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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — One step forward, another one back. Illinois is getting nowhere in the college basketball season.
Illinois' Calvin Brock reacts after a foul was called on him as he stole the ball from Purdue's Keaton Grant during a basketball game Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008, in West Lafayette, Ind. Purdue won 74-67. (AP Photo/The Daily Illini, Brad Vest)
After the Illini blew a nine-point lead in the second-half Saturday and lost 74-67 to Purdue, coach Bruce Weber blew a gasket. The yelling and screaming sounds coming from the Illini locker room in Mackey Arena weren’t pleasant.
“I wasn’t very happy,” Weber said moments later. “I tried not to blow up, but I did a little bit. It’s just disappointing. You played so well to a point.
“It’s a disappointment because I think we made some progress. When you play like that, you think maybe we have a chance. Purdue deserves a lot of credit.”
Illinois’ 15 turnovers in the second half and inability to match Purdue’s level of intensity led to Weber’s locker room meltdown.
“Everyone is frustrated right now,” Illini guard Trent Meacham said. “Everyone in that locker room is frustrated. (Weber) definitely is, too.
“We have to stay together and stay positive. It can be hard to do that, especially after a game like this. That’s what you have to do.’’
Illinois fell to 9-10 overall and 1-5 in the Big Ten. The Illini play at Ohio State on Tuesday (8 p.m., Big Ten Network). At this point, the season appears to be about rallying for a run at an NIT berth. Not a pleasant thought for a program that has made eight straight trips to the NCAA tournament.
Instead of making a real run at the NCAA, the Illini just spin in circles. After building some confidence with improved play over the past three games, Illinois disintegrated in the second half, then pointed fingers at each other. Perhaps the Illini felt the season imploding.
“We had a couple miscommunications and outbursts on the court between one another,” Illini forward Brian Randle said. “That’s the most disappointing thing. You can deal with fighting hard if the game doesn’t turn out. It’s better than fighting or being mad at one another during the game.”
1-5 in the worst major conference in the land, 9-10 over-all. How long ago does 2005 feel?
Illinois' Calvin Brock reacts after a foul was called on him as he stole the ball from Purdue's Keaton Grant during a basketball game Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008, in West Lafayette, Ind. Purdue won 74-67. (AP Photo/The Daily Illini, Brad Vest)
After the Illini blew a nine-point lead in the second-half Saturday and lost 74-67 to Purdue, coach Bruce Weber blew a gasket. The yelling and screaming sounds coming from the Illini locker room in Mackey Arena weren’t pleasant.
“I wasn’t very happy,” Weber said moments later. “I tried not to blow up, but I did a little bit. It’s just disappointing. You played so well to a point.
“It’s a disappointment because I think we made some progress. When you play like that, you think maybe we have a chance. Purdue deserves a lot of credit.”
Illinois’ 15 turnovers in the second half and inability to match Purdue’s level of intensity led to Weber’s locker room meltdown.
“Everyone is frustrated right now,” Illini guard Trent Meacham said. “Everyone in that locker room is frustrated. (Weber) definitely is, too.
“We have to stay together and stay positive. It can be hard to do that, especially after a game like this. That’s what you have to do.’’
Illinois fell to 9-10 overall and 1-5 in the Big Ten. The Illini play at Ohio State on Tuesday (8 p.m., Big Ten Network). At this point, the season appears to be about rallying for a run at an NIT berth. Not a pleasant thought for a program that has made eight straight trips to the NCAA tournament.
Instead of making a real run at the NCAA, the Illini just spin in circles. After building some confidence with improved play over the past three games, Illinois disintegrated in the second half, then pointed fingers at each other. Perhaps the Illini felt the season imploding.
“We had a couple miscommunications and outbursts on the court between one another,” Illini forward Brian Randle said. “That’s the most disappointing thing. You can deal with fighting hard if the game doesn’t turn out. It’s better than fighting or being mad at one another during the game.”
1-5 in the worst major conference in the land, 9-10 over-all. How long ago does 2005 feel?
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