Illinois: The Illini that fought

[krzyzewskisucks]

National Championship coach James Dixon has announced his intentions to head coach for the Illinois Fighting Illini.
"I grew up in Illinois, and I used to always watch them play," Coach Dixon said in his press conference, "they are my dream team."
http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_ap/dwmsmvp.jpg

[krzyzewskisucks]

Illinois starting lineup

PG- 6'0 #11
Dee Brown
http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_headshot/Brown.jpg

SG-6'3 #33
Rich McBride
http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_headshot/McBride.jpg

SF-6'9 #55
Joe Miggins
http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_headshot/Smith.jpg

PF-6'10 #40
James Augustine
http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_headshot/Augustine.jpg

C-7'6 #52
James Geer
http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_headshot/p-Ingram.jpg

[krzyzewskisucks]

Illini Schedule

@ Washington
vs. Pittsburgh
@ Kansas
ACC/Big Ten challenge vs. Georgia Tech
@ Duke
@ St. Louis
@ Northeastern
vs LSU
@ Syracuse
vs Connecticut
* vs. Ohio State
* vs. Purdue
* @ Northwestern
* vs. Iowa
* vs. Penn State
* @ Wisconsin
* vs. Michigan
* @ Indiana
* @ Minnesota
* vs. Michigan State
* vs. Wisconsin
* @ Penn State
* @ Iowa
* vs. Northwestern
* @ Purdue
* @ Ohio State

[krzyzewskisucks]

http://www.espnvideogames.com/_img/0.gifPreseason top 25


1. http://www.ideaspot.net/flags/Pac-10/small/ariz-sm.gif

2. http://www.ideaspot.net/flags/Big_10/small/spartan1-sm.gif

3. http://www.ideaspot.net/flags/ACC/small/md-sm.gif

4. http://www.ideaspot.net/flags/ind/small/uconn-sm.gif

5. http://www.ideaspot.net/flags/Big_XII/small/kansas-sm.gif

6. http://www.ideaspot.net/flags/Big_XII/small/osu4-sm.gif

7. http://www.ideaspot.net/flags/Big_10/small/ohiost-white-sm.gif

8. http://www.ideaspot.net/flags/Conf_USA/small/louis2-sm.gif

9. http://www.ideaspot.net/flags/Conf_USA/small/uab-sm.gif

10.http://www.ideaspot.net/flags/Big_East/small/syr-sm.gif

11.http://www.ideaspot.net/flags/SEC/small/fl-sm.gif

12. St. Josephs

13. Central Michigan

14. Loyola (IL)

15. Siena

16. Wichita State

17.http://www.ideaspot.net/flags/ACC/small/duke-sm.gif

18. http://www.ideaspot.net/flags/Big_10/small/illinois-sm.gif

19. http://espn.starwave.com/i/ncaa/clubhouses/index_logos/2507.gif

20. http://www.ideaspot.net/flags/Big_XII/small/tu-sm.gif

21.http://www.ideaspot.net/flags/SEC/small/lsu-white-sm.gif

22.http://www.ideaspot.net/flags/ACC/small/clemson-sm.gif

23.http://www.ideaspot.net/flags/Big_10/small/wisconsin-sm.gif

24.http://www.ideaspot.net/flags/Conf_USA/small/marquette1-sm.gif

25.http://www.ideaspot.net/flags/Mt_West/small/csu-sm.gif

[krzyzewskisucks]

Press Conference

National Coach of the Year James Dixon talks in a press conference about his upcoming season with his new team, the Illinois Fighting Illini
http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/stories/20010313/localsports/364633-138758-thumb.jpg

Reporter: Coach Dixon, you have to hardest non conference schedule in the NCAA, most of them were already in line to be played, but it seems you switched out some of the easier ones to play harder opponents, why is that?

Coach Dixon: The harder the team you play, the better you get. It is as simple as that and has been my philosophy. Last year the Terps played in the hardest conference in the NCAA, and they won the title.

Reporter: James Geer ties the record for the tallest player to ever play in the NCAA, will you be keying a lot of your offense around him.

Coach Dixon: Definetly, him and Dee Brown. Dee Brown is a killer from behind the arc, and I definetly see him shooting a lot of our shots. James Geer has the advantage of height, and that can be great in the low post.

Reporter: What are you looking for in the season opener first Washington.

Coach Dixon: Obviously, I will trying to see what our teams strengths and weaknesses are, and going to capitalize on those. I can also see the physical shape our team is in.

Reporter: Thank you

Coach Dixon: Thank you

[krzyzewskisucks]

Illinois wins big as Washington tanks season opener

http://graphics.fansonly.com/schools/ill/graphics/ill-title-i.gif(0-0) No. 18 at (0-0)http://www.ideaspot.net/flags/Pac-10/medium/wash3-med.gif

If you had watched the first half, it looked as though washington would pull away. With two minutes to go in the first half, Washington was up 10. But 3 3-pointers by Dee Brown and a jumpshot at the buzzer by James Geer led the team to come away with a 1 point lead over the Huskies at the half.
Coming out of the locker room, it was all Illinois. They came out and went on an 22-0 run and never looked back, winning big.

Final Score Illini victory 58-35

POTG- James Geer- 22 points, 10 rebounds, 5 blocks, 3 assists, 2 steals

Defensive player of the game- James Augustine- 11 rebounds, 2 blocks

Bench Player of the game- N/A

Photo of the Day-
http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/ill/galleries/m-baskbl-
Dee Brown screams as he hits a shot to put them within one.

[krzyzewskisucks]

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/ncaaf/teams/1/80x60/iic.gif(1-0) No. 18 http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/ncaaf/teams/1/80x60/ppd.gif(1-0)
Illinois Fighting Illini vs Pittsburgh Panthers

Game goes down to the wire, buzzer beater wins it all.

An exciting game came out today as the Fighting Illini took on the Pittsburgh Panthers in a thriller. With 1 minute left the Illini were up 5, and it looked over for the Panthers, but two 3's put them on top by one with 2.2 seconds left. James Geer heaved a pass downfield to James Augustine who quickly called a timeout.
A crosscourt pass to James Geer resulted in another timeout with 1.9 seconds left. Lee Brown saw James Augustine cut to the basket and gave him a pass. He did a turn around jumper at the buzzer that rolled around the rim and fell in.

Final score- Illini squeak by 39-38

POTG- James Geer- 21 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 blocks

Photo-
http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/ill/galleries/m-baskbl-013104/4.jpg
Augustine turns around to make his buzzer beater

[MooseMan2216]

lookin good :)