Illini Come Back to Beat Wildcats

It looked like another one of those road games for Illinois. They had played so well at home recently and it seemed like they just needed one road win to cement their place near the top of the Big Ten. Last night it was more bricklaying than cementing against Northwestern.

With 5:25 to go, the Illini trailed 57-43 marking their largest deficit of the entire game. About 5:22 later, Illinois had a one point lead marking their largest, and only, lead of the night. During those five-plus minutes the Illini must have blacked out, then imagined themselves back in Assembly Hall because it was solid offense and better defense that led the Illini back. Oh, and Trent Meacham.

Meacham had 12 of his 15 points in the last five minutes, including a three with about a minute to go, followed by a layup about 20 seconds later to make it a one point game. As if the offensive revolution wasn't enough for Meacham, he also caused a turnover on Northwestern's next possession, giving the Illini the ball with 14 seconds remaining.

Demetri McCamey was the hero when he banked in the game winner with 2.9 seconds left. Actually, he was heroic long before that, as he finished the night with a game-high 21 points. Chester Frazier was also great for the Illini, posting eight assists and seven rebounds, with only one turnover.

That makes it 20 wins for the Illini with six games left. They will be at Indiana Sunday, then back to Assembly Hall next Wednesday against Penn State. With Big Ten leader Michigan State playing Purdue and Wisconsin in their next two, this is a good chance for Illinois to gain some ground.

Qualified Links--Pitchers And Catchers Report Edition

• Is it finally the "next year" Cubs fans are always talking about? The journey starts today.
  
• Bulls blow the game in spectacular fashion against the Heat last night. As my friend NQTC reader Adam pointed out, where was Rose on that last inbounds play? And why was an ice-cold Thabo inbounding the ball?
  
• Illinois comes back in spectacular fashion to beat Northwestern in Evanston. Meacham looked amazing down the stretch.
  
• Griffey's short-lived stay on the South Side gets closure as he returns to the Mariners.
• In defense of Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah. Even though I would rather have Amare, I do like these guys.
  
• If you live in Chicago (which most of our readers do), this is not going to be very uplifting: Forbes listed us as the most miserable city in America. Ouch.
• So was Joaquin Phoenix on drugs when he did Letterman Wednesday night? It sure seems like it.
• Oh that pick McDyess set on Rose the other night? The Bulls are asking the league to review it. It might have been dirty, but McNice? Seems unlikely.
  
• Ok, so Portland is apparently out of the Amare running. That's good for the Bulls, considering their package was definitely the best out of the ones that I have heard offered.
• A team is down 5 with 12 seconds and makes an intentional foul. Then the team that was behind wins by 6. This is not a joke (well it sort of is, but it really happened).

Illinois at Northwestern Tonight

The Illini will travel to Evanston tonight to take on Northwestern. The Wildcats are 11-2 at home this year and the oddsmakers are predicting a close game.

I would say the Illini are playing their best basketball of the season coming off their beat-down of Purdue last week, but it hasn't been that kind of season for Illinois. Every time they look like they are playing great, they go out and shoot 28% on the road and lose. Since the beginning of January, the Illini have won every home game and lost every road game. That will need to change if the Illini hope to catch the Spartans for the Big Ten Championship.

Hustle and defense have been key in home wins for Illinois, two things that should translate well to road games. They're catching the Wildcats at the right time though, as Northwestern will be looking to end a four game losing streak* that has included mostly blowouts.

The key for Illinois tonight will be to control the boards and keep Kevin Coble under wraps. In Northwestern's upset wins it has been Coble who has led the charge.

The game starts at 8:00 PM and it's on ESPN2.

*It's bogus fact day on NQTC. I suspect I was thinking of a three game home losing streak to Illinois, but who the hell knows.

Today's Links

• Northwestern stuns Michigan State in East Lansing. Kevin Coble had 31 points, helping end MSU's 28 game home winning streak.
• The winner of the million bucks at the Blackhawks game is revealed; says there was a lot of cursing when he won. Is it still "cursing" if done in a positive way?
• Harden won't play for Canada in the World Baseball Classic. USA! USA! Seriously, did anyone think there is a chance the Cubs would let him play?
• Blackhawks get shut out at home. That makes it back to back losses at the United Center. All-star break time.
• An argument against playoffs in CFB. Ownage of the idea a couple paragraphs down in this post.
• Now here is something worth exploring: Julius Peppers to the Bears?
• A ridiculous dunk. Just watch it.

Today's Links

• Northwestern falls in OT to Mizzou in the Alamo Bowl. That was a lot closer than Illinois came.
• Bulls win; pigs fly. Rose goes for 21 points and 13 assists as Chicago wins in New Jersey for the first time since 2001.
• Mangini, Marinelli, and Crennel fired. Must have been Mangini's idea to dump Pennington for Favre.
• Couldn't pass this one up. The headline I clicked on said "With Bears dead, Hawks own the city." I don't think Stormin' Norman wrote it.
• Lovie not saying anything about coaching changes. I'm sure talk radio is saying enough.
• Hey, look! Indiana sucks. Ha.

Bowling with the Big Ten

The Big Ten squeaked two teams into BCS games this year, mostly due to how awful the Big East and ACC were, and with an assist to the bowl committee for the Fiesta Bowl screwing over Boise State a bit. The two BCS berths make 19 total appearances by Big Ten teams, more than any other conference in the 11-year history of the puzzling system. Overall, the Big Ten will send seven teams to bowl games, here's a look at the match-ups:

Champ Sports Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Florida State, Dec. 27

Wisconsin will return to Florida for the fifth straight season when they take on the Seminoles in the Champ Sports Bowl. This is the first game for the Big Ten and might be the conference's best shot at a win. It also carries on the tradition of the Big Ten playing what are essentially road games in the bowl season.

Alamo Bowl: Northwestern vs. Missouri, Dec. 29

The Wildcats will go down to Big 12 country to take on Mizzou in the Alamo Bowl. Tough draw here for Northwestern, but they've come up big all year when people have counted them out. Northwestern will be looking get its first bowl win since 1949. Now is as good a time as any to get your first bowl win on color television.

Insight Bowl: Minnesota vs. Kansas, Dec. 31

What a turnaround for Minnesota, going from winning only one game last season, to a bowl game this season. Another turnaround happened in the middle of Minnesota's season though. The Gophers went from the top of the Big Ten to four straight losses, including a 55-0 loss to end the season. Kansas and quarterback Todd Reesing did not live up to expectations this season, but should hand Minnesota its fifth straight loss.

Outback Bowl: Iowa vs. South Carolina, Jan. 1

Here is the other good chance for the Big Ten to win. Iowa has won five of six to end the season and will take on Steve Spurrier and South Carolina. The Gamecocks have beaten virtually no one this year and finished off their season with two lopsided losses. Iowa has taken down teams like Florida and LSU in the last five seasons in New Year's Day bowl games, so a win against South Carolina is not out of the question.

Capital One Bowl: Michigan State vs. Georgia, Jan. 1

Oh boy, this could be ugly. We have a Georgia team that was #1 to start the season and suffered through a disappointing year, culminating with a loss to Georgia Tech in their last game. Give them a month off to think about things and get ready for a bowl game. Add in the fact that Stafford and Moreno will want to show off for the pro scouts and Georgia becomes a team no one wants to see in a bowl game. Michigan State is not the team the Big Ten wants to send to match up, but there they are. The Spartans played well against Cal to start the year, but were blown out by the only other two good teams they played all year. It doesn't look good for MSU, but there is usually at least one big upset for the Big Ten recently, so maybe this one. Never know. Right? No.

Rose Bowl: Penn State vs. USC, Jan. 1

This game doesn't look favorable for the Big Ten either. Ohio State already went out to Southern California and got spanked this year, now it might be Penn State's turn. But hey, the Nittany Lions blew out Oregon State this year and the Beavers gave USC its only loss, so there is hope! Not much though. USC will be looking to make a statement that their crappy loss wasn't much different than Florida's crappy loss and maybe they deserved a little more consideration to play in the championship game. Penn State will be looking to make a similar statement, but I think they'd be thrilled with a 3-2 win.

Fiesta Bowl: Ohio State vs. Texas, Jan. 5

Ohio State and Texas are toward opposite ends of the BCS spectrum. Texas is feeling the wrath of the system because their win against Oklahoma was played in October and not November, while Ohio State underacheived and coasted through their schedule beating bad teams, only to be welcomed to the BCS party with open arms over Boise State. This makes four straight BCS bowls for the Buckeyes, but the task will be tall against an angry Texas team holding out hope for a split national title. The formula will be the same for Ohio State as it has been all season, hope that the defense can keep it close and rely on Chris Wells for the offense. A win for the Bucks could take some sting out of what was a down year for the Big Ten.

Today's Links

• Cubs won't offer salary arbitration to Kerry Wood or Bob Howry. That means neither will return and Cubs fans will miss them. Well, one of them.
• Dusty Dvoracek is out for the season with a ruptured right biceps. Uh, ouch.
• Weis tells a recruit that he is returning as Notre Dame's coach. Then points out the window, asks "what's that" and steals kid's brownie.
• Northwestern advances to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Soccer Tournament. Little cold for soccer, no?
• White Sox and Reds talking trade involving Jermaine Dye. "Hey what about that Griffey guy?"
• 'Rak-key? Hawks are trying to get Obama to attend the Winter Classic between the Hawks and Wings. I'll take his spot if he turns it down!

Today's Links

• It's Illinois at Northwestern Saturday. Lake the Posts gives Juice recipes while Paint the Town Orange talks...basketball?
• Glook informed me of this debacle by Arizona the other night. No wonder Lute wanted out.
• Well I wasn't the only one disappointed the Sex Cannon didn't start Sunday. God was on my side.
• Washington (0-10) and Washington State (1-10) face off Saturday. Somehow both teams are 30 point underdogs. But really, go check out how bad the teams are statistically.
• Evaluating a Big Ten Network football broadcast. Predictably the review is unfavorable.
• Bulls get hammered by Portland. Like don't read this if you don't want to see a record-breaking loss hammered.
  

Today's Links

• Kyle Orton is optimistic he'll play in Green Bay this week. Playing through the injury; so Favre-y.
• Northwestern will move wide receiver Jeravin Matthews to running back because Omar Conteh is out for the season. Northwestern is averaging a season-ending injury per game.
• Is Charlie Weis on the hot seat? If so, I hope it's steel reinforced.
• Greg Couch is on my list, calls for the end of all things Rex Grossman. Classic case of cannon envy.
• A dispute after the LSU-Alabama game leads to the death of two Bama fans. Same thing almost happened to me after the Lions swept the Bears last season.
• To the bunker! Paint the Town Orange reacts to the Illinois loss to Western Michigan.
• The guys at Fire Joe Morgan are on red alert!

Today's Links

• Northwestern running back Tyrell Sutton is out for the season. Big loss for the Wildcats, but Sutton could possibly return for a bowl game.
• Rick Sutcliffe could take Brenly's spot if he takes the job as Brewers manager.
• Blackhawks lose 3-2 to the Minnesota Wild. Would have been cooler if it was the North Stars.
• Bucks cut Adrian Griffin. Oh, so now Skiles cuts him.
• Bears have to decide when to start playing first round tackle Chris Williams. Maybe if the Bears are up big in the second half against Detroit. But I can't imagine that would happen. Ha.
• Game 5 suspended because of rain, tied 2-2 in the sixth inning. It's supposed to rain again tomorrow in Philly, so Selig wants to move it to Milwaukee. Not really.
  

Today's Links

• Who's to blame for the late-game meltdown by the Bears? How about special teams coach Taub?
  
• Magic Johnson does not want to hear about how you think he faked AIDS.
• Chi-Ball reports that Mariotti is still in talks with the Tribune to be a print sportswriter. Eww. Whatever, Chi-Ball reports every rumor as news.
• A Kenyan won the Chicago Marathon in 2 hours 6 minutes. That's roughly a 4:50 mile. How do those guys do that?
• Some picture of MJ with a Cigar in his hand looking like the stud that he is.
• Illinois BLEW it. This is one of those sports weekends that really pisses me off.
• I'm so sorry about these annoying Cubs and Sox rumors, but I wouldn't be doing my job not to report them (what's my job exactly?). Apparently the Giants are interested in D-Lee or Paul Konerko.
• Come on Wildcats! You can't go down 17-0 and expect to come back! Even at home. Northwestern loses its first game.
• If Thabo can hit his jumpers, he may be a very valuable piece of the puzzle.
  

What's that Number Next to Northwestern?

That would be a ranking. Yeah, a national ranking. For the first time since November of 2005, the Wildcats have moved into the top 25, with a #22 ranking in the coaches' poll.

Northwestern was idle last weekend, but moved up anyway, setting up a match-up between ranked teams when #19 Michigan State comes into Evanston this Saturday.

With a 5-0 start the Wildcats are almost a lock for a bowl game this year as head coach Pat Fitzgerald is enjoying his best season yet. With three winnable games against Purdue, Indiana, and Minnesota to follow Michigan State, Northwestern could be looking at 9-0 heading into a match-up with Ohio State in November.

A 9-0 start is not likely, but the hype is starting to build on campus and obviously people are starting to take notice nationally. The worry is that Northwestern will be distracted by the success, but Fitzgerald and his veteran team will do all they can to avoid distractions.

The Wildcats do have the advantage of senior leadership this year and one senior, tailback Tyrell Sutton knows how important it is to stay focused on winning games.

"You have to block everything out," Sutton said. "The biggest thing we can do is focus on ourselves and stick to the game plan."

Northwestern and Michigan State have played some great games in the past few seasons and this year's shouldn't be any different with both teams undefeated in the conference and ranked in the nation. So I'd tune in Saturday, or at least peek at the score.

Today's Links--Pitch Count Edition

• Thanks to Deez Nuts for this list of pitchers with the highest pitch counts on the year. This was from September 11, and apparently C.C. is up to 3471 now. The guys with the most pitches from last year were invariably hurt this year...
• The Marcus Bradley Era in Chicago ends quietly. This guy seemed to have so much potential.
• "Vazquez comes up small in big game for the White Sox". Ship this guy out of town, he really sucks. Division race tightens to 1.5 games.
• How the Sox and Twins reached this point.
  
• I'm not sure what all this is about, but the Cubs used to play at the West Side Grounds by UIC and it looks like UIC officials have removed the sign denoting where the games were played.
• Cubs lose, but it looks like Marshall earned a spot in the pen for the postseason with his solid outing.
  
• Another Ben Gordon analysis/update. Sort of supporting BG's position, though questioning whether its the right move.
• Chicago asking Wrigleyville to cut off liquor sales during playoffs? There's no way that will happen.
• I love these "God Explains the Week" stories from KSK.
• Looks like Tyrell Sutton will get the start for NU Saturday.
  

Today's Links

• Top ten Chicago sports movie moments. This list is hilarious. Personally I think the Blue Chips scene on the South Side should be first.
• Northwestern is deep at multiple positions. I don't think they will win more than 2 Big Ten games, but we'll see.
• While we are doing lists, might as well throw this in there. Ty Cobb definitely deserves the award for most legendary baseball asshole.
• Cubs lost last night to keep the magic number at 4. It sort of feels like no big deal, considering any combination of 2 Cubs wins and 2 Brewers losses clinches for the Cubbies.
• If the playoffs started today, the Brewers would actually NOT be in them. The wheels have really come off in Wrigleyville North.
• Bears-Tampa preview. The teams look very evenly matched to me. Hopefully the home crowd gives the Bears an edge.
• I'm not sure why Richard got the start, but it was the bullpen that actually blew it for the Sox last night.
• Wait wait wait. I thought Quentin's wrist thing was career-threatening, but apparently he may be back in time for the post-season THIS year.
  

Today's Links--Holiday Weekend Edition

• Wages of Wins explains why Ben Gordon being the leading scorer is not indicative of his real contributions (or lack thereof). Also a look at some other Bulls issues by the numbers.
• Two retarded Cubs fans fight after a game. The best part is that you can hear the "Go Cubs Go" song in the background as they are trying to kill each other.
• Maybe the Bears aren't good because Lovie isn't pushing them as hard in camp and practice? Sounds possible, though it is more likely a combination of factors.
• Northwestern spanks 'Cuse. Sutton with 144 yards on the ground. It's a good start, but lets see them do that in the Big Ten.
• C.C. did not throw a no-hitter. Stop whining Milwaukee.
  
• Crack in the armor? The weekend goes poorly for the Cubs. Get ready for the roller coaster.
  
• Thome reaches home run milestone. The Mick has a beer in his honor. Boy did that guy like to party.
• Illinois loses, but big year may still be ahead.
• Sox end up winning Sunday, but the real show was Dustin Pedroia. He looks like Teddy Ballgame these days.
  

Illini-Mizzou Hype Machine

College Football has begun. Thanks to StevieY19 for the great previews. To be honest I don't really give a shit about college football or even Big Ten football most of the time. However, with the Illini's precipitous rise to the top last year I have become more interested. (Please clear this question up for me: Can precipitous be used when referring to a rise as opposed to a drop? StevieY19 and I have been arguing over this) As such, here are a few links to get you ready for tonight's huge Illini-Mizzou game:

ESPN-->Juice looks for redemption against Mizzou

Inside Illini-->Review '07 Illinois- Missouri: What Happened?

ChicagoSports.com-->No. 20 Illinois ready for Missouri test

Rivals.com-->This is the best analysis if you really want to get dirty with the matchups

Go Illini. Oh and a quick preview of Northwestern-Syracuse. Not much hype for the 'Cats this year, but they do have a decent offense, so who knows.

Big Ten Preview: Northwestern

College football season is approaching and for the next couple of weeks I'll be giving you some quick previews of the Big Ten. All ten....ummm eleven teams will be featured. Today is Chicago's/Evanston's own Northwestern Wildcats.


Last year Northwestern finished tied for ninth in the Big Ten, going 6-6 and was snubbed by all the bowl games, even the PapaJohns.com Bowl. The Wildcats also lost to Duke. Yeah, not the best year for Northwestern.


However, 2008 is being met with optimism in Evanston (or wherever they pay attention to NW Football). Big Ten passing yards leader C.J. Bacher returns, star running back Tyrelle Sutton is back and has recovered from an injury-ridden 2007, and the top two receivers are back. Pair the returning fire-power with a new offensive coordinator and the Wildcat offense has the potential to be very dangerous.

The defensive side of the ball has been a struggle recently, with Northwestern ranking near the bottom of the league in, well, everything. Enter new defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz. Hankwitz has an impressive track record as a coordinator with stops at Colorado, Texas A&M, and Wisconsin, among others. The linebackers are the main concern, as the group has been an embarrassment for the past few seasons.

Even with the questions on defense, this could be the breakout year for third-year coach Pat Fitzgerald. Now you'll feel the urge to laugh soon, but Northwestern could start 9-0. Take a moment...here's why: Syracuse, Duke, Southern Illinois, and Ohio make up the non-conference schedule, then Iowa, MSU, Purdue, Indiana, and Minnesota start off the Big Ten docket. Those are nine very winnable games for a team with seniors in the skill positions on offense.

But seriously, Northwestern will be going to a bowl game this year. You can book that one.