DePaul job won’t open until Stubblefield contract is up. They can’t afford to buy him out as terrible as they’ve been this season. I would go after Roger Powell in a couple years if I’m DePaul.
Dee Brown Article
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
My brother gave me the NCAA-sanctioned DVD of that game for Christmas later that year. I still watch it occasionally. I still recall being at his house in Syracuse for dinner that evening, having driven down from our home in Ottawa, Ontario to attend the East Regional final games with him at the Carrier Dome Friday/Sunday. I sat slacked-jawed in front of the TV when we fell behind 15 thinking, like everyone else, "It can't end like this, can it?"I also REALLY suggest people check out the the full video of the game if they want a real trip down memory lane. For anyone who watched this one live on TV, it will remind you of how agonizingly long those last four minutes felt! And that does not even take into account the infuriating commercial breaks during the comeback where we had to nervously wait for the game to come back on ... I distinctly remember after one commercial, even the announcer was audibly annoyed with having to advertise the upcoming Cold Case episode on CBS.To guide your journey for the attached video...
1. 49 min 30 sec: With about 9:55 left, Roger Powell scores a nice and one to cut Arizona's lead to 57-54. The crowd gets back into it, and it seems like we are about to recapture momentum. We trade baskets, but...
2. 51 min 5 sec: After a three from Williams once again cuts the lead to three, an Arizona dunk completely deflates us and extends their lead to 5 with 9:03 to go.
3. 55 min 30 sec: After a nice defensive rebound, we have the ball down 9 (tied for the biggest deficit we faced all year) with 6:29 to go. Head takes what looks like a rushed three pointer, and we foul on the rebound ... for the first time, we genuinely look rattled. On the next possession, Arizona hits a three to make it 72-58 with just over 6 minutes to go. Illini fans everywhere are OFFICIALLY starting to freak out.
4. 1 hr 0 min 20 sec: Arizona misses a layup, and we commit a clear frustration foul on the rebound. Arizona hits both free throws to make it 75-60 with 4:04 remaining ... the true depth of the despair. I can honestly say for whatever reason, though, that I STILL hadn't given up hope. But looking back, I think a lot of that might have been denial!
5. 1 hr 6 min 10 sec: We have cut Arizona's lead back to 9 (77-68) and got a nice defensive rebound, but there are only 2 minutes left ... we have got to go NOW. After a missed jumper by Williams, Powell's putback is completely stuffed, and Arizona has the ball back with 1:49 to go. I officially start to think it's over.
6. 1 hr 6 min 54 sec: The first steal by Luther cuts the lead to 77-70 with 1:21 to go. Mostly just calling this one out for the memories, as it didn't really do that much to reignite my hope we could really win this thing. If you will notice, Arizona doesn't even chase him down at full speed, because most people really did think this one was over.
7. 1 hr 8 min 28 sec: After a nice drive by Williams, we have cut the lead to 6 with 1:05 to go ... we can at least entertain hope again! However, we foul Arizona before the ball is passed inbounds. The temporary boost of momentum/energy/optimism from cutting it to 6 is slowly strangled from us as Arizona methodically and slowly hits both free throws ... the look on the faces of our bench players says it all. Barring an absolute miracle, we just don't have enough time to make up 8 points.
8. 1 hr 9 min 20 sec: ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE! We all know how it goes from here, so just enjoy! However, I will say that while everyone focuses on the "15 points in 4 minutes!" aspect of the comeback, the following FAR more impressive stat is lost ... we made up an 8-point deficit in 20 frickin' seconds. Oh yeah, and for anyone who wants to know, the moment the camera literally shakes from Williams' game-tying three starts roughly at 1:10:28!
And then, impossibly, it didn't. I couldn't feel my legs when Deron drained that trey to tie it.
Goillinikobd
- Southeastern US
In 2030, the 25th anniversary of one of the greatest runs in Illini bball history and they bring the team back onto the court at the AH, will Dee be invited?
AyoDos11
- Southern Illinois
I was too young to watch this game live, but every time I see the replay it gives me chills, especially with how loud that crowd was! Sometimes I feel like I was robbed of experiencing good Illini basketball, as I have never witnessed a Sweet 16 in my lifetime (besides this one when I was too young to have a memory). My tourney experience with the Illini has never lasted more than 3 days at a time. Though I have a feeling that this year's team could finally break this long drought.I also REALLY suggest people check out the the full video of the game if they want a real trip down memory lane. For anyone who watched this one live on TV, it will remind you of how agonizingly long those last four minutes felt! And that does not even take into account the infuriating commercial breaks during the comeback where we had to nervously wait for the game to come back on ... I distinctly remember after one commercial, even the announcer was audibly annoyed with having to advertise the upcoming Cold Case episode on CBS.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Yes, of course. Don't be silly.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I mean, what about a tenth anniversary next year?!?!
Hate to rub it in, but you were robbed indeed! The first Illini game I distinctly remember was our 2001 Elite Eight loss to Arizona. I was only 9 years old, but I remember watching it with my dad ... living in Iowa City with all my Hawkeye friends, I was getting a lot more into sports and really flexing my Illini pride!
The next three seasons, I was more and more engaged as a fan each year, with 2005 (now in seventh grade) really sending my enthusiasm into the stratosphere. I went with my parents to the 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 games in Iowa City, and as I strolled into that 2006 game vs. Iowa (which we coincidentally lost), you cannot imagine how on top of the world I was.- We were 15-0, ranked 6th in the nation and (needless to say) coming off of a National Championship appearance.
- We had won 4 of the last 5 Big Ten championships and 2 BTT championships in that time frame. A BS call on Dee Brown in 2003 was the only reason we hadn't just won 5 Big Ten titles in a row.
- In the previous five NCAA Tournaments, we had 1 Final Four, 2 Elite Eights, 4 Sweet Sixteens and we were a top 5 seed in every single one (including two #1 seeds).
- We had just won 31 of our last 33 games against Big Ten opponents and 66 of our last 70 games overall.
I learned to grow up to view Illini basketball as elite and anything but that as either (A) a temporary setback, (B) severe underachieving or (C) both. Period. I remember being so annoyed when some posters here circa 2011 or so were trying to defend Coach Weber (whom I really like even still!!) by suggesting our expectations were too high. Underwood has done a ridiculously awesome job restoring our sense of pride in this program, but I cannot stress enough the kind of SWAG this fan base had back then, and we frickin' earned it! Lol. Our fans quickly (and naturally) slid back into this "woe is me/being an Illini fan is so hard!" attitude that we still have not quite shaken off, but for a while there we didn't "look up" at literally any program ... even the Blue Bloods. We'll get back.
P.S. I agree about this year's team ... I'm all aboard the bandwagon! They have the pieces, the toughness and the chemistry.
They inducted Dee into the inaugural Illini Hall of Fame a year after he left the Athletic department, he attended the gala etc. - Lou Henson didn't even make the inaugural Hall of Fame class for some reason. I don't think you induct him into your HoF if he's been permanently shunned from the program as some are making it out to be
There's a difference in being accepted and celebrated as an all time great of the program and the potential of ever working for the program again
Yes, I’ve never gotten the impression that Dee was persona non grata, just someone they didn’t want working for the athletic department anymore.
IlliniwekKDR
- Colorado Springs, CO
What year do you think this is exactly?
blackdog
- Champaign
The 90s were just a couple years ago right?
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Here's a tip. Don't invite them to the Indiana game in January. I have a feeling we might blow a big lead at the end of the game.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Argh, lol ... long day.
Oh, I was there for that beauty. Back when black leather jackets were "a thing", I had mine on and ready to go to beat traffic out with 4 minutes to go. For those who haven't been, the All State Arena is an absolute nightmare to get out of. The dumpster fire that is Mannheim Road almost caused me to make a lifelong, regretful decision.
Separately, when he hit that three.....woof. Talk about a place going up for grabs. I'm lucky I didn't sprain my wrist or separate a shoulder with all of the haymaker high fives and being in the middle of a mosh pit that opened up in our section. It was the most beautiful chaos that I've ever been a part of.
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The elders in my family got to see the great Illini teams beginning in 1940s and 1950s. That’s when the Illini first became ‘Elite’. They were College ball royalty and had several appearances in the Final Four. The Illini used to pack Old Chicago Stadium with rabid ball fans as the Bulls were still decades away. And College ball was everything in those years and the pros were mostly a second thought... and not even that in most of America.
So I never knew a time when the Illini were NOT Elite. That’s why the ‘down years’ for The Beloved when they happen are so off-putting. That is just not the Illini ball my family grew up with and that we came to expect and appreciate. Sort of like back when Alabama had a down year in football. That's just some kind of Universe that is out of balance and wacko. And wrong.
I have often said that I greatly admire the appreciation that Coach U has for the Illini program. He understands who the Illini truly are and their great history... and what’s in the roundball DNA of the Prairie State. May the Illini always have such a Coach who gets it right like that.
Big Jack
- Decatur
Without a doubt! He has not been banned from the university. I will guarantee you Josh will welcome him back. Will Josh hire him ever again no.
Goillinikobd
- Southeastern US
The most intriguing part is that there was never any mention of any crime of any nature, but he got the death penalty?
Bigtex
- DFW
As staff or employee he was friendly with some students
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
Bigtex
- DFW
IMO yes