Senior Day sorrow at Illinois
March 2, 2009 7:59 AM
Illini fans aren't accustomed to anything but happy endings for the final home game of the season. That helps to explain a lot of the boos (for the officials, Ed Hightower in particular) and all of the energy expended at Assembly Hall today.
Prior to Sunday's 74-66 loss to ninth-ranked Michigan State, the Illini hadn't lost a Senior Day affair since 1999. Of course, that was a freshman-loaded team that finished last in the Big Ten, so that loss wasn't unexpected.
The last time an NCAA Tournament-bound Illini squad lost its Senior Day game was in 1993, but there was a good excuse. They took the No. 3-ranked "Fab Five" into overtime before falling 98-97. That Michigan team kept right on winning all the way until Chris Webber called his infamous timeout.
Willhite
Prior to Sunday's 74-66 loss to ninth-ranked Michigan State, the Illini hadn't lost a Senior Day affair since 1999. Of course, that was a freshman-loaded team that finished last in the Big Ten, so that loss wasn't unexpected.
The last time an NCAA Tournament-bound Illini squad lost its Senior Day game was in 1993, but there was a good excuse. They took the No. 3-ranked "Fab Five" into overtime before falling 98-97. That Michigan team kept right on winning all the way until Chris Webber called his infamous timeout.
Willhite
Filed under: Illini Basketball, Michigan State Spartans
