(Sports) Editor's Note

Coming Sunday

Posted by: Jim Rossow

Sunday, March 18, 2007 10:41 AM

Illinois athletic director explained his actions at the NCAA tournament to Loren Tate on Saturday. In an online column that ran after Friday's loss to Virginia Tech, Guenther was described as staring down officials, yelling at Illinois players and generally frustrated by the events on the court.
Here's part of what he had to say to Tate:
"Everyone knows how much I care," Guenther said. "We put in a lot of time and effort to do things right, and it hurts when we get bad publicity.
"Did I slap the table? Yes. But I didn't direct my comments to anyone in particular, and I certainly didn't intend for my words to be picked up. That did not represent the way I feel about our players, and they know it. I feel badly that (Doyel) felt he had to print it.
"I think my frustrations were built up by everything that happened this season. I care. I had a dog in this fight. We played so well for so long against Virginia Tech, and it was heartbreaking to see it get away.
"The Internet has changed everything. Comments can be posted with no responsibility. It's hard to know who you can trust. I guess it's the world we live in," he said.
Other highlights:
1. Bob Asmussen's lookahead to the 2007-08 Big Ten race.
2. Paul Klee's player-by-player breakdown of the Illini
3. Jeff Huth's report from the Class AA boys' basketball state tournament.

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