I’m a basketball girl through and through, but of course I manage to catch every Illini football game as well. I’m happy to attend them in person as well, providing it’s prior to the end of November when it is freezing cold outside.  It’s easier to keep track of football sometimes as the games happen just once a week for a short few months. So when an Illini player is drafted in the first round, it’s something to report about.

There was talk that maybe three Illini would be drafted in the first round – Corey Liuget DT, Mikel Leshoure RB and Martez Wilson (my personal favorite since the moment he arrived at Illinois) LB. Sadly Liuget was the only one selected in the first draft, but the good news is as the 18th pick he he was the highest Illini drafted since 1996. I would describe how to pronounce his name, but it seems Illini Nation has been doing it wrong for the last three years. Announcers have been saying it like “legit,” and I’ve followed suit. Apparently, it should be pronounced “leee-jit.” Let’s hope he makes a big name for himself in the NFL and then he can make sure his name is pronounced correctly.

Liuget was drafted by the San Diego Chargers, a much warmer climate than he is used to in Champaign, and he was present at Radio City Music Hall in New York to hear his name called by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

Liuget is the third Illinois underclassman selected in the first round since 2008, joining running back Rashard Mendenhall (23rd overall by the Steelers in 2008) and defensive back Vontae Davis (25th overall by Miami in 2009), and is the highest Illini draft pick since 1996, when Kevin Hardy and Simeon Rice went second and third, respectively.

Illinois’ three underclassmen chosen in the first round since 2008 is tied for the third-most by any team. Oklahoma and Georgia have also had three underclassman first-rounders in the last four years, behind only Alabama’s six and Florida’s four.

Liuget is the first Illinois defensive tackle drafted since Moe Gardner (fourth round) and Mel Agee (sixth round) both went in the 1991 draft, and is the first Illini picked in the first round since Joe Rutgens in 1961 (third overall to the Washington Redskins). Former Illini DT Josh Brent was chosen by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round of the 2010 supplemental draft.

A native of Miami, Fla., Liuget did some bulking up finally and had a career year in 2010, earning fourth-team All-America honors from Phil Steele and second-team All-Big Ten accolades after recording 63 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hurries and three passes broken up. He was a force in Illinois’ 38-14 win over Baylor in the 2010 Texas Bowl, recording five tackles, 2.5 TFLs and a sack, earning him recognition on ESPN.com’s 2010 All-Bowl Team. During the Oct. 16 game at Michigan State, Liuget collected a career-high 11 tackles, the most by an Illini defensive tackle since 1996. During his three-year Illinois career, Liuget had 125 tackles, 25.5 TFLs and 8.5 sacks.

I’m excited for Liuget, and having a guy drafted in the top 20 says some great things about the Illinois program. I hope to here Wilson and Leshoure’s names called early today.

Below you will see a fabulous YouTube video someone recorded from the comforts of their home, but in case you missed it live this will work just fine:

Here are some highlights from his career:

The Fighting Illini basketball team will get a head start on the 2011-12 season by participating in a foreign tour trip to Italy in August. The trip runs from Aug. 10-20 and includes a number of exciting stops along the way.

Coach Weber has always been a big proponent of sending kids overseas, but the past few years it has usually been one or two guys heading out of the country to learn and grow. Last year Brandon Paul and Tyler Griffey went on a foreign excursion, which seemed to benefit Paul a little bit more in the improvement realm. However, Griffey didn’t get a lot of chances to play last season. Really there is no way to pinpoint Paul’s improvement on that specific trip, but I’m sure it helped. And from Griffey’s blog I learned that Paul met Drake in an airport, so it wasn’t a total waste!

Turns out NCAA regulations allow teams to make foreign trips once every four years, which explains why this hasn’t happened in a while. The Illini will play four or five games against Italian professional club teams, and the team will hold 10 on-campus practice sessions prior to the trip.

I think packing up the team and heading to Italy is a great move, especially with so many newbies coming aboard.

“We are excited about taking our team to Italy in August,” Weber said. “It’s a great opportunity for us to come together as a team and learn more about each other. With six new players joining the roster, we feel it’s extremely important for us to take advantage of this trip heading into next season.”

If you are an Illini fan that has always dreamed of taking a trip to Italy for basketball, here is your chance! Basketball Travelers has arranged a supporters’ tour for fans interested in taking a trip to Europe. A limited amount of spots are available, so act fast. The prices are predictably steep at $6,600 single/$10,200 double (flights included) or $5,100 single/$7,200 double (without flights). While this Illini fan would love nothing more than a trip to Italy this summer, I’m thinking it might not be in the budget. I’d also like to save my pennies to watch the Illini in the Cancun Cancun in November. If Italy is in your budget, visit www.basketballtravelers.com or contact Becky Johnson by phone at 425-776-2775 or by email at becky@basketballtravelers.com.

The itinerary includes visits to Rome, Vatican City, Florence, Pisa, Venice, Como and Milan.

Regardless of whether or not you will be able to join the team and view the Italian countryside in the process, I think this is a great move for the team. They will have time to bond, and what better way for freshmen to get thrown into the mix than by playing a professional Italian team? This is a great move by Weber, and it should have nothing but positive results.

This blog was originally going to highlight the glorious skills of all of those Illini players who are currently fighting their way to the top of the NBA playoffs, until I realized the number of former Fighting Illini in the playoffs is a big, fat zero.  Not since Deron Williams was chosen third overall in the draft in 2005 has an Illini player even been drafted at all, and so it isn’t a huge surprise that there are no Illini hoopsters currently on a playoff team.

Williams is still quite active in the league, and got extra [bad] press this year after he was essentially blamed for the sudden, mid-season retirement of Jazz coach Jerry Sloan. Soon after, Williams was traded to the New Jersey Nets. Since the Nets finished the season with a 24-58 record, it was clear they wouldn’t be making a playoff appearance this year. Brian Cook, another Illini graduate who is still hanging around the NBA, was originally drafted in 2003 by the Lakers. However, since he now plays for the “other” LA team, his playoffs hopes for this year were squashed.

Luther Head played most of this season with the Sacramento Kings this year; yet another team that had no shot of a playoff bid. However, in March the Kings waved the rights to Head and he is currently seeking a new place to call home. My favorite Illini player of all time (check out my dog’s name for crying out loud!), it saddens me that Head has never really found his stride in the NBA.

While next year might be a similar predicament for the former Illini – it’s doubtful that Williams will be able to turn the Nets around and take them to the playoffs – there are three players that could find themselves on an NBA team next year: Demetri McCamey, Jereme Richmond and possibly even (fingers crossed) Mike Davis.

Here’s hoping next year I have a little more to discuss in terms of the Illini once the playoffs roll around. In the meantime, why not enjoy a video of Deron Williams’ Top 20 Plays??

A few years ago, everyone said that the 2010-2011 Illini season was going to be a Final Four Season. Whelp, the season came and went and at least the guys made it past the first round in the Tournament, but that was as far as they got. Next  year, Illinois will lose four seniors and a “phenom” freshman, while six newbies will enter the roster. Clearly next year is a rebuilding year, but that does not mean the season should be overlooked. 2010-2011 was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Michigan, and their season was pretty similar to ours. Not sure what to take from that but it’s some sort of way to make myself feel better. The recruiting class is currently ranked as No. 11 in the nation, which certainly isn’t too shabby. However, they’re going to lack some experience with no real veteran leaders on the team. D.J. Richardson was named captain at Tuesday’s banquet, which comes as a bit of a surprise as  he seems more quiet and reserved than the outspoken, mohawk-wearing Brandon Paul.

Yesterday Bruce Weber announced the official addition of Devin Langford of Huntsville, Ala., who signed a national letter of intent on the first day of the spring period. Meanwhile Bradley University’s Sam Maniscalco has signed a tender of financial aid. Langford will join the other freshman who signed in November: point guard Tracy Abrams (Chicago, Ill./Mount Carmel), center Nnanna Egwu (Chicago, Ill./Saint Ignatius), guard/forward Mycheal Henry (Chicago, Ill./Orr) and forward Mike Shaw (Chicago, Ill./De La Salle). Maniscalco is a transfer from Bradley, and will be the sole senior on the squad.

Langford is a 6-7, 190-pound guard/forward who attends Lee High School under  head coach Greg Brown. Langford led Lee to a 27-9 record and runner-up finish in the Alabama Class 5A state tournament. He registered 17 points and 10 rebounds in the championship game, earning All-Tournament Team honors. Langford averaged 17.4 points and 7.0 assists as a senior. He earned a number of individual honors, including First-Team All-State by the Alabama Sports Writers Association, Elite First-Team by the Huntsville Times, and No. 3-ranked Super Senior by the Birmingham News. Following his senior season, he was selected to play in the 21st annual Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic.

“Devin is an extremely versatile player who has good size, great vision and is a skilled passer,” Weber said. “He played practically every position for his high school, brought the ball up at times, played some center, and did a little bit of everything whether it was scoring, rebounding or blocking shots. Devin comes from a winning program, leading Lee to back-to-back trips to the state finals where they won the championship last year and finished second this year.”

Maniscalco is a 6-0, 175-pound point guard from Chicago. He has spent the last four seasons at Bradley and will transfer to Illinois upon earning his bachelor’s degree in May. Maniscalco has applied for a medical hardship waiver and Illinois will apply for a transfer year of residence waiver in order for him to be eligible next season.

Maniscalco played in six games this past season before he was sidelined by an ankle injury and subsequent surgery. He averaged 13.1 points and 3.4 assists during his junior season, receiving Second-Team All-Missouri Valley Conference and NABC All-District 16 honors. He also earned a spot on the MVC All-Tournament Team and was a First-Team MVC Scholar-Athlete. Maniscalco averaged 12.6 points and 3.1 assists as a sophomore and 7.7 points and 3.0 assists as a freshman while earning MVC All-Newcomer honors. He posted career totals of 1,210 points and 355 assists at Bradley and was a career 82 percent free throw shooter. If nothing else that free throw percentage will be a nice boost.

“Sam gives us a veteran presence and experience at the point guard position,” Weber said. “He was a tremendous leader at Bradley and will provide those same leadership qualities for our program. Sam has a competitive drive to succeed and tremendous toughness which will help set the tone for our younger players on a daily basis.”

With Demetri McCamey graduating, Maniscalco has some tough PG shoes to fill, as well as serving as the team’s only elder statesman.

By Kim Cerf, Contributing Writer

The University of Illinois basketball season has officially come to a close with the 89^th annual Illinois Basketball banquet, held last night at the Holiday Inn in Urbana, IL.  The lovely evening was sponsored by the Champaign-Urbana Kiwanis Club and included dinner for everyone – except for me. It smelled delicious, by the way, but we media folk got one glass of water that had to last us the entire three hours.

Kevin Berardini started dinner off with a nice prayer, and during the meal highlight reels played on three large screens.  After dinner, Coach Bruce Weber shared some team memories with the 600-plus guests and thanked the many contributors to the program, including members of the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics, the Illini Rebounders, and the Orange Krush (Yay me!!).  Weber also presented a check to the Eastern Illinois food bank, and spoke about his work making University of Illinois fifth in the nation for donations to the Coaches vs. Cancer Foundation.

As the night continued, Coach Sean Harrington introduced all of the Illini Basketball court and video managers. Coach Jerrance Howard introduced freshman Crandall Head and Meyers Leonard, who rocked a pair of black-rimmed glasses. It came as no surprise to anyone that freshman Jereme Richmond was missing from the end -of-the -year celebration. Coaches Jay Price and Wayne McClain introduced the sophomore class: Jean Selus, Brandon Paul, Kevin Berardini, Joe Bertrand, Tyler Griffey, and D.J. Richardson. According to funny man Coach McClain, D.J. showed up three times in the season, one of which was to the banquet.  All of the players were very well dressed and looked a lot different than the usual sweaty, basketball short-wearing athletes I’m used to seeing on campus.

Individual awards were presented by Coach Weber.  Voted on by his teammates, MVP honors went to Mike Davis.  The Illini Rebounders presented the award for most rebounds to Mike Davis for the third year in a row.  The Illinois Alumni Association presented Brandon Paul with the Ralf Woods Trophy for most made free throws.  BP3 shot 48 for 57 from the line in conference play.  Brandon also received the Matt Heldman “Matto” Play Hard Award for efforts on the court. The Orange Krush 3-point award went to Demetri McCamey, who complained that the walk from his seat to the stage was too long.  The Lou Henson Courage Award was presented to Mike Tisdale for most charges in the season.  As voted on by coaches and teammates, Bill Cole took home the Kenny Battle Most Inspirational Player award.  Crandall Head was presented with the Most Improved Player Award to round out the night.

Seniors Bill Cole, Mike Tisdale, Mike Davis, and Demetri McCamey ended the banquet with thank you speeches and I finally started to get emotional.  Each player had some nice things to say about the program, fans, and coaches, and unlike senior night at Assembly Hall, they all remembered to thank their families and girlfriends.  After a standing ovation, a touching highlight reel played and we all joined together to sing the University fight song.  Overall, it was a great night, and I’m so glad I got to be there to give a final farewell to the seniors that dedicated four years of their lives to us.

2010-11 Fighting Illini Basketball Awards
Illini Rebounders Award:  Mike Davis
Ralf Woods Free Throw Trophy:  Brandon Paul
Orange Krush 3-Point Award:  Demetri McCamey
Lou Henson Courage Award:  Mike Tisdale
Matt Heldman “Matto” Award:  Brandon Paul
Kenny Battle Most Inspirational Player:  Bill Cole
Most Improved Player:  Crandall Head
Most Valuable Player:  Mike Davis

Kim Cerf is currently a sophomore at the University of Illinois and a member of the Orange Krush.

Thankfully, it seems Jereme Richmond’s abrupt departure will not affect the Illini recruits. A few days after Richmond announced he was leaving, Alabama small forward Devin Langford announced that he will sign with the Illini on April 13. April 13 is the first day that recruits can sign a national letter of intent during the regular signing period.

Rather than being discouraged by the news of Richmond’s departure, Langford is eager to sign, and is excited at the notion of being able to take his career to the next level the same way that Richmond is currently attempting.

Langford will join Mike Shaw, Tracy Abrams, Nnanna Egwu and Mycheal Henry as an incoming freshman next fall. Langford is the only one who did not sign with Illinois in November. He committed to Illinois after the signing period, and has recently confirmed he will indeed sign tomorrow.

According to ESPN, he is listed at 6’5″, 180 pounds and ranked 33 in his position as SF. He attended Lee High School in Huntsville, AL.

Langford played his last high school game in the the Alabama Class 5A championship game in March. Huntsville Lee was defeated 89-85 in the title game after losing an 18-point lead in the fourth quarter, a feat that the Illini are familiar with and I hope won’t be repeating next year. Langford had 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Highlights set to music!

Jereme Richmond will not return to Illinois next year; Photo by Cary Frye

For four years, Illini fans waited patiently for Jereme Richmond to graduate high school and throw on the orange and blue jersey. He committed to Coach Weber before even playing a game of high school basketball. Richmond stuck to his word and finally joined the team this season. After a somewhat mediocre year surrounded by rumors and drama, Richmond has announced that he is going to enter the NBA draft and will not return to Illinois next season. Most kids who think they have a chance test the NBA waters, and as long as they don’t hire an agent they can return to school. In the official school statement, Richmond reveals he won’t be returning either way.

Richmond played solid minutes this year and indeed added a passion to the Illini team that seemed to be missing. He clearly has the talent, but he lacks the maturity. He would get overly angry at himself when he messed up, and he often made freshmen mistakes. Anyone could see he had the potential to be a great player; potential that by no means was met this year. Richmond needs at least one – if not two- more years of school before he’ll be ready to play in the big leagues. With the amount of blocked shots that ricocheted out of his hands by Big Ten players, imagine what would happen if he were to get drafted into the NBA – and that’s a HUGE if.

Honestly, I don’t know how to feel about this. It’s disappointing to say the least. Illinois is already going to have a tough year in 2011-2012 with no seniors (save for a new Bradley transfer) and just two juniors. Richmond no doubt was going to be a starter, and he probably was going to be counted on to lead the team as well.

From the release, and from the rumor-mill, it sounds like Richmond is unable to return to Illinois even if he doesn’t hire an agent. We can speculate grades or discipline problems, but we may never know. From past Weber comments I would think grades are somewhat likely, as he had said that Richmond has a spot on the team as long as he puts the work in and gets up to go to class. Thus indicating doing all the things college kids need to do wasn’t gelling with Richmond’s plans. Additionally, he’s had some disciplinary problems. He sat out at Wisconsin this year for undisclosed reasons, and there were quick rumors of transfers. Then, he had to sit out against UNLV in the Tourney game because he got into a scuffle with Brandon Paul in the locker room after the Michigan loss. Illinois didn’t need him in that game, but it would’ve been nice to have his hustle against Kansas, who ended up beating Illinois pretty easily.

My guess? Richmond didn’t want to put in the work to be an Illinois athlete. He probably didn’t like the way Weber was riding him, and he wasn’t interested in the rules. Perhaps his grades weren’t up to snuff, and he didn’t feel like putting in the effort. He didn’t want to sit out a year and transfer, so he’ll just skip right to the NBA, which he probably wanted all along. It’s upsetting that Illini Nation waited so long for Richmond, and now he’s leaving after having averaged just 7.6 points and 5 rebounds a game. He never really showed us all that we hoped we would see.

So what does this mean for the Illini next year? It’s not clear. If Richmond truly was a distraction, then it’s not a bad thing for him to leave before things get out of hand. It means more playing time for Tyler Griffey, who has never been able to live up to expectations either. Perhaps with more playing time and added pressure he will step up. If Griffey doesn’t start in his place, then it will be Crandall Head, who showed some flashes of what’s to come as well. Or, there are five freshman that are ready to show their stuff next year. Also, this means that Illinois can nab another recruit at the last minute. Mike Davis actually didn’t join the Illini until August 22 of 2007 as he entered as a freshman, and he turned out to be a fantastic addition that many of us will miss. Perhaps Richmond’s absence leaves room for another Davis!

In the end, Richmond is just a kid being pulled into many directions. It’s a shame Illinois didn’t work out for him, but the team cannot dwell on what it has lost and must move forward without a second thought. I find it hard to believe that Richmond will actually be drafted, but I’ve always said if someone doesn’t want to play for Illinois, then I sure don’t want them to be there.

Only time will tell.