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Behind the Mic

Illini Run Into Improved Michigan

Posted by: Brian Barnhart

Monday, January 5, 2009 5:14 PM

The Illini basketball team was red-hot with 7 straight wins and a chance to move within one victory of the program's 1,600th all -time win. They also could have accomplished a historical first....back-to-back wins on the road against ranked teams.

But as you know by now... the Illini ran into a very determined Michigan team Sunday morning and suffered just their second loss in 15 games this season.

The Wolverine crowd at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor this last weekend was the best basketball crowd I have seen in that building in several years. They seem to sense (finally) some forward momentum for the Michigan basketball program. Wins over Duke and UCLA will get the attention of the fans.

For the last several years the Wolverines were coached by a classy coach (Tommy Amaker)...had a lot of talent...but always seem to underachieve. I do think now though that they have found the right coach in John Beilein....who has brought his high octane, long range shooting offense and 1-3-1 zone defense to Ann Arbor from West Virginia. The Illini needed an umbrella Sunday to protect themselves from all the three-point baskets that came raining down on them.

Think about it....Illini fans are still upset about missing ONE NCAA tournament in the last decade. Put yourself in the shoes of Michigan fans....they havent been to ANY NCAA tournament in the last 10 years.

And believe me...I am no Michigan fan. I remember the same things you do...the Fab Five...Ed Martin...the loss to Michigan in the 1989 Final 4...etc..etc...

But I am impressed with this years Wolverine squad and think they will be tough to beat in the years to come.

Speaking of getting beat....Indiana has been losing a lot of games this year. They have lost at home to Northeastern (NOT Northwestern)...and Lipscomb. They also got drilled by Kentucky...Notre Dame and Wake Forest.

After the disaster of the Sampson years, the Hoosiers also found the right man in former Marquette coach Tom Crean. He is working with a very young team (starting 4 freshman at Iowa) but has them playing hard. Once they get further along into the Crean era...the Hoosiers will be battling for Big Ten Championships again. So the Illini better beat them while they are struggling.

Starting with the Hoosiers on Saturday afternoon....it will be an important stretch for the Illini. Four of the next five games are at home with only a trip to Michigan State in the mix. Now is the time to make their move up in the Big Ten standings.

By the way....where is Lipscomb?