We at WDWS and the News-Gazette want to thank all of our sponsors (including a BIG THANK YOU to State Farm) for helping make another "Shootout at the Hall" a big success.

There were some outstanding games at the Assembly Hall again this past Saturday and a chance for fans to get a glimpse of the Illini future at the same time. 

I dont know about you...but I cant wait to see Crandall Head....Jereme Richmond....Joseph Bertrand...Brandon Paul and Meyers Leonard on the same Illini squad together.  Throw in D.J. Richardson, Tyler Griffey and  combine all of those guys with  current Illini sophomores Demetri McCamey, Mike Tisdale and Mike Davis...and....well....Illini fans might have another national contender on their hands.

Hey...its a little ways off yet...but we can all dream big can't we?

Speaking of dreaming...I remember dreaming of getting more sleep during my college days at Liberty University as finals week was in progress.  The pressure of getting all your major projects and papers in on time and then trying to study for the final exams of several different classes at the same time was a real challenge.  I remember walking around campus during  finals week and noticing how tired and perplexed everyone seemed.

It felt like that....until the Friday of exam week came... and you could almost the relief of those who were done with everything  and the jealous feelings of those who still had a couple of finals to go.

Then suddenly it was over...and you were on your way home for Christmas.  I did not have a car to drive home my first couple of years in college and getting a ride home took some planning.  I remember looking at the bulletin boards all over Liberty University that contained advertisements for people looking for someone to ride with to a certain part of the United States... or someone who was charging a small fee to be the driver to help get you home.

Home ...where your  Mom's meals tasted great.  Home...where your old bed seemed  softer than it ever seemed to you when you were growing up.  Plus you could get your laundry done the right way after several months of battling busted dormitory washing machines. The real bonus in being home was that you didnt have to stand in line to eat or wash your clothes. 

Once Christmas and New Year's Day were over...I always felt like it was time to get back to school. Back to my college friends and my busy college life.  But it was good to get away from it for awhile.

Times have changed and we all have aged a bit since then.....but to me there was still a great deal of satisfaction getting those finals done...and great joy in the anticipation of getting home for Christmas. 

Once finals are done the Illini basketball team plays Detroit Mercy on Saturday.  It will be the debut of Alex Legion. 

By the way...did you know Dick Vitale used to coach at Detroit?

See you at the Hall on Saturday!