Illinois' Big Three take backseat to a taller trio
ST. LOUIS -- Illinois had the best trio on the court Saturday night. Typical. Illinois always has the best trio on the court, whether it's a December game against Chicago State or the Final Four against Louisville.
Same old story. Illinois wins. Three players star. You know their names:
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| Roger Powell stepped out of the paint long enough to drill two 3-pointers. (Getty Images) |
You should know their names, even if they're not as famous as All-American guards Deron Williams, Dee Brown and Luther Head. As a trio, Illinois big men James Augustine, Roger Powell Jr. and Jack Ingram have been the low-post anchor of the smoothest ship in college basketball.
By beating Louisville 72-57 in the first national semifinal Saturday night, Illinois (37-1) moved within one step of its first national championship. If it took 38 games in general -- and the 38th game in particular -- for everyone to recognize the value of Illinois' big men ... shame on everybody. Including us, who predicted a Louisville victory in part because of the Cardinals' thick, athletic frontcourt. Oops.
"All week we talked about our big guys being a factor," Illinois coach Bruce Weber said afterward. "And they definitely were."
Rick Pitino warned everyone this would happen. He didn't predict precisely this -- an Illinois blowout sparked by the Illini frontcourt -- but on Friday the Louisville coach provided the only clue anyone needed. He had said the Cardinals' three-player backcourt was so good, and Illinois' three-player backcourt was so good, that their Final Four meeting would come down to the frontcourts.
He was right. It did. And Illinois' frontcourt was better -- much better. Light years better. Better like Brown, Head and Williams have usually been against the three chumps opposite them.
Brown, Head and Williams were again better than the three guys opposite them Saturday night, but for a change, that wasn't the story. It was nice that they outplayed Francisco Garcia, Taquan Dean and Larry O'Bannon. It was helpful. And it was Head who helped Illinois break open the game with four 3-pointers midway through the second half.
With 14 points in the final 12 minutes, Head delivered the knockout blow, the haymaker to the jaw. Powell, Ingram and Augustine were the body blows, the pounding to the midsection that weakened Louisville's knees.
By the time Head heated up, Louisville's defense was helpless, waiting to be finished off. Powell, Augustine and Ingram had seen to that. Mainly Powell. The senior power forward, undersized at 6-feet-6, scored Illinois' first nine points of the second half to parry Louisville's most spirited run.
Powell finished with 20 points, 18 coming in the second half, and he scored from everywhere. Drove the lane for a finger roll. Took Louisville's dare and hoisted a 3-pointer. And then another. He made two of his three 3-point attempts, and on the one he missed, the earnest Powell grabbed it off the front of the rim and jammed it home while Louisville's big men watched.
Powell and Ingram scored 18 of Illinois' first 20 points of the second half. Ingram was the stitch in Louisville's side, not serious enough of a problem to require surgery, but debilitating nonetheless. At 6-10, 250 pounds, Ingram has the body of a banger, but he has the mid-range shooting ability of an NBA big man. He scored nine points Saturday night, making four of six shots.
