Crandall Head nearing a decision

Crandall Head might be more than a regular visitor to C-U in the near future. It sounds like the Rich South sophomore could be the Illini's next commitment.

A 6-4 wing, Head said at tonight's Orange-Blue Scrimmage that he is looking to make an announcement on where he will attend college at some point this week.

"Either Tuesday or Wednesday," he said.

Head said he is leaning heavily toward Illinois, where his brother Luther became a star and where he feels most comfortable. Crandall Head has made three visits to Illinois this fall and took an extensive tour of the campus two weeeks ago. He's expected to be a college freshman for the 2010-11 season.

Crandall Head nearing a decision

Crandall Head sounds like he’s on board

Crandall Head, the brother of former Illini standout Luther Head, all but committed to the Illini when I spoke with him during the fourth quarter of Sunday evening’s Orange & Blue scrimmage at the Assembly Hall.

Head, a sophomore at Rich South High School, said he is considering Illinois, Marquette and Notre Dame, but Illinois is the only school he has visited. He was making an unofficial visit this weekend and said, “I like the way the recruit me. I like hanging out here. I like the players. They’re cool.”

He also said he is friends with Peoria’s D.J. Richardson and Waukegan’s Jereme Richmond, who have committed to the Illini, and added, “I like playing with guys like that.”

Crandall Head sounds like he’s on board

MJ revs up Illini

He rolled up in a silver Ferrari. He said the drive from the northern surburbs to Champaign was a “two cigar” trip. He’s still cooler than a December breeze.

Yes, Michael Jordan’s visit to Illinois basketball practice on Monday was an “event” for the players, coaches and managers on hand to witness it.

Jordan was in town to help film a piece on his son, Jeffrey Jordan, an Illini freshman walkon, and the relationship the two enjoy.

Illini athletic department spokesman Kent Brown said he’s been working on this for months, going back and forth with NBC and Jordan’s “people” to make the arrangements. Easier said than done, my friends. But Kent got everyone’s schedules in sync and Matt Lauer, MJ and Bruce Weber were all fitted with microphones while the four cameras rolled.

MJ revs up Illini

Bruce Weber Strikes Again! Class Of 2008 Chicago Simeon Star Stan Simpson Verbally Commits To Play Collegiately For The University Of Illinois

Brian Stinnette
October 15, 2007

Class of 2008 Chicago Simeon star Stan Simpson has given a verbal commitment to play his college basketball for head coach Bruce Weber, and the University of Illinois. His verbal comes on the heels of the Illini securing three 2009 verbals last week. Simpson ranks among the elite 2008 basketball prospects in the state of Illinois.

Simpson, who stands 6-9, is a long and highly athletic post, who has seen his recruiting stock skyrocket over the course of the past year. Offensively, Simpson is a post who has the ability to score the basketball with either hand. Defensively, Simpson has the ability to change games with his shot-blocking skills inside.

Chicago Simeon head coach Robert Smith confirmed Simpson's commitment to Illinois. Smith noted that the opportunity to play close to home, and the coaching staff at Illinois were both factors in Simpson's decision.

Bruce Weber Strikes Again! Class Of 2008 Chicago Simeon Star Stan Simpson Verbally Commits To Play Collegiately For The University Of Illinois

Head Coach Bruce Weber And The University Of Illinois Pick Up A Huge Verbal From Class Of 2009 Peoria Central Star D.J. Richardson

Head coach Bruce Weber and the University of Illinois have secured a huge verbal commitment from Class of 2009 Peoria Central star D.J. Richardson. Richardson is the top Class of 2009 basketball prospect in the state of Illinois, and is also held in high regard nationally. Richardson verballed at Peoria Central High School at 7:30 AM this morning.

Richardson, a 6-3 guard, is a supremely versatile player who makes things happen on both ends of the basktball court. He enjoyed a stellar run on the spring and summer travel team circuit while leading a talented Illinois Stars team.

Head Coach Bruce Weber, And The University Of Illinois Pick Up A Huge Verbal From Class Of 2009 Peoria Central Star D.J. Richardson

Bruce Weber Is On Fire!

Class of 2009 Warren Township star Brandon Paul has given a verbal commitment to head coach Bruce Weber, and the University of Illinois. Paul, who saw his recruiting stock skyrocket this spring and summer on the travel team circuit with Dickey Simpkins' Team NLP, ranks as one of the top Class of 2009 basketball prospects in the state of Illinois.

Paul, a 6-3 shooting guard, is a major talent on both ends of the basketball court. He has the ability to get points both slashing to hole, or by knocking down jumpers with range out beyond the three-point arc. Paul, who is both long and athletic, also has a chance to develop into a lockdown defensive player.

Paul's verbal comes on the heels of Class of 2009 Peoria Central star D.J. Richardson also making a commitment to play for Bruce Weber and Illinois. Paul, who's upside potential is through the roof, is the perfect compliment to Richardson in the 2009 Illinois recruiting class.

Bruce Weber Is On Fire! Illinois Scores A Second Huge Verbal As Class Of 2009 Warren Township Star Brandon Paul Verbals To The Illini

It Is Now Officially A Party In Champaign!

It is now officially a blowout recruiting party in Champaign as Class of 2009 Sterling High School basketball star Joseph Bertrand of the Illinois Wolves has now given a verbal commitment to play for head coach Bruce Weber, and the University of Illinois. Bertrand, one of the top 2009 prospects in Illinois, joins D.J. Richardson and Brandon Paul in the 2009 Illini recruiting class.

Bertand, who now stands 6-5, is a highly versatile, long and athletic wing. Bertrand is a major talent who oozes with potential. He teamed with highly regarded Diamond Taylor with the 16-U Illinois Wolves this past spring and summer to form a highly formidable duo.

It Is Now Officially A Party In Champaign! Class Of 2009 Sterling High School Star Joseph Bertrand Becomes Third 2009 University Of Illinois Verbal Commitment

Howard Named Assistant Coach: Former Illini point guard returns to alma mater

Sept. 19, 2007

Champaign, Ill. - Illinois Head Coach Bruce Weber announced today the hiring of Jerrance Howard as an assistant coach on the Fighting Illini basketball staff.

A native of Peoria, Ill., Howard was a four-year letterwinner for the Fighting Illini from 2001-04. During his career, Illinois compiled a record of 104-31 overall and 48-16 in the Big Ten. The Illini won three Big Ten championships, a Big Ten Tournament title and appeared in the NCAA Tournament all four years, advancing to the Elite Eight in 2001 and the Sweet 16 in both 2002 and 2004.

Howard played point guard for the Illini, backing up All-Americans Frank Williams, Dee Brown and Deron Williams. He quickly developed a reputation as the program's inspirational leader and went on to serve as tri-captain as a junior and senior. He was also a two-time winner of the Kenny Battle Award, an accolade voted upon by the players and coaches and given to an Illini who earns the respect of his teammates through hard work and effort in games and practice each day.

"We are thrilled to have Jerrance join our staff and welcome him back home," Weber said. "Jerrance has tremendous passion for the University of Illinois and our basketball program. He connects with everyone, his attitude and personality is contagious, and he'll work tirelessly to develop relationships on the recruiting trail. At the same time, he'll benefit our current players with the energy and intensity he will bring to the gym each and every day, just as he did when he was a player here. I've said this many times before, but when I think back to our first season, I really believe he was the MVP of our team because of the way he kept us together during the transition."

Howard joins the UI program after serving for the past three-plus years under Billy Gillispie at Texas A&M as an administrative assistant and at Kentucky in basketball operations. Howard, 27, earned a bachelor's degree in speech communications from the University of Illinois in 2004. In August he married the former Jessica Wordlaw, who is also an Illinois graduate.

Howard Named Assistant Coach: Former Illini point guard returns to alma mater

Notes on Webster and possible replacements

Mentions three guys who could be considered for the opening: Billy Garrett, Brian Davis and Robert Smith...

Notes on Webster and possible replacements

DISH Network®, the Leader in College Sports, Adds Big Ten Network

Finally!!! Thank you, DISH Network!!!
:-)

DISH Network®, the Leader in College Sports, Adds Big Ten Network

Illinois loses Webster, Chicago ties

Illinois loses Webster, Chicago ties

And from yesterday...
Webster release

Well, as "hard" as Webster worked the Chicago area recruiting for the Illini, he sure didn't reap many rewards, Jereme Richmond notwithstanding. Reading between the lines, the short, cliche farewell statement from Coach Weber seems to hint at possible personality issues between he and Webster. Whatever the case may be, this looms as a very important hire for Coach Weber: He must get Illini basketball back in favor with Chicagoland - more so than Coach Webster had done.

Americans' Confidence in Congress at All-Time Low: Confidence in most institutions drops

PRINCETON, NJ -- The percentage of Americans with a "great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in Congress is at 14%, the lowest in Gallup's history of this measure -- and the lowest of any of the 16 institutions tested in this year's Confidence in Institutions survey. It is also one of the lowest confidence ratings for any institution tested over the last three decades.

Gallup's annual update on Americans' confidence in institutions shows that confidence ratings are generally down across the board compared with last year. The public's confidence ratings in several institutions, including Congress, are now at all-time low points in Gallup's history of this measure. These low ratings reflect the generally sour mood of the public at this time.

Americans' Confidence in Congress at All-Time Low: Confidence in most institutions drops

Supercomputer at UI looks like a lock

Here comes a $208 million supercomputer to the U of I campus... It is scheduled to go online in 2011.

Supercomputer at UI looks like a lock

U. of Illinois Alumnus Pledges $100M

WOW!!!

CHICAGO — A University of Illinois alumnus announced he will make a $100 million donation to his alma mater, the largest gift in the university's history.

Thomas M. Siebel, the founder and former chairman of Siebel Systems Inc., pledged to give the gift to the Urbana-Champaign campus upon his death.

"It's the most exciting thing to happen at this university in terms of philanthropy," Urbana-Champaign chancellor Richard Herman said. "It's a gift of passion, one that will mean transformation for us."

Herman said the 54-year-old billionaire software mogul "has a sense of urgency about helping us attain excellence" and is open to the possibility of providing money sooner. He said a task force of faculty members will brainstorm ideas for Siebel to consider funding before his death.

U. of Illinois Alumnus Pledges $100M
UI grad donates 100 million for science, engineering

Big Ten Baseball Tournament Game 1: Illinois 12, Iowa 3

So sorry for your first-round tournament loss, UFI! Tanner Roark (8-2) went the distance for the Illini and took it to the Freakin' Hawkeyes for the second time this season. Now it's on to the Winner's Bracket up in Ann Arbor, Michigan!!! Appropriately, UFI heads to the Loser's Bracket...

Big Ten Baseball Tournament Game 1: Illinois 12, Iowa 3

2007 Big Ten Baseball Tournament

NCAA Men's Tennis National Championship: #1 Georgia 4, #10 Illinois 0

There's no shame in losing to this extremely talented Georgia men's tennis team. What an outstanding season for Coach Brad Dancer and the Fighting Illini!!!

No. 10 Illini Fall in National Title Match To Unbeaten No. 1 Georgia
Rowe and Spicijaric Earn NCAA All-Tournament Team Honors

The No. 10 Illinois men's tennis team ended its amazing run in the 2007 NCAA Tournament with a 4-0 loss to top-ranked, unbeaten Georgia, Tuesday afternoon at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Ga. The Illini (23-9) defeated No. 7 Mississippi, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Baylor before falling to the tournament-hosting Bulldogs (32-0). Illinois' Ryan Rowe and Marc Spicijaric earned NCAA All-Tournament honors for their performances in the championships.

The Bulldogs got on the board early with the doubles point, winning at No. 2 and 3. Georgia had relinquished the point only once this season. With only three singles matches needed to win the title, the team got to work winning 4-of-6 first sets. The Illini fell at No. 5, 1 and 4 to give Georgia its fifth overall NCAA team title.

The Illini nation was in full force today as around 100 Orange and Blue fans warmed the seats of the Henry Field Tennis Court stands to cheer on the Illini.

From the first serve, it was evident that the Illini came to play as they forced an hour-long doubles session.

NCAA Men's Tennis National Championship: #1 Georgia 4, #10 Illinois 0

NCAA Men's Tennis National Semifinal: #10 Illinois 4, #3 Baylor 3

Rowe Clinches Illini Berth into NCAA Finals; Illinois Dismisses Baylor, 4-3:
Illini Will Face the Winner of Georgia and Virginia in the Finals

Junior Ryan Rowe's three-set victory at No. 2 singles propels Illinois into finals on Tuesday.

Illinois upsets its third top-10 opponent in as many matches to reach the finals of the NCAA Team Championships on Tuesday, May 22, at 3 p.m. (EST).

NCAA Men's Tennis National Semifinal: #10 Illinois 4, #3 Baylor

2007 NCAA Men's Tennis Tournament Results:

• #10 Illinois 4, #54 Western Michigan 0
  
• #10 Illinois 4, #21 Michigan 2
  
• #10 Illinois 4, #7 Ole Miss 3
  
• #10 Illinois 4, #2 Ohio State 2
  
• #10 Illinois 4, #3 Baylor

Illinois 8, Michigan State 7

Davis, Toohey Lift Illini Into Tourney with 8-7 Comeback Win:
Davis Homers Twice, Toohey Tosses 4 1/3 Shutout Innings; Illini Face Iowa Wednesday

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Junior catcher Lars Davis and senior pitcher Jake Toohey stole the show on Sunday, Davis going yard twice and Toohey throwing 4 1/3 incredible innings of relief to lift Illinois into the Big Ten Tournament with an 8-7 victory over Michigan State in the final game of the regular season after falling behind 7-0 in the fifth inning. The win gives the Illini the No. 5 seed, meaning they will face No. 4 Iowa in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament Wednesday at 11:05 a.m. (CT) in Ann Arbor, Mich. It also marks Illinois' second 30-win season in the last three.

"You fall behind one, two, three runs, but when it's seven runs, you just never know," Illinois coach Dan Hartleb said. "But we found a way to keep pecking away and pecking away. The difference between today and yesterday was our guys continued to take good swings and didn't worry about the long ball. Then we got some guys on and got some pressure on them, they elevated some pitches and we got some big hits."

Illinois 8, Michigan State 7

Illinois 6, Michigan State 5

Relentless Illini Come From Behind to Down Spartans, 6-5:
Roark, Toohey Tie Records; Rohde Drives in 4

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Sophomore Tanner Roark tied the Illinois record for wins in a Big Ten season by collecting his sixth victory and senior closer Jake Toohey tied the school mark for saves in a conference season by slamming the door for the seventh time in the Illini's 6-5 comeback win over Michigan State in front of 812 fans at Illinois Field. First baseman Mike Rohde launched a three-run homer in the third inning and finished with four RBI, and centerfielder Kyle Hudson was the lone Illini with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI.

"I've been extremely impressed with our guys," Illinois coach Dan Hartleb said. "They went out today and just approached the game like it's another game. They went out and took care of business. We're extremely composed right now and I'm very pleased with where we are."

The Illini are now alone in fifth place, as Ohio State fell to Penn State, 3-2 in 10 innings. After Michigan defeated Iowa, 4-3 in 11 innings, Illinois is now just one game behind the Hawkeyes for fourth. The Illini need to win just one of the final three games against MSU to ensure a spot in the Big Ten Tournament.

Illinois 6, Michigan State 5

The new hoop is up!!!

Here it is - our new 72" Spalding basketball goal!!! Just installed this morning!!! Many thanks to A.J. and Brian for all their help putting it up!!!

Spalding Maximum Performance Series Arena View 72" Backboard System