Recruit Watch: January 21
January 22, 2008
From the Chicago Sun Times:
Bertrand was held under 10 points in both games last week as the Warriors went 2-0. Sterling has a big game next weekend against Tyler Storm and Geneseo.
Recruit Watch: January 21
January 22, 2008
From the Chicago Sun Times:
Paul’s 28 points helped give the Blue Devils a double overtime win and season sweep of Lake Forest. Warren will look to gain some steam as it plays Zion-Benton and Stevenson this week.
Recruit Watch: January 21
January 22, 2008
From the Chicago Sun Times:
Simpson had 17 points in a win over Carver, and followed that up with 22 points in win a over Morgan Park. This week Simeon faces Bogan and Julian.
Rockford Boylan kicker makes oral commitment to Illinois
January 22, 2008
From the State Journal Register:
The senior place-kicker from Rockford Boylan High School doesn’t plan on sitting when the Illini face Missouri in the season opener Aug. 30. With Illinois seeking a replacement for four-year kicker Jason Reda, the timing is right for Dimke.
“I have the expectation of coming in and being the guy,” Dimke said. “It’s going to be interesting and be tough. The big thing about kicking is each team only has one or two kickers. You have to time it right. The school where I wanted to go needed a kicker.”
Dimke will begin his career as a walk-on with the prospect of receiving a scholarship for the fall of 2009.
He is rated as the No. 13 kicker nationally in the senior class by Scout.com and was a special mention all-state pick by the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette.
Boylan’s Derek Dimke Will Kick For Illinois
January 21, 2008
From WIFR:
The owner of the record for longest field goal in state playoff history will be booming kick-offs and splitting uprights for The University of Illinois.
Derek made the decision today to join Ron Zook and the Fighting Illini on a full football scholarship. With Illinois improving at the rate that they are, Dimke is looking forward to the chance to kick for a championship contender.
Harper Says Gators Still Among Top Five
January 21, 2008
From the Florida Times-Union:
Harper, a Times-Union Super 75 selection, is one of the most coveted backs in the country. He said he still has a top five of Florida, Florida State, Illinois, Miami and Clemson.
“I don’t have a leader right now,” Harper said. “I wanted to visit all five schools, but some didn’t work out. If Clemson is the right school for me, then that’s where I’ll go. If Florida is the right school for me, then that’s where I’ll go. It’s like that with all of them. I just want to make the right decision.”
Harper, who rushed for 1,266 yards this past season, is planning on remaining in town this coming weekend to take the SAT. He has a tentative visit to Miami scheduled for the last weekend before national signing day on Feb. 6.
Second Half Turnovers Doom Illini Against Purdue
January 19, 2008
In the 2003-2004 season it was a trip to West Lafayette and a Luther Head put back that highlighted Illinois’ regular season. There was hope a similar trip to the East would be a springboard for the Illini basketball team on to better things in 2008. After a great first half of basketball, it was just not to be. The Illini struggled throughout the second half in the face of some strong defensive pressure from Matt Painter’s Purdue Boilermakers and wilted down the stretch. After taking the momentum and an eight point lead into the break, Illinois’ defense and poise must have stayed in the locker room as the Boilermaker’s took the upper hand en route to a 74-67 win that moved the Illini to 1-5 in the Big Ten. Read more
Ford’s numbers at Althoff bode well for future at Illinois
January 18, 2008
From the St. Louis Post Dispatch:
Pick a number, any number.
They all speak volumes to Jason Ford’s ability as a running back.
— 6,415: the most career rushing yards by any running back in the St. Louis metro area.
— 22: the number of touchdowns Ford scored for Althoff this season.
— 9.1: his average gain per rush as a senior.
— 5: the number of consecutive games in which he rushed for at least 215 yards in 2007.
The list goes on and on. And on. And on. There’s another number that stands out, too, but the volumes it speaks really are more about the volatile nature of big-time college football recruiting. That number is three — the number of times Ford has given a verbal commitment to a college.
Michigan: Player Analysis
January 17, 2008
C Shaun Pruitt – A
Pruitt played one of his better games all season against Michigan. He showed some aggressiveness with the basketball that he had not shown previously this year, and he even made a few different post moves that are not common tools in his repertoire. The especially shocking thing to see from Pruitt on Wednesday night was one play the Illini were running a secondary break and he got the ball about eight feet from the basket, faced up the defender and made a hard move to his left by swinging the ball from the right side of his body to the left for the layup. Another move he made was a spin over his right shoulder to the basket, but he went right into a double team. (The real question here is why was Michigan sending a double team to Pruitt’s right?) Read more
Illini End Their Five Game Skid
January 17, 2008
Watching basketball is more fun when your team is the one that is winning the basketball game, and your coach is not the one that is just not doing what he needs to do to put his team in the best position. I feel for Michigan fans that had to watch that basketball game tonight, because I know what it was like. Ahh, screw that, who am I kidding, I don’t ever feel for Michigan fans, nor should any one. In fact taking pleasure in the pain of Michigan fans (when it happens) is one of the central tenants of my sports fandom.
On Wednesday night, the Illini got their one home game sandwiched between four difficult road contests in the Big Ten, and they took advantage of the game. Read more