The high school and college basketball seasons are in full swing which provides anticipation for photo finishes in conference races and prospects for exciting postseason play.
Two weeks ago in this space we extolled the virtues of the University of Illinois men’s basketball traditions with successful Final Four team participation in the 1949, 1951, 1952, and 1989 teams. Expectations run high most seasons for the U of I men’s teams. One person’s reply called this writer on the carpet for omission of the venerable 2005 Illini who were Final Four participants. Correct. Lack of time and space led to the less than ideal omission. Indeed, the 2005 team made the best showing in the NCAA tournament by taking second place. All other U of I teams fell in semifinal games, even though all of the five teams were capable of capturing national championships. The 2005 team celebrated 100 years of University of Illinois basketball.
One little known fact is the 1952 Illinois team which included the debut to the big time by center John Kerr, the late John Kerr who became known for a radio and television analyst of Chicago Bulls games until his untimely death. He was a hale and hearty man throughout. As a youngster he came to basketball late. He attracted coaches of his tall frame, 6-11 in high school, college, and in the National Basketball Association for the Syracuse Nationals. As a gangly high school freshman he played for a church team on the South Side of Chicago prior to the high school coach at Tilden Tech.’s seeing him in gym class. The coach worked with Kerr in drills and in dance routines to enhance agility. Kerr, in fact, as a freshman on the church team was the back-up center. He was all-State in high school by his junior season and an all-America selection at the U of I prior to a length playing professional career.
Now, on the 2005 team which dazzled fans all season and was ranked at the top of polls most of the season: Members of the team included freshman Shaun Pruitt of West Aurora High School, senior Roger Powell, Jr. of Joliet Central High School, and 6-10 forward/center junior James Augustine of Lincoln-way Central High School. Note from the 2005 season in the national championship game won by North Carolina, 75-70, the phantom foul near the end of championship game on Augustine which turned the tide was an illusion. It had to be an illusion. Replays of the two players, Augustine and a North Carolina player in the center of the floor just as they crossed the half-court line, showed no foul. What did the referee think he saw and why would he call a foul in a sequence which had no bearing on the flow of the game. Neither player had the ball and nothing slowed the flow of the play.
Other top players for Illinois included Deron Williams, Dee Brown, and Luther Head, the captains and three of the top players n the country. All outside shooting threats. To kindle memories, other players included 7-2 reserve center Nick Smith who contributed, sophomore Warren Carter, guard Calvin Brock, guard Rich McBride, and Jack Ingram. Good memories. Will Illinois find a way back to the Final Four? North Carolina and Ohio State were the only teams to defeat the 2005 Illinois team in the 2004-2005 season. Illinois ended with a 37-2 record.
Hope springs eternal. Illinois this season has a record overall of 13-3 and 6-1 in the Big Ten and in first place following Monday’s MLK Day 96-88 double overtime defeat against visiting Purdue.
Regarding high school basketball: The conference leaders include Wheaten Warrenville South in the DuKane, 7-0 and 20-1 overall; Oswego East in the Southwest Prairie East, 9-0 and 20-1 overall.