December 2001
Polling place: The players'' inside scoop on the Big Ten
The preseason favorites finished 4-7.
The Heisman favorite finished his season in a sling.
Surprising Smith thankful for support
CHAMPAIGN Most players will tell you they don''t hear the fans, but Nick Smith can''t avoid it.
The 7-foot-2 Illinois center is quickly becoming a fan favorite. While shooting free throws late in the Illini''s 80-56 win Saturday night against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, a group of Orange Krush members yelled We love Nick Smith.
Bowl tickets on sale
Illinois doesn''t know its bowl destination, but that isn''t preventing the school from selling tickets.
Fans can purchase tickets for any of three bowls the UI football team will find itself in: the Fiesta Bowl (3:30 p.m. Jan. 1), the Sugar Bowl (7:30 p.m. Jan. 1) and the Orange Bowl (7 p.m. Jan. 2). Customers will be charged once the bowl site has been determined.
Illinois point guard shooting blanks so far this season
CHAMPAIGN Frank Williams is not in a shooting slump.
True, Illinois''s All-American guard is making just 33.8 percent of his shots through the Illini''s first six games. And yes, Williams has started 4 for 20 (20 percent) from three-point range.
Tate: Tough times continue for Big Ten
Gene Keady''s Purdue Boilermakers tumbled at home to Butler the other day. No big deal. The Bulldogs are pretty good.
But aren''t these Big Ten setbacks becoming too frequent and during a time when the league routinely pounces on mid-majors willing to trade losses for juicy guarantees?
Hardin´s Illini beat Mizzou in Huff war
CHAMPAIGN In three weeks, Illinois and Missouri will renew their annual Border War in basketball.
Talk about a tough act to follow.
Social Media
