Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
It's been sort of a rough go of it for us Illini fans since January 1st, 2010, but what are your five favorite games since then? Despite being an overall disappointment in both major sports, this covers the time period from the second half of my senior year in high school until now, and there have been more than a few good memories I have had. Basketball is in orange, football is in blue. Here are mine:
5. Illinois 78, #5 Michigan State 73
Saturday 2/6/2010
Champaign, IL (College Gameday)
In our one and only ever appearance on College Gameday, it was nice to see such an electric crowd propel our team to victory. There was still very much hope of making the NCAAs that year, and this game was so hyped beforehand. Awesome win.
4. Illinois 65, #23 Missouri 63
Saturday 12/21/2013
St. Louis, MO (Braggin' Rights Game)
The Braggin' Rights Game is my favorite sporting event of the year. The neutral 50/50 crowd, the rivalry, the Christmas theme, the fact that it's usually on Saturday and I can booze for it ... I love this game. So, to see Tracy hit those free throws to help us beat the Tigers for the first time in four years was amazing.
3. #13 Illinois 85, #10 Gonzaga 74
Saturday 12/8/2012
Spokane, WA
This served as a late birthday present for me, and holy crap did I think we were "back." My Groce optimism was at an all-time high (as I'm sure was the case with most Illini fans), and we looked LEGIT. Though that season stands out as one of only two remotely successful ones in the last decade of basketball, it is a shame it didn't amount to more.
However, final season results aside, this win was truly inspiring at the time.
2. Illinois 48, #25 Northwestern 27
Saturday 11/20/2010
Chicago, IL (Wrigley Field)
I actually attended this game with my family, and it was such a satisfying decision on so many levels. Not only did it get us to bowl eligibility, not only was it a win in a College Gameday matchup vs. a ranked opponent, not only was it a rivalry game and not only was it an historic result on multiple levels ... it was our loud and clear response to the first of year of hearing "Chicago's Big Ten Team" echoing out of Evanston. Illinois was allotted ~3,000 tickets (about 7% of the capacity, I think), and NU made it as hard as possible for Illini fans (and non-NU season ticketholders, for that matter) to get in, and the place was at least 40% Illini fans. The rooftops were completely filled with Illini fans. To then absolutely beat down NU in their big showcase to Chicago was an experience I will never forget.
1. Illinois 74, #1 Indiana 72
Thursday 2/7/2013
Champaign, IL
This doesn't need much explaining to even the most casual Illini fan past saying the name "Tyler Griffey." I remember coming home to watch this game with my dad, and we were both just waiting for things to collapse. With each passing second, there was a LITTLE more hope that we might just pull this out. When DJ got that steal but then had it blocked on the other end, I vividly remember both of us sinking down, knowing that OT vs. #1 Indiana meant a loss. Instead, one of the most memorable plays in Illini history unfolded, and we upset #1 for the third time in school history vs. our most hated conference rival. Part of me still isn't 100% sure that's what's going to happen when I watch the replay, LOL.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Illinois 38, Northwestern 35 on Saturday 10/1/2011 (big comeback that came down to the final drive to start out 5-0 ... "The State of Illinois' Undefeated Big Ten Team" was up on the scoreboard, LOL)
Illinois 66, #24 Iowa 63 in Iowa City on Saturday 3/8/2014 (senior year of college at Iowa, and I watched Ekey hit that shot in front of all of my Iowa friends!)
Illinois 53, #18 Michigan State 46 in East Lansing on Saturday 3/1/2014 (watched this in Indy with my family ... refs tried so hard to give it to MSU, and we just kept fighting ... temporarily kept our Tournament hopes very much alive, too!)
Illinois 58, #13 Wisconsin 54 in the BTT on Saturday 3/12/2010 (watched us win a VERY hard fought game to seemingly clinch a Tournament bid ... was in Philadelphia awaiting a flight and going crazy texting my Badger friend)
So ... what about you guys??
5. Illinois 78, #5 Michigan State 73
Saturday 2/6/2010
Champaign, IL (College Gameday)
In our one and only ever appearance on College Gameday, it was nice to see such an electric crowd propel our team to victory. There was still very much hope of making the NCAAs that year, and this game was so hyped beforehand. Awesome win.
4. Illinois 65, #23 Missouri 63
Saturday 12/21/2013
St. Louis, MO (Braggin' Rights Game)
The Braggin' Rights Game is my favorite sporting event of the year. The neutral 50/50 crowd, the rivalry, the Christmas theme, the fact that it's usually on Saturday and I can booze for it ... I love this game. So, to see Tracy hit those free throws to help us beat the Tigers for the first time in four years was amazing.
3. #13 Illinois 85, #10 Gonzaga 74
Saturday 12/8/2012
Spokane, WA
This served as a late birthday present for me, and holy crap did I think we were "back." My Groce optimism was at an all-time high (as I'm sure was the case with most Illini fans), and we looked LEGIT. Though that season stands out as one of only two remotely successful ones in the last decade of basketball, it is a shame it didn't amount to more.
However, final season results aside, this win was truly inspiring at the time.2. Illinois 48, #25 Northwestern 27
Saturday 11/20/2010
Chicago, IL (Wrigley Field)
I actually attended this game with my family, and it was such a satisfying decision on so many levels. Not only did it get us to bowl eligibility, not only was it a win in a College Gameday matchup vs. a ranked opponent, not only was it a rivalry game and not only was it an historic result on multiple levels ... it was our loud and clear response to the first of year of hearing "Chicago's Big Ten Team" echoing out of Evanston. Illinois was allotted ~3,000 tickets (about 7% of the capacity, I think), and NU made it as hard as possible for Illini fans (and non-NU season ticketholders, for that matter) to get in, and the place was at least 40% Illini fans. The rooftops were completely filled with Illini fans. To then absolutely beat down NU in their big showcase to Chicago was an experience I will never forget.
1. Illinois 74, #1 Indiana 72
Thursday 2/7/2013
Champaign, IL
This doesn't need much explaining to even the most casual Illini fan past saying the name "Tyler Griffey." I remember coming home to watch this game with my dad, and we were both just waiting for things to collapse. With each passing second, there was a LITTLE more hope that we might just pull this out. When DJ got that steal but then had it blocked on the other end, I vividly remember both of us sinking down, knowing that OT vs. #1 Indiana meant a loss. Instead, one of the most memorable plays in Illini history unfolded, and we upset #1 for the third time in school history vs. our most hated conference rival. Part of me still isn't 100% sure that's what's going to happen when I watch the replay, LOL.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Illinois 38, Northwestern 35 on Saturday 10/1/2011 (big comeback that came down to the final drive to start out 5-0 ... "The State of Illinois' Undefeated Big Ten Team" was up on the scoreboard, LOL)
Illinois 66, #24 Iowa 63 in Iowa City on Saturday 3/8/2014 (senior year of college at Iowa, and I watched Ekey hit that shot in front of all of my Iowa friends!)
Illinois 53, #18 Michigan State 46 in East Lansing on Saturday 3/1/2014 (watched this in Indy with my family ... refs tried so hard to give it to MSU, and we just kept fighting ... temporarily kept our Tournament hopes very much alive, too!)
Illinois 58, #13 Wisconsin 54 in the BTT on Saturday 3/12/2010 (watched us win a VERY hard fought game to seemingly clinch a Tournament bid ... was in Philadelphia awaiting a flight and going crazy texting my Badger friend)
So ... what about you guys??
