Recent content by JDL70

Watched him and Mannie Jackson play even when they were high school stars at Edwardsville High School and later as teammates at Illinois. At the time they played for Illinois, Illinois had very little height and as they were both good jumpers and rebounders, they were often playing against...

Having been an Illini fan and season ticket holder for 55 plus years until I moved to New Canaan, CT a little over 6 years ago, I saw every one of the players you named play for the Illini. Rick Howett's older brother, Bruce, was a classmate of mine in Law School at Illinois. Had season...

A big thank you to Ty for being such a "team" guy and part of the glue that kept this team together. If you watched the bench players last year, he was almost always the first player up congratulating his teammates and also yelling encouragement from the bench. I hope him the best wherever he...

Today is also known as TAX DAY.

I remember it vividly. Was an incredible game. My oldest son was at my house and decided to go back to his house when we were behind double digits. I had to call him to turn on his TV to watch the overtime.

It's worse here on the east coast, as I now live in Connecticut near NYC, late games last well past my bedtime. :)

Another player from the Balkans. He was clearly meant to become an Illini. :) He is from Split, Croatia which is a beautiful town along the Adriatic Sea. Having visited there, I can attest to what a beautiful and nice area this is.

Being an old guy, I remember listening to the radio of Illinois basketball games with my father in the mid 1950s with Bill Ridley, Bill Altenberger and the Judson brothers among others.

A little-known fact is the Scripps family which founded the Scripps Institute in La-Jolla, CA is originally from Rushville, IL. There is a park located in Rushville, IL that is named Scripps Park for the family. It used to be that the Scripps family held a family reunion in the Rushville park...

Fun seeing Alex McLaughlin of Washington listed among the better safeties in The Big10. Alex's grandparents are good friends of mine when I was living in Macomb, IL. Alex's parents went to school with my children and were all good friends. His parents were excellent athletes. His mother was...

However, if you are old like me, you remember what he did to Deon Thomas and can never forgive him. He will always be a no-good rat to me.

Seeding in the NCAA tournament is what really counts. This loss should not hurt. The poll is just a popularity contest.

I remember watching him play. Was a very smart player and maximized the skills he had. His death was very tragic.

In the long run this may help us this means Petrovic and Lee are now going to get some meaningful minutes this next month before Kylan comes back. Hopefully Kylan will be able to play at the high level he has been doing when he returns.

I was watching the game tonight with my granddaughter, here at my daughter's house in New Canaan, CT. She is a senior at Illinois and is a friend of Alano. She said he has been offered some good NIL money to go to another school next year, but she feels sure he won't take it.