Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Illini Basketball - It all begins November 13th
Wow, with road games @ Arizona, Missouri, XAVIER, Michigan, Michigan State, Indiana, and Iowa - it's going to be another tough year for the Illini B-Ball team as the look to rebuild after losing both the 1-man fast break (Dee Brown) and James Augustine. The Youngin's will need to step up this year: Frazier, Smith, Carter, McBride, Randle, Pruitt, Arnold, and the rest. It all begins at home in the Hall this year against Austin Peay. Two 'home' games will be played at the new Sears Centre in suburban Hoffman Estates over Thanksgiving weekend. That's not far from where I grew up in Mt. Propect, IL. In total, the Flyin' Illini will be on national TV some 14 times, at least. Hopefully more.
From Coach Bruce Weber - "This non-conference schedule will be a challenge as we replace the two winningest players in Illinois history in Dee Brown and James Augustine in our starting lineup," Weber said. "We'll have to be prepared to play in midseason form in December, which should have us ready for Big Ten play come January. We'll be playing good teams in the Chicago Invitational, followed by a game against Maryland, a tough game against Arizona in Phoenix, UIC in Chicago, and a good Xavier team in Cincinnati right before Big Ten play begins. The Braggin' Rights game against Missouri is always a highlight for our fans. We'll have to be ready once we get to Big Ten play because we open with two of the league favorites in Michigan and Ohio State and I anticipate the league being extremely tough and balanced this season."
