/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/28775635/20130221_ajw_bl2_337.0.jpg)
Craft Krush
Ohio State snapped Illinois in two in the second half of that atrocious game Saturday night. No one had fun watching it. Some of us were spared by not being able to watch it. Hard to believe anything remotely humorous came from the game.....
But wait, hold on! Courtesy of Dan Dakich's Twitter, we got a peek at the Orange Krush pregame notes on the Buckeyes. This included an extensive biography of their four-year starting point guard/defensive machine with cherubic cheeks, Aaron Craft. (Focus on the contents of the Krush notes before we get to Dakich's tweet.)
The Sorry..The Orange Krush and this...pic.twitter.com/eAMrNSRmO7"..my part? Eh!! I remember an Orange Krush that was loud/dangerous/fun..(cont)
— Dan Dakich (@dandakich) February 17, 2014
I nearly spit out my coffee this morning when I saw the part about Dakich being Craft's real father. That's probably the apex of college basketball student section comedy. Kudos to the ingenuity, Krush.
Unfortunately, Dakich missed an opportunity to give a hat tip to Krush's cleverness, and, well, I don't know. He sort of began to disparage them I guess.
Or Kr..this doesn't represent those that came before you..this is a shell of its former self..Be Better!!
— Dan Dakich (@dandakich) February 17, 2014
"@KMDuce: @illinination14 @dandakich @Illini_OKrush Who else drives from C-U to State College in February?"..ur right..that was impressive!!
— Dan Dakich (@dandakich) February 17, 2014
@Illini_OKrush no..I'm a huge fan can't but that had no edge..too tame..let's go..represent..bring it like @ThePaintCrew did..let's go
— Dan Dakich (@dandakich) February 17, 2014
That was mostly gibberish from Dakich. But through some reading comprehension, I deduced that Dakich thinks Krush needs to step up its game. Be more "dangerous" (not sure that's the right word in the wake of the Marcus Smart incident). He then compliments Krush on the road trip to Penn State, then circles back to his actual point: Be like the Paint Crew.
The Paint Crew, however unfortunate it is to represent Purdue, deserves the credit. They're a fearsome and intimidating bunch that probably has about a 0.5 WAR over other student sections. But this sounds more like Dakich acting sore about being the butt of a Aaron Craft joke. Let's face it: that's a murky place where nobody associated with college basketball wants to be.
In summary, way to go Krush. Sorry you and your benefactors have to pay so much for this year's squad.
CPL Playoffs
Sunday was the quarterfinals of the Chicago Public League Playoffs with Chicago Curie squaring off against Simeon Career Academy in the headlining nightcap. Illinois head coach John Groce caught the game while Kansas head coach Bill Self and assistant coach Jerrance Howard sat a few seats away. Self and Howard were there for Cliff Alexander, Groce for Simeon junior and Illini commit D.J. Williams.
Curie won 71-64 despite a young Simeon team giving Cliff and Co. all they could handle. Cliff finished 16 points, 11 rebounds, and six blocks. Simeon forward Ed Morrow endeared himself to many an Illini fan by not backing down from the Cliff monster, even blocking him several times. Morrow finished 18 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks.
D.J. finished with nine points and five rebounds, but kept Simeon within striking range and gave them a lead late in the fourth quarter with some big-time buckets. Some other tidbits about D.J.'s game also surfaced, courtesy of Sun-Times high school prep editor Michael O'Brien.
DJ Williams has been playing point guard for Simeon today. Done a solid job. Wolverines have cut down the turnovers a bit.
— Michael O'Brien (@michaelsobrien) February 17, 2014
DJ Williams is staying at the point according to Smith. He finished with 9 pts, 5 boards.
— Michael O'Brien (@michaelsobrien) February 17, 2014
That's an interesting development in the progression of D.J. Williams, especially for a 6-foot-7 kid generally categorized as a wing player. Especially so if O'Brien described him as a calming presence for a Simeon team high on talent but low on experience and ballhandling.
Some talk of D.J. comparing to former Ohio State point-forward wunderkind Evan Turner was sparked in the wake of the tweets. It's an undeniably awesome prospect to salivate over. But let's collectively stable that horse for now. Turner's point guard skills weren't actualized until he stepped onto Ohio State's campus, and it's an overwhelming comparison for D.J. after putting up a less-than-stellar junior season, commitment hype notwithstanding. We can at least rest on the fact that Groce identified a talent with a diversified skill package that should be conducive at Illinois.
And here's the picture that capped the night. Feel free to caption in the comments.
Coach Self & Coach Groce chatting after Curie win over Simeon... two Coaches this state knows very well pic.twitter.com/6mbS6rwVB1
— Amanda Busick (@AmandaBusick) February 17, 2014
The Return of an Old Friend
Perhaps lost in the midnight hours of a Sunday night were some tweets by a few of our freshman. It put me in a considerably better mood regardless of the downward spiral of the season.
D.J. Richardson swung through campus this weekend, and on an innocuous Sunday night, decided to hit the gym with Jaylon Tate and Kendrick Nunn.
Jay Tate n Dj Rich pic.twitter.com/8gFjQMC7iD
— Kendrick Nunn (@AintUKingNunn) February 17, 2014
Good Late Night Workout With Jay Tate & K Nunn!!
— Dj Richardson (@djrich32) February 17, 2014
Just got a good late night workout in with my boys @AintUKingNunn and @djrich32
— AintUJayTate (@JayTate_1) February 17, 2014
Full disclosure: I have an unabashed appreciation for D.J. Richardson. He hails from my hometown of Peoria, but even beyond that, he represents both P-Town and the Illinois basketball program in the best fashion. I miss his defense and clutch shooting.
Here he is, back in town and playing ball with our promising freshman. It gives me a kind of "rest assured" calm when thinking about the future of the program, especially when it seems like Jaylon and Kendrick look up to D.J. and what he meant to the team.
I wrote a short profile on D.J. about a year ago, right before his Senior Night game. It's probably one of my favorite things I've written. Here it is. You need guys like D.J. to lay the foundation for a good program.
Thanks to him and the other seniors last season, I think we have that. And it gives me hope.