Purdue 64 Illinois PW3D

Yeah, it was that kind of day for the Illini. The Illini got down huge to begin the game when Purdue went on a 21-0 run and never really got close the rest of the way out. Whenever they put together a run, Purdue would answer. The biggest example of this is David Teague hitting a 30 foot bankshot in the second half as the shot clock expired. It was just a demoralizing loss all around.

The most embarrassing thing about the loss, and I hate to say this, was Chester Fraizer. That kid is a firecracker and everything I usually love about a player. He's hard nosed, he dives into the crowd and he reminds me of a shorter version of my all-time favorite Illini, Lucas Johnson. The problem is that Chester is a point guard and when opposing players leave him at the three point line like he's Dikembe Mutumbo (you know, without the hospital and school building), then there is a problem. A guard needs to be able to get the shot in the vicinity of the hoop when left that wide open from three. It's just the way the game is played. Chester needs to find the range or Illinois might have to substitute offense and defense (where that offense would come from is another very real problem).

I'd like to think this is like the 03-04 season and Illinois will go undefeated the rest of the way out and get to the top of the Big Ten standings. But this team doesn't have that kind of talent or that kind of confidence. I'll go ahead and say it: NIT, two games and out.

That's not to say I'm not going to stick around and watch all this. I love Illinois through good and bad. And this is definitely bad.

Boilermakers Dampen Illinois Tourney Hopes (DailyIllini)