Illini

CHAMPAIGN — Illinois officially is playing in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl against UCLA on New Year's Eve, but for the Illini it's already being branded as the Redemption Bowl. "There's no better way to redeem yourself than to go out and win," senior offensive tackle Jeff Allen said. "This is my last game as an Illini. It will be a great chance to go out and redeem myself and redeem ourselves as a team. " The Illini (6-6) are in dire need of something to improve their reputation and their spirits.

Coppin State has closed to within single digits in the second half against two Big Ten teams this season. The result was the same against host Illinois on Sunday night, however, as it was against Purdue: a loss. The Eagles fell, 80-63, to the undefeated No. 24 Illini despite trimming a 17-point deficit to two points in the second half. Guard Tony Gallo led the Eagles with a game-high 21 points, making four of eight 3-pointers. After the Illini (10-0) took a 17-point lead, the Eagles (3-5)

If a team builds a pair of nine-point leads in the first half, does that count as an 18-point lead? Maryland did that against Illinois tonight at Comcast Center, but after the first nine-point lead (29-20)  disappeared in a quick 9-0 run, the Terps took another (34-25) before going into their lockerroom ahead by four, 35-31. Actually, the Terps played some of their best basketball of the season early on, showing patience against a physical Illini defense and getting the ball inside to James Padgett, who scored his team's first six points and finished the half with nine.

CHAMPAIGN — Illinois officially is playing in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl against UCLA on New Year's Eve, but for the Illini it's already being branded as the Redemption Bowl. "There's no better way to redeem yourself than to go out and win," senior offensive tackle Jeff Allen said. "This is my last game as an Illini. It will be a great chance to go out and redeem myself and redeem ourselves as a team. " The Illini (6-6) are in dire need of something to improve their reputation and their spirits.

ST. LOUIS - Nothing Illinois could do last night in the national semifinal against Louisville could have topped the drama of what it did a week earlier in the regional final, storming back from 15 points down in the last four minutes of regulation against Arizona. If ever there were a snapshot of the poise this team possesses, it was taken that night in Chicago. By comparison, last night was just another game. That's the way the Illini approached it, that's the way they played it, and that's the way they practically strolled into tomorrow's national championship game.

Illinois coach Bruce Weber must wear a protective boot for a few more weeks as he mends the ankle he broke on the morning of Nov. 28, the day the Fighting Illini traveled to North Carolina. Chester Frazier, his backup point guard from Baltimore, is out with a thigh injury. Dee Brown appears to be picking up speed, however, which is welcome news for the nation's somewhat surprising No. 9 team. Brown was part of the three-guard attack that took Illinois to a 29-0 start and its first NCAA final last season.

ROSEMONT, Ill. - Most of the nearly 17,000 orange-clad fans inside Allstate Arena never gave up on the No. 1-ranked team in America, but you have to think the rest of America had. If the word "frauds" hadn't already escaped the lips of millions watching Arizona slowly pull away from Illinois, viewers knew that they'd be able to say it in only four more minutes. Yet in the blink of an eye, the flash of a white jersey, the flick of an orange-banded wrist, Illinois had restored its reputation and probably convinced a lot of fans for good.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The exchange came after Deon Thomas mentioned he'd like to take a shot at Illinois' all-time scoring record. It would mean he'd have to return for his senior year."

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Illinois has won 12 of its past 14 basketball games. Both losses were to Purdue, which knocked off the Fighting Illini not just twice, but three times this winter because Illinois was unable to match up with the Boilermakers and Brad Miller.Miller stands 6 feet 11, 240 pounds. Hmmm. Does Maryland have anybody like that?The fourth-seeded Terps' biggest edge over the fifth-seeded Fighting Illini in their second-round West Regional game in the NCAA tournament at the Arco Arena today (4: 30 p.m., Ch. 13)

ST. LOUIS - In the end, it was more about defense than destiny, more about its selfless supporting cast than its two biggest stars. The Illinois basketball team has started and ended every practice since October with the chant "national champion" and now the Fighting Illini are one step away from their goal. With second-half offensive explosions from Roger Powell Jr. and Luther Head, a lot of defense and a little of everything from everybody else, the top-ranked Fighting Illini took down Louisville, 72-57, last night in front of 47,754 at the Edward Jones Dome in the national semifinal and advanced to their first-ever national championship game.

If a team builds a pair of nine-point leads in the first half, does that count as an 18-point lead? Maryland did that against Illinois tonight at Comcast Center, but after the first nine-point lead (29-20)  disappeared in a quick 9-0 run, the Terps took another (34-25) before going into their lockerroom ahead by four, 35-31. Actually, the Terps played some of their best basketball of the season early on, showing patience against a physical Illini defense and getting the ball inside to James Padgett, who scored his team's first six points and finished the half with nine.

If the young season is about setting precedents, here are two that first-year Maryland coach Mark Turgeon eagerly wanted his young team to establish: home-court dominance and tenacious defense. The Terps used sticky defense to race to a first-half lead, but couldn't hold on as Illinois snapped Maryland's string of 13 straight non-conference wins at home with a 71-62 victory Tuesday night in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Terps were undone partly by shooting just 60 percent (15-25)

It's never over until it's over. Arkansas and Illinois rallied from double-digit deficits for exciting wins over Texas A&M and Northwestern, respectively. Navy and TCU also had big rallies but fell short in overtime. The Luke Fickell Era may be a footnote in Ohio State history. At 3-2 and with an offense that looks like it couldn't score against a JV squad, the Buckeyes have plenty of problems. Throw in games against Nebraska, Illinois and Wisconsin this month and that could spell trouble for the first-year coach.

Get to know No. 1: Kansas (32-2) will try to remove the sting of being upset by Northern Iowa as a No. 1 seed last season in the second round. The Big 12 champions operate through twins Markieff and Marcus Morris (left), who together average 31 points and 15 rebounds and have led the Jayhawks in scoring in 23 games. They also have capable shooters in Tyshawn Taylor, Tyrel Reed and Brady Morningstar and lead the nation in field-goal percentage (51.4). Cinderella: USC. The 11th-seeded Trojans have a few bad losses, but they also boast victories against Texas, Arizona, Washington, Tennessee and UCLA.

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Ten amateurs made the U.S. Open field. Two made the cut. And both surged into the fringes of contention Saturday. Scott Langley cracked the top 10 for a while after he made eagle at No. 6. He finished with a 77 and is 8 over after three rounds. Langley is on the run of his life, winning the NCAA championship two weeks ago after entering the event ranked 26th, according to Golfweek. The 21-year-old lefty said no matter what happens at Pebble Beach, he will return to the University of Illinois for his senior year.

Illinois vs. Missouri 8:30 p.m. [ESPN] This is pretty big for an opening college football weekend. No. 6 Mizzou, led by quarterback Chase Daniel, can entertain notions of landing in the national title game. But not if the Tigers stumble against the No. 20 Illini in the Arch Rivalry at St. Louis' Edward Jones Dome. Last season, Missouri just got by Illinois, 40-34, as the Illini nearly rallied from 24 points down.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Illinois' hustle and patience were too much for South Alabama yesterday, but the Illini will face an entirely different kind of challenge against Maryland in the second round of the West Regional tomorrow.There were no surprises forthcoming this time from the Jaguars, who couldn't overcome their bobbleitis and a key injury in falling, 64-51, at ARCO Arena.South Alabama (21-7) extended top-ranked Arizona to the limit in the first round last March, but Illinois' patience, stout defense and seasoning were insurmountable.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A year ago, South Alabama came out of nowhere to win the Sun Belt Conference, then staged a near-upset of eventual national champion Arizona in the first round of the NCAA tournament.A lot has changed for the Jaguars.No longer are they lightly regarded. To repeat in their league, they had to weather a head coaching change when Bill Musselman quit to become an NBA assistant just before fall practice began and a slew of injuries during the season.But one thing hasn't changed.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- After the Maryland men's basketball team jogged onto the court last night at Assembly Hall for the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, senior forward Ekene Ibekwe walked out, and he took a seat on the bench while the Terps warmed up. That's where he stayed - despite being cleared to play for perhaps the toughest test to date. Maryland vs. Notre Dame BB&T Classic, Sunday, 6:30 p.m., at Verizon Center in Washington, Comcast SportsNet, 1300 AM, 105.7 FM

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Wichita State ended an 18-year absence from the NCAA tournament in style, as the Shockers outclassed Seton Hall, 86-66, yesterday at the Greensboro Coliseum. Seventh-seeded Wichita State never trailed, went ahead for good in the third minute, doubled the score late in the first half and never allowed the Pirates to get closer than 11 in the second. The Shockers got 23 points from sophomore guard Sean Ogirri and 15 points and seven rebounds from senior center Paul Miller.