Each day in March, we'll look back at a memorable Illini performance in the NCAA tournament, thanks to writers from the News-Gazette and Jim Turpin's audio.

Today: After defeating Villanova and Maryland, Lou Henson's Illini fell to Kentucky in the 1984 NCAA regional at Rupp Arena. It was the last time the NCAA allowed teams to play tournament games on their home court.

Date: March 25, 1984

Headline: Home cookin' costs Illini

By LOREN TATE

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Just before suppertime Saturday, Kentucky's proud fandom stood as one in the dusk to salute The Good Kids as they flew out of the Commonwealth toward a hero's welcome in Illinois.

The Kentuckians could afford to be gracious. Their high-powered Wildcats won "the battle for Seattle" by a score of 54-51 score.

But not before Lou Henson's courageous athletes bucked superior talent and the grand tradition of Rupp Arena to come within a single less-than-courageous officiating call of having a shot to tie the game with 14 seconds to go.

It was that close.

From a fundamental standpoint — and the back-slapping Kentucky fans recognized it — the Illini outplayed Kentucky all the way. Bruce Douglas, Doug Altenberger and the gang dug in defensively with as much determination as they have ever shown. The tall, swift Wildcats had not a single fast-break layin nor a dunk in 40 minutes. Think about it.

Offensively, the Illini methodically persisted until they found an open jumper, the exact shot they wanted under the circumstances, unguarded and easily makable.

Ah, but there's the rub. UI shots reverberated around and wouldn't drop. In the first half, when the Illini clung within 24-22, they shot 45 percent (9 of 20) on generally unguarded attempts while Wildcats caressed the home nets at 64.7 percent (11 of 17) on, as they say in the gymnastics, attempts of a high degree of difficulty. There were three flying jumpers by 6-foot-11, 245-pound Melvin Turpin, two Mount-like recoil bombs by Jim Master, a couple of double-clutch, flip-and-hope slopins by Winston Bennett and, to break the tie, a desperation rainbow from the erstwhile three-point range by Dicky Beal with Douglas in his face at :02.

Kentucky, to its credit, upgraded its shot selection later as 7-1 Sam Bowie, with an assist from the officials, broke out of a scoreless first half. When Bowie slammed over the top and sent bodies flying for a rebound goal, the zebras looked away. When he butted and backed straight into a flat-footed Efrem Winters, they mistakenly whistled the foul on sore-ankled Efrem. When Altenberger made a clean steal - "Sam even said to me, 'You got it clean'" said Doug - a phantom foul sent Sam to the line for two of his 11.

But Hank Nichols, who sent Henson leap-frogging off the bench with a five-second call on Illinois' first possession, saved his most hurtful decision for last. This is the same Nichols who, as an Atlantic Coast Conference ref, participated in an NCAA commercial to show what human fellows these refs are.

Human is the right word. In Rupp Arena, with all those rabid Kentuckians threatening your life, you don't take the ball away from the Wildcats in the closing seconds, not even if Beal travels (which he did) or is tied up against the midcourt and the sideline by Douglas and Winters (which he was).

"I knew he traveled," said Douglas. "Then I thought we'd either get a jump ball (Illinois' possession) or a five-second call. I never dreamed they'd call a foul. We had Beal trapped. I didn't foul him. I definitely didn't foul him."

All Beal could say later, after cashing two free throws to expand the 52-50 Wildcat lead and being named MVP in the Mideast Regional, was: "Man, I'm glad we don't have to play those guys again."

Small wonder. In the unselfish world of floorplay, Beal was throughly bested by Douglas, who distributed 11 assists, came up with three steals and blunted the pointman on Kentucky's fast break like a hard-riding cowboy turning a stampeding herd.

But the Quincy sophomore, who nearly brought his season shooting average to .500 with a 37-for-60 finish in the last four Big Ten games, never quite regained his touch in postseason activity. He was 10 for 31 in three playoff games, and he had the open shot from the top of the circle that could have turned a 50-48 Kentucky lead into a deadlock just under the two-minute mark.

When it was over, a distraught Henson shook his head as he saw Illinois with two more field goals despite overall 46 percent shooting to Kentucky's 55.3.

"The thing that's hard to believe is that Kentucky can be that physical and have just two personal fouls in 19 1/2 minutes in the second half," he said. "I don't mean to cry but that foul ratio (8-2 in that span) was critical. It's tough enough to play Kentucky on their own court without letting them shoot 17 free throws to our nine.

"Did Beal travel? Well, again, I don't want to sound like a crybaby, but they've let traveling go throughout the NCAA playoffs. This isn't a criticism, it's just a fact. Check that last play on TV. You can see what happened."

And in the hearts of the blue, Kentuckians knew what had happened on this Saturday afternoon. The system had prevailed. When they constructed the 23,525-seat arena adjacent to the Hyatt Regency complex, they perpetuated both Rupp's name and a high likelihood of continuing success. They've won 16 straight home games this season, holding the number of home losses to 48 over the last 42 years.

This is the world's most lavish amateur basketball program. It once produced an entire U.S. Olympic team. Its worldwide reputation attracts superstar athletes like Germany's 7-foot-4 Gunther Behnke and Brooklyn's Ed Davender who, if mystified by Lexington's Southern twang and love for horses, will quickly learn.

Its players reside in a $750,000 lodge; its radio network is the nation's largest; every game is televised; there are countless publications on the Blue and White.

Still, with just a break here or there, with just a little better shooting or a gutty officiating call, Illinois might have upset Kentucky's applecart. Thus ended a 26-5 season in which Illinois carried every loss to the closing seconds. Senior Quinn Richardson and The Good Kids deserved that mythical Kentucky salute and the hundreds of loyal Illini who met them at the airport.

Other March Memories:

Illini stun Arizona to reach 2005 FInal Four — Link