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Sports Editor Matt Daniels with a look at what’s going on around the area:
Marcus Domask and Illinois are only 1 1/2 game back of Zach Edey and Purdue in the Big Ten standings with less than three weeks to go in the regular season.
Three reasons we love sports today
➜ 1. The Big Ten men’s basketball title chase is on. With Illinois having to like its position, especially after Ohio State stunned Purdue 73-69 on Sunday afternoon. The Illini are only 1 1/2 games back of the Boilermakers, firmly in second place on this President’s Day holiday, thanks to the efforts of Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton and Jamison Battle against Purdue.
➜ 2. Illinois plays again Wednesday night at Penn State. A different road game for the Illini since it will take place at intimate Rec Hall, Penn State’s former home. We’ll have more on that venue from Illini legend Deon Thomas later this week.
➜ 3. Illinois softball coach Tyra Perry is our guest at the Esquire for ‘Monday Night SportsTalk,’ from 5-6 p.m. on WDWS.
Terrence Shannon Jr. missed the first game this season for Illinois against Purdue while serving a six-game suspension amid his arrest following a charge of rape in Lawrence, Kan. He is slated to be in the lineup again when two of the Big Ten’s best teams meet on March 5 in Champaign.
Numbers game: 16
Days until Illinois and Purdue meet at 6 p.m. on March 5 at State Farm Center in Champaign. It’s the final home game this season for the Illini, with Illinois trying to avoid the season sweep after losing 83-78 at Purdue on Jan. 5. Without Terrence Shannon Jr. in the lineup, though, for the first meeting. But the Boilermakers have won four straight against the Illini.
Shauna Green is hoping for a good crowd Monday when her Illinois women’s basketball team hosts No. 14 Indiana at 1 p.m. at State Farm Center in Champaign.
Crowd control
Three events I’m paying attention to
➜ 1. No. 14 Indiana at Illinois women’s basketball. The 1 p.m. tip on Monday is part of youth basketball day at State Farm Center. And a chance for Shauna Green’s Illini to deliver a signature win against the Hoosiers.
➜ 2. Westville at Sullivan boys’ basketball. The opening night of the IHSA postseason is Monday night, with this Class 2A regional quarterfinal game featuring two quality teams in 19-9 Westville and 21-7 Sullivan.
➜ 3. Tuscola vs. Altamont girls’ basketball. This Class 1A sectional semifinal game tips at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Moweaqua between two of Class 1A’s top teams, with the winner moving on to the Sweet 16.
Centennial football coach Kyle Jackson, flanked by seniors Kodiac Pruitt (with ball), Jack Barnhart and Jeremiah Young at The News-Gazette in early August. Barnhart was a standout on the football field for Jackson and the Chargers and won an IHSA state wrestling title on Saturday night in Champaign.
Coach’s corner
Three questions with Centennial sixth-year football coach Kyle Jackson, who has led the Chargers to three straight playoff appearances and coached Centennial’s latest wrestling state champion Jack Barnhart in football:
➜ 1. My favorite sports teams are … the Illini and the Chicago Bears.
➜ 2. Three coaches I’d like to have dinner with are … Vince Lombardi, Mike Tomlin and Tommy Stewart.
➜ 3. My biggest pet peeve is … incompetence when people don’t do their job.
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