One of Editor & Publisher’s ‘10 That Do It Right 2021’
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Variable clouds and windy at times with snow showers. Low 33F. Winds NW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
Updated: April 3, 2024 @ 6:58 am
Gretchen Dolan, left, and Adalia McKenzie are one win away from a WBIT championship for the Illinois women’s basketball program. The Illini play Villanova at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Drake Westcott and the Illini baseball team play Tuesday at Illinois State.
Makira Cook dribbles near center court during Monday evening’s WBIT semifinal game against Washington State at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Cook and the Illini cruised to an 81-58 win, advancing to Wednesday night’s WBIT title game.
Illinois women’s gymnastics associate head coach Josh Nilson.
Sports Editor
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Sports Editor Matt Daniels with a look at what’s going on around the area:
Gretchen Dolan, left, and Adalia McKenzie are one win away from a WBIT championship for the Illinois women’s basketball program. The Illini play Villanova at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
➜ 1. The Illinois women’s basketball team is one win away from the program’s first postseason championship. The Illini continued their late-season run with an impressive 81-58 victory against Washington State on Monday evening in the WBIT semifinals at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Illinois (18-15) gets a shot at Villanova (22-12) at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the title game.
➜ 2. Seeing Makira Cook thrive like she did against Washington State — 20 points and five assists while shooting an efficient 8 of 13 from the field — should make Illini fans happy the point guard will return for a third season in Champaign next winter.
➜ 3. The goal is the NCAA tournament every season for the Illinois women’s basketball program. But two straight postseason appearances is a boon for the Illini.
Drake Westcott and the Illini baseball team play Tuesday at Illinois State.
Home runs the Illinois baseball team has already hit this season, leading the Big Ten and six ahead of runner-up Indiana. The single-season Illini record is 91 home runs set by the 1998 Illinois team, but with the way Drake Westcott (team-high nine home runs), Ryan Moerman (eight HRs) and current Big Ten Player of the Week Jacob Schroeder (six HRs) are hitting right now, watch out.
Makira Cook dribbles near center court during Monday evening’s WBIT semifinal game against Washington State at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Cook and the Illini cruised to an 81-58 win, advancing to Wednesday night’s WBIT title game.
Three events I’m paying attention to
➜ 1. Illinois vs. Villanova women’s basketball. Play like Illinois did against Washington State and a WBIT title is coming back to Champaign. Of course, the Illini need to be aware of Villanova guard Lucy Olsen and her 23.3 points per game before the 6 p.m. tip on Wednesday at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
➜ 2. Big Ten men’s gymnastics championships. The Illini will try for their first Big Ten title since 2018 when the five-team meet begins at 7 p.m. Friday at State Farm Center in Champaign.
➜ 3. Parkland at Heartland softball. The top-ranked Cobras (33-3) will carry a 26-game win streak into Friday’s doubleheader in Normal that starts at 3 p.m.
Illinois women’s gymnastics associate head coach Josh Nilson.
Three questions with Illinois women’s gymnastics associate head coach Josh Nilson. In his first season on coach Nadalie Walsh’s staff after spending five seasons as the Temple women’s gymnastics coach, Nilson and the Illini open NCAA regional action at 1 p.m. Wednesday against Ball State in Ann Arbor, Mich.
➜ 1. My favorite sports team is … the Philadelphia Eagles.
➜ 2. Three coaches I’d like to have dinner with are … John Wooden, Nick Saban and Ray Corn.
➜ 3. My biggest pet peeves are … people who eat loudly and bent knees on bars.
Sports Editor
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