Hats off: The better team won

I have to admire the way the Spartans played in the 74-66 victory over the Illini Sunday, the way they mixed lineups, relied on a deep and talented bench, used their quickness to attack the basket and withstood an assault from the crowd after Illinois battled back from 11 down to tie the game 58-58 on Jeff Jordan's steal and driving basket.

At that moment, with just over seven minutes left in the game, the Assembly Hall was the loudest it has been all season.

Tupper