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Fourth-and-blog

Live from Conseco Fieldhouse Finals

Posted by: Bob Asmussen

Sunday, March 16, 2008 4:07 PM

There's 3:53 left and this will be my final report. First, thanks to anyone who checked in. It's been an unexpected weekend in Indianapolis.
You see effort from the Illini but there just isn't much energy left. It's proof of something we already knew: you don't want to play on a Thursday in the Big Ten tournament.

Look for our coverage of today's game and the NCAA tournament in Monday's paper. Spring practice starts a week from Wednesday.
***
There's 7:46 left and this game is over. Wisconsin is up 53-35 and getting to every loose ball. Give Illinois credit for hanging in for so long. Wisconsin isn't just the best team in the Big Ten, it's one of the best in the country. Illinois needed Michigan State to win on Saturday, though Drew Neitzel might have gone nuts in his final Big Ten tournament game.
Loren just wandered down press row muttering something about Dee Brown and Deron Williams. I think he misses them.
Notice the lack of attention in this blog paid to the officials? The guys are doing a great job. I've been assigned by the Big Ten to be the pool reporter with the officials if something shady happens. I don't think I'll be be needed.
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Brian Butch delivers a dagger with a three-pointer to make it 51-35. While the game was going on, Pruitt and Joe Krabbenhoft were at the scorer's table, chatting away. I think I saw Krabbenhoft smile.
***
There's 11:29 left and Wisconsin leads 43-30. It looks like the Illini might be out of gas. They are missing shots badly and throwing away passes.
Wisconsin has had a couple of shots roll out that would have made the margin greater. Bo Ryan is using his bench a lot, thinking ahead to a likely Thursday opening round game in Omaha. That's where I'm guessing the Badgers get sent as a No. 2 or 3 seed.
Does Illinois have one more run in it? For the seniors, there isn't much time left. Pruitt is playing very well, diving all the court for loose balls and doing a good job on defense.
***
That somebody making a move is Shaun Pruitt who has all of Illinois' points in the second half.
On the scoreboard, they are showing fans doing their renditions of the awful Big Ten Network "Magic" commercials. Honestly, I just felt a little vomit in my throat.
***
There's 16:26 left and Wisconsin is leading 39-26. Stats that matter from the first half: Badgers led by seven while hitting just 44 percent of their shots from the floor and not attempting a free throw. Wisconsin is notorious for dominating at the line, so the second item is a surprise.
The Badgers are getting points from different sources. Illinois needs somebody to take over here in the next few minutes.
Scoreboard watch: Georgia is up 10 at halftime and Kansas leads Texas by six.
***
The second half is about to start. I just talked to Illinois radio analyst Jerry Hester and he said he saw the Illinois legs start to go a bit at about the 11-minute mark. He thinks Illinois can make a second-half run.
Paul Klee just talked to Illinois AD Ron Guenther, who is not real excited about the possibility of playing in the CBI. Guenther also said he gives Bruce Weber "all the credit" for this run in the Big Ten tournament. He credited the players for figuring out the chemistry issues that plagued them during the regular season. Good reporting, Klee.
***
It's halftime and Wisconsin leads 29-22. Give tired Illinois credit for keeping the game close. Something tells me there will be a second-half push by Illinois.
It seems like the Badgers are treating this like a practice game. But their practices are very hard.
***
There's 3:13 left and Wisconsin leads 25-20. Calvin Brock is going to the line and the Badgers are getting into foul trouble. Brian Butch, Michael Flowers and Jason Bohannon all have two fouls. In the Lou Henson days at Illinois, that would have meant sitting the rest of the half. Bo Ryan isn't Henson.
Out of town scoreboard watch, Texas by one over Kansas at halftime and 16-16 Georgia is pounding Arkansas in the first half. If the Bulldogs win, and they will, that knocks somebody out of the tournament. Maybe Ohio State. Hopefully not Illinois State.
***
There's 6:03 left in the first half and a bitter Bo Ryan just called an angry timeout after a Demetri McCamey three. Calvin Brock has provided Illinois a big lift off the bench with eight points. Wisconsin leads 20-18, but it feels like Illinois is playing better.
***
There's 7:51 left in the first half and Wisconsin is leading 18-12. The Badgers have gone on a 14-4 run to take the lead. Shaun Pruitt is going to the line for two and I'm guessing they both go in.
Loren just wandered down press row mumbling about the Whiz Kids.
***
Out of town scoreboard watch, Kansas up 42-38 against Texas in the first half. Sounds like a good game.
***
There's 11:40 left in the first half and the game is tied 10-10. The worst-case scenario is happening for Wisconsin, which is allowing the Illinois fans to stay in the game. The longer the game remains close, the more noise you will hear. And the Illini fans are loud.
Wisconsin might be better off with Hughes on the bench. He isn't adding much on offense and looks tentative on defense. The Illini are able to move past him pretty quickly.
The reason I haven't mentioned the officials is because it's a good crew, especially with Ed Hightower and Ted Hillary on the floor. You won't see many blown calls with these guys.
***
Jeff Jordan just went into the game. Wonder if Dad is in the house? If he is, he isn't sitting courtside.
***
There is 15:43 left and Illinois leads 4-2. Illinois has a lot of energy, but the shots have been a bit flat. Wisconsin isn't playing very well. Shots too long. Maybe the Badgers are just happy to be here and Bo Ryan wants Illinois in the NCAA tournament.
Four minutes is early, but Illinois isn't going to go away. Could be a 17-18 team in the NCAA tournament.
***
Early observations: Trevon Hughes is not moving very well. Marcus Landry is really good. The Illini don't look tired. Bruce Weber's coat sure is bright.
***
I was doing laundry at 2 a.m. this morning. Didn't want to wear a dirty shirt to the Big Ten final.
Billy Packer and Jim Nantz look dapper in their CBS blazers. Hard to believe shorty Packer was a great basketball player. Or maybe it's just that Nantz is very tall. They were both very nice yesterday talking about Illinois and the 1999 season. Packer can be a pill, but I think deep down he's a good guy. And he loves to talk basketball.
Hope you saw The News-Gazette today. Great photos by R.K. O'Daniell. Paul did a great job with coverage too. And his polling place with Big Ten radio announcers is a must read.
The teams are on the court and the game is about five minutes away. Not much of a crowd. Certainly a Big Ten tournament low for a final. There are huge open chunks of seats in the upper deck and in the middle section.
Send me any thoughts to asmussen@news-gazette.com. Who do you think will be the No. 1 seeds in the NCAA tournament? I'll post them here.
Be back in a minute.