Illinois vs Wisconsin Basketball Recap

Illinois 63, Wisconsin 56

 
The Illinois Fighting Illini achieved more than a human mind can possibly comprehend on one magical night in Madison, Wis. In the course of roughly two hours, coach Bruce Weber's ballclub transformed itself from bubble resident to a virtual lock for the NCAA Tournament. And that's just the beginning of the story.

You're not supposed to make 10 straight shots against coach Bo Ryan's rugged and relentless Wisconsin defense. Illinois did on Tuesday.

You're not supposed to win at the Kohl Center, the toughest building to conquer for any Big Ten road team. Illinois did.

You're definitely not supposed to win in Madison as an unranked Big Ten team. Illinois became the first squad to achieve such a distinction with its seven-point triumph. Wisconsin had been 51-0 against unranked conference opponents at the Kohl Center, but now that record is 51-1.

You're not supposed to shoot 53 percent against the Badgers on their own home floor. Illinois did. Demetri McCamey continued his electrifying play by throwing down 27 points for the Illini, while center Mike Tisdale tossed in 19 on 8-of-11 shooting.

You're not supposed to snap an 18-game home winning streak for a program of Wisconsin's caliber... unless you have the talent of a Kansas, Kentucky or Villanova. Oh, but Illinois did exactly that.

You're not supposed to be able to limit Wisconsin - with its precise halfcourt sets and its insistence on running lengthy series of screens and cuts - to just eight points in the final 13 minutes of regulation time. Well, Illinois was up to the task.

You're not supposed to trail mighty Michigan State by three full games in the Big Ten standings, only to then attain a tie a few weeks later. But that's what Illinois has done with this fabulous feat in Madison. Illinois is tied in the loss column with Sparty, not to mention two other teams ( Ohio State and Purdue), in the race for the Big Ten regular season title.

As a coach, you're not supposed to beat Bo Ryan in his own building on three separate occasions. Yet, that's precisely what Illinois coach Bruce Weber has done. No visiting bench boss has enjoyed more success in Madison than Mr. Weber.

Illinois was thought to be on the ropes entering this past Saturday's game against Michigan State. Now, after slaying the Spartans and then bumping off the Badgers, the Fighting Illini are almost completely assured of joining the field of 65 for yet another satisfying season.

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