From December 2nd Until Now and Beyond
March 3, 2005 11:24 PM
As the 2004-05 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team broke out of the gate in November with a multitude of impressive victories, something became blatantly apparent: This was going to shape up to be a very memorable season. This was a damn fine basketball team who played the game the way it was meant to be played. Period.
Just previous to the December 1st game against Wake Forest, discussions centered not on the relative possibility of an Illini loss, but instead on how we, the fans, would act after our magnificent team dispatched the then-#1 ranked Demon Deacons. "Do we chant 'overrated'?" people wondered. "Should we storm the court?" others asked. "Will we be happy if it isn't a blowout victory?" diehards thought. The discussions went on and on and on.
This team, under any type of scrutiny, looked able to stand firm: Guard play so precise, each of our three perimeter players—Luther Head, Dee Brown, and Deron Williams—could star individually on any Division 1-A team in the nation. Strength, athleticism, and quickness from forwards Roger Powell, Jr. and James Augustine that not only made up for any size deficiencies, they greatly expanded the effectiveness of our sharpshooting guards. Consistent bench contributions both inside and outside from Rich McBride, Nick Smith, and Jack Ingram provided the necessary insurance for times when our starters weren't buzzsawing thorough opposing defenses with their usual ease. The Illini seemed to have it all. And that was just on the court.
Off the court, the team carried itself with dignity and humility, packaged inside the glow of pop idol personality. Never did they disparage a rival in a television, radio, or newspaper interview. Never were they satisfied with past accomplishments. Never would they overlook an opponent. The team's respect for the game of basketball ran stride for stride with that of their refreshingly candid head coach, Bruce Weber, who instilled the complete sense of unity that must permeate each layer of a team headed for greatness. With Weber's help, the players became expert in the two things necessary for total harmony—always did they look to improve their skills in practice, and always did they praise one other.
As Illini fans, we saw this, and we hoped we had it all. We hoped with everything in our hearts as we looked forward to the December 1st game versus Wake Forest. Validation, we hoped, was waiting for us two hours after tipoff.
The actual game, of course, fulfilled all our expectations. After the 91-73 victory, we now knew for certain that this team was extraordinarily special. They played calm and focused, and did it all in deliberate, "you couldn't stop us on your best day" fashion. As far as Illini fans were concerned, this is the way it should be, every single time out.
The funny thing is, the same thing did occur time and time again since that December 1st destruction of Wake Forest. We haven't won every game by 18 points, but each win has been convincing in one way or another. Even at our worst (like the January 20th overtime game against Iowa) did we end up with a W.
Yes, from December 2nd until today, and on into late March, we have only one thing to truly worry about: Will this team become a national champion?
This is a very precarious position to be in as a fan, because now more than ever, it is out of our hands. All the cheering and boosting and scrutinizing can only do so much. Our job as fans is to cheer loudly and to support unendingly so that the confidence level of our beloved team is at its absolute apex. We aim to get our team in line so that they represent the university and community with the utmost dignity and respect, and win ballgames as they do it.
Well...pat on the back to all those associated with the Illini this go-round, players and fans included. The 2004-05 Fighting Illini men's basketball team is a resounding success from outer layer to inner core, and it's everything we could have ever wished for.
This fact will not change if the team loses every single game from here on out.
While sporting failure runs deep in the annals of University of Illinois athletics, let us not fret or worry as the NCAA Tournament comes near. If we do not make it to the Final Four or win the National Championship, we will obviously be incredibly disappointed. But no matter what the outcome of this season, we cannot look at this team as a failure in any way, shape, or form. They have conducted themselves perfectly in every manner, both off the court and on, and right now, their record reflects that perfection.
But life is not perfect. And basketball games are not predestined. With human beings, there are too many small and ever-changing variables to accurately predict outcomes. Who's to say that Player X from any team out there doesn't have the game of his life against the Illini, swishing 12 three-point shots in a row, leading to an Illini defeat? On the flip side, who's to say each and every Illini player has the worst game of his career on said NCAA Tournament game day, causing us to have fewer points than the other team as the buzzer sounds? It's a real possibility, and we need to realize that.
Maybe we will finish the season with a perfect record. That'd be amazing. But all that would do is validate this team in the eyes of people unlike us not directly following the step-by-step unfolding of this wonderful season. To me, who cares what other people think of us? We already know how fantastically special our team is.
No matter what happens for the rest of the season, we can look back knowing that our Illini play basketball the way it's meant to be played: with accurate passing, strong defensive pressure, and team unity. All records aside, this team will be studied for years to come when one wants to know how a college basketball team should be run from top to bottom. This team will be remembered for a hundred more years and then a hundred more years after that.
Now let's go win the whole thing. Filed under: Illini Basketball
