ILLINI LOOKING DOWN LATELY
Good Illinois can take your breath away. Bad Illinois makes you want to punch a wall. Illini fans’ knuckles are like ground beef after the Big Ten’s most talented team was upset for the second and third times in league play — by Maryland and Ohio State — last week in Champaign.
“We have to quit riding the emotional roller coaster that is this team right now,” coach Brad Underwood said.
“It’s frustrating. I wish I had the exact answer. We’re going to have some very tough meetings. We’ve got to get this figured out. We’re excellent — we’re one of the best teams in the country — when we play.”
And when they don’t?
“It’s time to put a stop to the ‘don’ts,’ ” he said. They couldn’t match Baylor’s intensity in their biggest test of the season and got smacked around. They failed to match Missouri’s enthusiasm in a bad-looking Braggin’ Rights loss. Most recently, they were dominated in the first half by Ohio State. The Buckeyes roared out of the gate as the Illini (9-5) pulled the covers over their eyes and went back to sleep.
Another game or two like that, and there will be no avoiding it: Illinois will begin to be viewed as one of the most disappointing teams in college basketball.
Good Illinois spanked Duke on the road, blew out Minnesota and put on a spectacular secondhalf show at Northwestern, overwhelming the Wildcats 53-13 after the intermission. Are the “good” guys coming back? If so, any chance they’ll stick around this time?
Here’s what’s happening: