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HQ Live Report - Illinois 42, Michigan State 41 - Final
-Guess what? The Illini played a close game. This was the seventh straight game decided by five points or less - a modern record. What else? The Illini snapped a three-game losing streak with a gutsy performance against what might be the nation's most physical team.
-There was some disagreement on whether there was time left on the clock after Keith Appling's layup missed. Associate head coach Wayne McClain found Jim Burr and made sure there wasn't. "He said it was over!" McClain said.
- Illinois hasn't won a game by scoring fewer points since Dec. 8, 1947 when it beat Notre Dame 40-38 in Harry Combes' second game as coach.
-Smart foul by Meyers Leonard on Derrick Nix, sending one of the Spartans' worst free throw shooters to the line with 14.1 seconds left. He made one of two.
-Brandon Paul will hear about the two missed free throws in the final 26 seconds. But he was the Illini's only real scoring threat tonight, scoring 18 points and adding nine rebounds.
-Branden Dawson had 13 rebounds. Big-time athlete.
-Illinois has beaten a pair of top-10 opponents (Ohio State, MSU), which should carry some weight on Selection Sunday.
-Bruce Weber and Tom Izzo usually share a few words after the game. This one was intense enough a man-hug had to make due.
More coverage from Klee and Jackson coming later on HQ.
Klee
HQ Live Report - Michigan State 36, Illinois 35 - 4:52 left in regulation
-Hard to believe Tom Izzo hasn't gotten a technical foul tonight. He's been non-stop since the opening tip.
-Bruce Weber none-too-pleased with Brandon Paul's shot selection on that three-pointer.
-That was a 7-0 run from Sparty to take the lead.
-Michigan State has 16 turnovers... and a lead.
Back in a few. Going to work on the print coverage for tomorrow's N-G.
Klee
HQ Live Report - Illinois 33, Michigan State 28 - 9:54 left in regulation
-Big bucket from Brandon Paul. He will probably have to be the guy down the stretch.
-Think the officials missed one there. It looked to be out-of-bounds off Michigan State.
-Keith Appling took a nasty fall right in front of us. He's going to feel that tomorrow.
-Branden Dawson averaged 15 points over his past two games and is coming on strong tonight. He has eight.
-Tom Izzo is beside himself with all the missed layups.
-The crowd is booing loudly. Jim Burr not the most popular guy in the building at the moment.
Back in a few.
Klee
HQ Live Report - Illinois 28, Michigan State 26 - 12:10 left in regulation
-Branden Dawson beasted Myke Henry on that offensive rebound. Physically it's no contest between the freshmen.
-Across the way, Dakich and Tirico look to be unimpressed with this offensive debacle - or would you call it a defensive chess match?
-You know it's physical when Ibrahima Djimde makes a cameo. He checked in at 13:33.
-Draymond Green with his fourth personal. He goes to the bench at 13:08. Not a memorable night (so far) for the likely first-team All-Big Ten selection.
-Jerrance Howard is as animated as Bruce Weber tonight. This was his scout, and he wants this one.
Klee
HQ Live Report - Illinois 28, Illinois 22 - 16:41 left in regulation
-No Draymond Green to start the second half.
-Michigan State coaches calling for an illegal screen on Illinois.
-Athletics trainer Al Martindale will have a full treatment room after this one.
-There's a guy behind us that desperately wants to "GET IT INSIDE."
-Branden Dawson just left the court with blood on his jersey. The Krush serenades him with: "Use... a... Band-Aid..."
Klee
HQ Live Report - Illinois 22, Illinois 20 - Halftime
-The Draymond Green situation reminds of the Wisconsin game. You'll remember the Badgers had eight turnovers in the first half against Illinois - and the score was tied at halftime. Michigan State had to sit Green for the final 10 minutes of this half - and Illinois didn't capitalize.
-Easy to see what Matt Painter was talking about. Branden Dawson doesn't miss an opportunity to talk trash.
-The Minnesota game on Saturday was physical. This one is more so.
-Myke Henry with a pair of "scorer's buckets." He's got those scoring instincts and has six points.
-No Tyler Griffey in the first half.
-Izzo played 10 guys. Weber went deep enough, too, with eight.
-I don't mind it (too much), but you can see why the Big Ten gets a rap. That was another wrestling match.
-The Jesse White Tumblers are the halftime entertainment. Paging, Demetri McCamey.
Back in a few.
Klee
HQ Live Report - Illinois 20, Illinois 18 - 3:56 left in the first half
-Empty seats haven't filled. It's not bad attendance but there must be 2,000-3,000 empties.
-Illinois has a better caliber of athlete than in recent years, of course. But still doesn't have the thick bodies like Michigan State.
-This alltime series is tied, 55-55.
-D.J. RIchardson has seven points to lead Illinois. He said Monday that his injuredwrist "can't be an excuse" for his mini-slump.
-Rejus Benn is in the crowd. He's sitting over in the bleachers.
Back in a few.
Klee
HQ Live Report - Michigan State 14, Illinois 12 - 7:51 left in the first half
-Quality minutes from Nnanna Egwu. Allowed Illinois to maintain a lead with Meyers Leonard on the bench.
-Michigan State's rebounding is truly remarkable. It's like their playing time depends on who gets the next one. The count: MSU 18 (13 offensive), Illinois 7.
-Tom Izzo ripped Draymond Green after the T. Now he's working the officials. Wouldn't be surprised to see Sparty get a 50-50 call here in a minute.
Back in a few.
Klee
HQ Live Report - Illinois 11, Michigan State 10 - 10:56 left in the first half
-Draymond Green just got T'ed up. That's his third personal with 10:56 left in the first half. Big play.
-An Illinois player cracked Adreian Payne on the arm and no call. We could hear it over here, 30 feet away. Tom Izzo blew his top.
-Kevin Hambly's volleyball team was honored at the last timeout. Standing ovation from the crowd.
Back in a few.
Klee
HQ Live Report - Illinois 7, Michigan State 5 - 14:49 left in the first half
-Adreian Payne just hit his first career three-pointer. Thought that looked strange. He's 1-for-2 in 56 career games.
-Tom Izzo has at least two inches on Jim Burr.
-Michigan State could be the preseason favorite in the Big Ten next season. Subtract Draymond Green. Slide Gary Harris into Brandon Wood's spot. That's about all you lose, except for Austin Thornton.
-Coming of a potentially record-setting Matto score (15) at Minnesota, Brandon Paul adds a Matto point on the deflection.
-The Spartans don't believe they're getting a fair shake from this veteran officiating crew.
Back shortly.
Klee
HQ Live Report - Michigan State 2, Illinois 0 - 17:25 left in the first half
-Certainly a different feel in the Hall when it's not painted orange. Looks dark. And a there a lot of empty seats. Guessing there were 11,000-12,000 in here at tipoff. I know several ticket-holders in the community said the 6 p.m. tip can be tough to reach (on time).
-Meyers Leonard won the tip. The big guy will need an ice bath tomorrow after the physical play Payne and Nix are prepared to dish out.
-Draymond Green wears his warmups until the last possible moment.
-Illinois recruit Michael Orris is in attendance. He just arrived.
-Illinois with three turnovers in three possessions. And no one bats an eye.
-Marcus Jackson reports Brandon Wood has an illness, too. Reminds of the Illini's win against then-No. 5 Michigan State in 2010. Kalin Lucas didn't play in that one. Wood and Green are playing tonight, though.
-Jerrance Howard always has the Michigan State scouting report for Illinois. His focus was on Draymond Green - switching ball screens and doubling him in the post. Oh, and keeping the Spartans off the glass. That was Rule No. 1.
Back in a few.
Klee
HQ Live Report - Michigan State (17-4, 6-2 Big Ten) at Illinois (15-6, 4-4) - Tipoff (6, ESPN)
-The Illini starters tonight, according to deeply rooted sources: Abrams, Richardson, Paul, Bertrand, Leonard.
-Michigan State is the third top-10 opponent Illinois has faced this season (Ohio State, Missouri).
-In Bruce Weber's tenure, Illinois has suffered a losing streak longer than three games only once. The Illini dropped five straight during the forgettable 2007-08 season.
Back in a few.
Klee
HQ Live Report - Michigan State (17-4, 6-2 Big Ten) at Illinois (15-6, 4-4) - 15 minutes until tipoff (6, ESPN)
-Illinois AD Mike Thomas is in attendance. He's chatting with Sam Maniscalco's dad, Carl.
-The Orange Krush is wearing its usual - but won't be for long.
-The Michigan State student managers beat the Illinois student managers yesterday. The Spartans took two of three pickup games. Disappointing. I saw the film. The Illini guys had proper ball movement, good spacing, weakside box-outs... but they couldn't hit a shot.
"Exhibition game," said student manager GM Sean Harrington.
-A little birdie says Draymond Green is sick with flu-like symptoms. See how that plays out.
-Marcus Jackson reports Meyers Leonard just made four three-pointers in front of Tom Izzo.
Back in a few.
Klee
HQ Live Report - Michigan State (17-4, 6-2 Big Ten) at Illinois (15-6, 4-4) - One hour until tipoff (6, ESPN)
-My memory of Dan Dakich is how he was the guy that "escorted" EJ Gordon out on the court for Gordon's only visit to the Assembly Hall. You'll remember Dakich was an assistant at Indiana then. Anyway, Steve Kelly talked with Dan Dakich a minute ago.
"I think Bruce Weber is an outstanding coach. And I don't come on a lot of radio shows and say that about about everyone (like most commentators, was the insinuation)," Dakich said. "But I think Bruce is. Let's see what happens as we pass through this (season) before we decide what happens."
-Both teams are on the court. Branden Dawson is a freshman and has an NBA (or NFL) body.
-Tyler Griffey and I just made a bet. Can't tell you what it is, though.
-With all the talk about Ohio State being head-and-shoulders better than everyone else in the Big Ten... I almost wonder if Michigan State took that personally. Didn't expect the Spartans to be in this position, really.
Back in a few.
Klee
HQ Live Report - Michigan State (17-4, 6-2 Big Ten) at Illinois (15-6, 4-4) - 90 minutes until tipoff (6, ESPN)
-One of the many reasons this one is big for the Illini... there's only one more ranked team (No. 23 Michigan) on the home schedule.
-The NCAA selection committee released its Nitty Gritty report today. Appreciate the transparency, Greg Shaheen. Here's the rundown on Illinois: 37 RPI, 2-3 road record, 7-5 vs. RPI top 100, one bad loss (sub-101, Penn State).
-The Illinois student managers faced the Michigan State student managers in a pickup game at Ubben. We'll get the scoop in a minute.
-Expecting a solid crowd tonight. There was a late rush of student ticket sales. And roughly 1,000 tickets remaining. Look for around 15,000 in attendance. These 6 p.m. starts often make for a late-arriving crowd.
-Brandon Paul just got on the court. Same for Austin Thornton.
Back in a few.
Klee
HQ Live Report - Michigan State (17-4, 6-2 Big Ten) at Illinois (15-6, 4-4) - 2 hours until tipoff (6, ESPN)
Good evening everyone. Basketball writer Paul Klee joining you for another Live Report. We'll be here through the final buzzer with updates and anecdotes from the Assembly Hall. Big one tonight, let's get started...
-Myke Henry is out on the court, getting up some shots.
-Mike Tirico, Dan Dakich and Samantha Steele on the call for ESPN tonight. They just got here. Dakick is a personal favorite and often stops by an Illinois practice in the preseason.
-The Illini student managers will wear the "Operation Blue Out" t-shirts on the bench. Not sure if the coaches are going with it. But the coaches will be sporting the suits-and-sneakers look in a nod to Coaches vs. Cancer.
-An Illinois win would be similar (though not as surprising) as the upset of Ohio State on Jan. 10.
"We went (into that game) thinking we were going to win," Brandon Paul said.
-And the most fundamental of skills carried the Illini over the Buckeyes: shooting. Tonight's game probably will be decided by the same thing - can Illinois hit outside shots? Illinois is 4-5 in its past nine games. In the five losses, the Illini shot 22-for-92 percent from three (23.9 percent). In the four wins, that number was 41.6 percent.
-What's the mood in the Illini locker room after three straight losses? Click here.
-Klee's prediction and storylines: Click here.
-Really enjoyed having Illini great Dave Downey on the show last night. Here's the podcast.
Going on the First Bank Pregame Show. You can listen live here.
Klee (pklee@news-gazette.com)
tv announcers: The Illini offense is sketchy so far ... paul and leonard need to get going ... what's with all the empty seats close to the court? same ole so far and betcha this is what we would still experience 5 years from now with Weber. Need to compete for championships.
What happened to DJ Richardson? This guy can't hit anything. Actually, he really couldn't shoot much last year either. He can't be out there if all he can do is play defense. He is starting to look like a very overrated player and Weber refuses to bench him. Henry should be taking his minutes. He's taller, can rebound better and is a scorer and you have to get him experience. Richardson has had every possible chance to prove himself and is going nowhere. Looks like he has hit his ceiling and on a team that desperately needs another scorer, he is too much a liability. Maybe it's his wrist but bottom line is he can't make shots. Even at home.
WOW...........what a well officiated game! I like it when they let them play some.......but that was atrocious.
That game should be a video on Poor Officiating AND Inept Offensive execution!
Sum-Ting-Wong when there's all those empty "A" section seats! Especially when they are so easy to see on TV!
What an entertaining game. Not for everyone like some of posters/complainers above. I realize most people are soft and won't appreciate the physical nature of that game.Every made basket is huge in a game like that. Makes it more fun in my opinion.
That's Big ten Bball. If you don't like it you're in trouble because if it hasn't changed by now it's not going to. Better move to ACC country.
I'd normally agree with you, but I don't know, man... That was a really ugly game. I don't think either team played well in sense of the word. The defense was pretty decent both ways, but there was a ton of standing around for both teams, braindead plays, terrible shot selection, and just flat out bricks. Some terrible fouls too at horrible times for MSU and awful defensive rebounding for Illinois. I really would give both teams Fs for this one. Maybe a D- for Illinois, but yeesh, that was brutal.
Very ugly game and if we can hold opponents to less than 40 points per game, we can win some games. Weber's coaching finally taking hold as team concentrates on defense and seems clueless on offense. At end of game, best free thrower shooter, Sam M, throwing ball in and should be on receiving end of inbound which another coaching mistake that almost cost us the game as Weber's coaching cost us Minnesota game.
A win is a win and against a very good team. Illini have some talent; just wish Weber would let them play. You know play 40 minutes, full court, and run like he said he was going to do with this talent.
Oh, well, maybe next year.
Honestly, there really isn't a free throw shooter I want on the line at the end of a game to ice it than Brandon Paul. He has been money in those situations since his freshman year at Illinois. It didn't work out this time (I honestly think I jinxed him), but I was pretty thrilled when I saw he was the one fouled. Then he clanked it... I don't know, man... Just an awful game.
Ugh... That game goes up there with the Indiana-Illinois game last year, the Wisconsin-Penn St. game a couple years ago, and the Illinois-Penn St. game a few years back, as one of the worst basketball games I've seen played by two teams in a game. Illinois looked absolutely horrible. MSU looked terrible and so braindead they wouldn't be accepted by their local Community College. That was a horrific game. I don't even know what to say other then it's a win and I can deal with that.
I also want to personally apologize for totally jinxing Brandon Paul on those last free throws. When he made his two free throws the possession before, I said "Brandon Paul is just so clutch. He does not miss when the game is on the line". Sure enough he clanks the next two one and ones. I almost cost us the game so my apologies.
In any case, it was great to see the kids contributing a bit out there, but Illinois looked scared to death to shoot inside the arc. And all the offensive rebounds we gave up... How many did MSU get? 30? 40? Ugh...
We can talk about coaching until we turn blue in the face, but neither MSU's or Illinois' players were doing what their coach was calling for. The plays where Izzo and Weber drew up plays were the only plays where the teams actually had a decent chance of scoring. When the game was moving freely though, it looked like two teams who were just learning how to play basketball =. Terrible game but another heroic performance by Brandon Paul even with the 2 missed one-and-ones. When you score 43% of your team's points, you're doing something right. Yeesh. I think I'm out of words.
"...people are tired of losing. With the talent we have, we should be better and we shouldn't lose at home to anyone!"
Thee team is 16-6 with 1 home loss. I think people are overreacting.
Regarding the talent, I remember seeing three freshman on the court at one time last night. None of them were McD All-Americans. We have seven new playerson the team. Before the season began, I think most fans realized that there would be growing pains. A few early wins raised those expectations, and fans are being fickle.
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