Illini Basketball 2005-06: The Encore
November 1, 2005 11:08 AM
As it starts to become cold and football (again) leaves us desiring more, April 5th, 2005 feels like it was only yesterday; mostly because many Illini fans are still reliving the 37-2 "Season to Remember". It was a season that brought back alumni who had long forgotten what it was like to act like a 19 year old undergrad. It was a season that brought together a campus that had spent so much of its time divided. It brought a state back together after it had seemed to forgotten what "Illinois Loyalty" was all about and it showed the country that the Illini Nation was there to stay.
Millions of new fans watched as Illinois dominated Wake Forest during the Big Ten/ACC Tournament to become the number one team in the nation. If there were any non-believers, they were silenced when Illinois walked into the Kohl Center and defeated Wisconsin to end their 38 game home winning streak and when we defeated Michigan State in the incredible environment of the Breslin Center. Ingrained in the minds of fans were Dee's three steals against Michigan, Jack's 3s against Wisconsin, and the exhibition at Penn State. But if you thought that it couldn't get any better after winning back to back outright Big Ten Championships, you were wrong.
Despite the loss of Coach Weber's mother late in the weekend, the Illini showed the heart of a Champion and fought its way into the Big Ten Tournament final against Wisconsin. On a night when nothing could go wrong, Weber and company beat Bo Ryan and the Badgers for a third time in as many tries. Not long after that did Illinois learn its fate, that its magically season would continue on into the NCAA tournament as the #1 overall seed—an award that would allow Illinois to play at its three favorite off-campus spots, Indianapolis, Chicago and St. Louis. Fairleigh-Dickinson: Sent home. Nevada: Close but not close enough. Bruce Pearl and Wisconsin-Milwaukee: Payback #1. Arizona: Payback #2 (and arguably the great college basketball game ever played). Louisville: Just one more win. North Carolina for the National Championship: 5 points short.
So where does that leave us? And more importantly, where does that leave them? What could the Illini possibly do for an encore? Well Deron and Luther are in Utah and Houston, so it's the Dee and James show now. Both are recovering well from off-season injuries (although reports have said that Dee is doing better than James right now). Juniors Rich McBride, Marcus Arnold and Warren Carter are going to need to step up and finally make their impact on this team. They won't be alone though with sophomores Brian Randle and Shaun Pruitt both competing for valuable playing time and freshman Calvin Brock, Chester "The Jet" Frazier, Jamar Smith, and Charles Jackson looking to make a point as well.
If Illini fans learn one thing before this season starts, it should be to not look for last year's team. It's not there and it isn't coming back. The Men in Champaign have a new task ahead of them and it's to leave the past in the past and make a new history. With the players we have, the coaches they have, and the fans who are as amazing as any in the country, there is no reason this season can't be as memorable as the last one. Maybe we won't go to the Final Four this year, but remember when we were happy just getting to the Sweet Sixteen? Maybe we won't win the Big Ten title outright this year but remember when we were happy just to share it with someone? True fans remember those things so when the Illini suit up on November 3rd against Illinois Wesleyan, remember that this is the encore we have been waiting for since April 5th, and it's going to be a great show. Filed under: Illini Basketball
