-Missouri: JQH Arena, Springfield (Though it looks like in previous years it was held at Mizzou Arena)
Thad Matta and the Hoopeston - East Lynn Cornjerkers.
After Central was out these guys were my pick to win it all. Damn near did once.
illini80
- Forgottonia
I think C/U and UI have been trying to get it back since it left. It probably should have returned several years ago. While Peoria did a great job, I think it had run its course and the fan interest level just isnt what it once was. Hopefully the move can reignite some enthusiasm, and it probably will to some extent. Just not the glory days many of us still remember. The nearly year round nature of AAU has become more of a focal point for many. When you listen to recruiting analysts they will tell you AAU is much more important to recruits than HS due to the level of competition.
Bottom line is it’s still good for Illinois and C/U. I’m anxious to see what they can do with it.
Illini in OC
In. The. Alley.
Well said. My assumption is new leadership made it a priority to bring the tourney back to CU. Was punted by previous regime(s).
Agree AAU has essentially trumped HS ball for the best of the best.
Even so, not every player on every team is an elite-level AAU player. Waaay cool that the championship runs through the SFC.
Happy to see the HS state tourney back in CU....does anyone know if anything like the March Madness center (event), that was right next door to the Civic Center in Peoria, is in the works for the tourney in CU???.......this along with better prices guaranteed at hotels and restaurants were major factors in the IHSA awarding the tourney to Peoria
No. There's not enough room to have something like that at the Assembly Hall. They are apparently going to have a small area for families with kids somewhere in the concourse though I haven't heard as to where.
Hypothetical: Could a Cornjerker beat an Appleknocker?
I think that I heard that the tournament is scheduled at the same time as the B10 tourney in Chicago. Unfortunate timing for recruiting if true.