Illinois
The good — and the bad — from Illinois’ loss to Purdue
The Illini’s hopes for a Big Ten regular season title were dashed on Wednesday night, as the Boilermakers prevailed in Champaign 77-71 on Senior Night. Terrence Shannon Jr. picked a bad night to have his worst game since his return from suspension, and the rest of the Illini went ice cold from three in the second half.
Nonetheless, it shouldn’t put a damper on what’s been a great season for the Illini with a lot left to play for and prove, including the regular season finale at Iowa and a top-three seed for the Big Ten tournament.
The Good
The first half was about the best combination of complete basketball that the Illini have played in a while. Guerrier was a bright spot in the first half contributing 3 threes. While Edey got his points in the first half with 18, no other player for the Boilermakers had more than four.
The rebounding margin stayed roughly even to keep the Illini in the game at 31-29 in slight favor of Purdue, but the Illini landed +7 from the free throw line ahead of the Boilermakers. The variety of looks that the Illini threw at Edey defensively with different help side defenders coming to collapse on the ball had an impact on certain possessions and kept him off balance for stretches.
The Illini still had great balance offensively despite a poor performance from Shannon, with four double-digit scorers, including team-high 20 from Domask.
The Bad
Shannon Jr. picked up a cheap second foul just ahead the midway point of the first half and wasn’t to able to get anything going even in the second half after sitting most of the first half, finishing just 3-of-13 from the field, including 0-of-4 from three. In your biggest game on Senior Night, your best player (who’s the biggest mismatch for the opponent) needs to show up and that didn’t happen for Illinois.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25320871/usa_today_22700431.jpg)
While the Boilermakers struggled from deep in the first half, they unleashed a barrage of 8 threes on the Illini in the second half that proved to be too much for the Illini to overcome when combined with Edey’s dominant 28 points. While the Boilermakers got hot from deep, the Illini picked the worst time to go ice cold from three and couldn’t keep pace with Purdue’s scoring clip.
Illinois left Edey in more one on one situations in the second half, which wore them down with fouls racking up, including four in quick succession for Amani Hansberry. Second chance points for Purdue continued to hurt Illinois as it frequently led to open threes for Purdue’s shooters.
The Outlook
Illinois has the opportunity to get right with an away game against the Hawkeyes before the Big Ten Tournament. It should be another offensive battle between two up and down teams that like to push the pace and score from the perimeter.
Iowa will come hungry as it continues to make a late push to get off the bubble and into the NCAA Tournament field, so the Illini will have to mentally reset and match the Hawkeyes’ energy on the road to come out with a win.
Illinois needs to get back to what it does well attacking the rim effectively and consequently setting up a more effective perimeter attack than they showed against the Boilermakers. Additionally, the Illini need to do a better job closing down defensive possessions with a rebound to limit second chance points and set up their potent transition attack on the other end. Hopefully, Tuesday’s showing was an aberration in what’s been otherwise a great stretch of basketball for the Illini over the last month and they can get back in the win column against the surging Hawkeyes and go into the postseason with some confidence and momentum.
Illinois
Lake County detectives rescue girl from man they say drove to Illinois from Georgia to meet her
Detectives from Lake County, Illinois, Sheriff’s office rescued a girl under 14 from a grown man who had traveled from Georgia to meet her this weekend, authorities said Sunday.
At 4:40 a.m. Saturday, Lake County sheriff’s deputies were called to unincorporated Gurnee for a report of a missing girl under the age of 14. Deputies learned the girl had never run away before, and it was especially concerning that she did so in the middle of the night, authorities said.
Sheriff’s detectives learned the girl’s cellphone was not functioning, and she could not be found through any of her electronic devices. Detectives also found that a 24-year-old man from Norcross, Georgia, named Jordy Alexis Fuerte Perez had been communicating with her, authorities said.
Detectives learned that Fuerte Perez had made plans to drive to Illinois from Georgia and pick up the girl, and evidence indicates he told the girl he wanted a “romantic relationship” with her, authorities said.
Detectives homed in on a vehicle that Fuerte Perez may have been driving, and found the vehicle at the Independence Grove Forest Preserve near Libertyville, authorities said. Both Fuerte Perez and the girl were in the car in a parking lot when detectives arrived at 6 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.
The girl did not appear to be injured, but was taken to the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center for specialized advocacy and attention, authorities said.
Fuerte Perez was charged with two counts of solicitation of child pornography, and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, namely cocaine. More charges ar likely, authorities said.
“This type of case is a parent’s worst nightmare. Our Criminal Investigations Division took this case seriously and worked tirelessly from the moment the girl was reported missing until she was safely located,” Lake County Sherif John Idleburg said in a news release. “While there will undoubtedly be a long road to recovery and healing, I am grateful the victim was found safe and is physically okay. I am proud of everyone who played a role in rescuing this young girl and bringing the offender to the first steps of justice.”
Fuerte Perez was due in court on Sunday morning. The Lake County State’s Attorney’s office is asking to have him held while awaiting trial.
Illinois
Illinois Prison Closure Deepens Small Town’s Fears
In Lincoln, Ill., another pillar just fell. The New York Times’ Julie Bosman reports that the state plans to close Logan Correctional Center, a women’s prison that employs more than 500 people, stripping the Route 66 town of about 13,000 of one of its last major, stable job sources. State officials say the nearly century-old complex is too deteriorated to fix and will be replaced by a new, modern facility in Crest Hill, outside Chicago. Capitol News Illinois reports the Illinois Department of Corrections estimates it’ll take five years to build the new prison.
In Lincoln, where factories, a glass plant, and even a 157-year-old college have already called it quits, that decision feels like one more hit—and one that favors the Chicago area over downstate. Residents and local leaders, who spent years lobbying to keep the prison, now worry about a fresh wave of departures as families follow jobs elsewhere, further straining schools and small businesses already on the edge. For a look at what the loss of a single prison means for one Midwestern town—which takes particular pride in the fact it was uniquely named for Abraham Lincoln before he became president—read the full piece.
Illinois
Illinois GOP chair says Obama Center is political operation on public land | Fox News Video
Illinois Republican Party Chairman Bob Grogan says the Obama Presidential Center functions as a political operation and headquarters for the Obama Foundation rather than a traditional presidential library.
Illinois Republican Party Chairman Bob Grogan says the Obama Presidential Center functions as a political operation and headquarters for the Obama Foundation rather than a traditional presidential library. Grogan discusses public land, taxpayer-funded infrastructure, the Center’s endowment shortfall and why critics continue to oppose the project.
-
World8 minutes agoMourners gather to remember Lebanese conservationist killed by Israel
-
News31 minutes agoTrump claims vandals damaged D.C. Reflecting Pool, and says it will be drained again
-
Los Angeles, Ca2 hours ago31st annual Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance provides perfect Father’s Day activity
-
Detroit, MI2 hours ago3 Isaiah Stewart Trade Packages That Would Make Sense for Detroit Pistons
-
San Francisco, CA2 hours agoGiants Reach Franchise Milestone Never Before Seen in San Francisco
-
Dallas, TX2 hours agoMavericks’ Potential 2026 NBA Draft Trade Down Target Revealed
-
Miami, FL3 hours agoCould the Heat bring Duncan Robinson back in a Deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo?
-
Boston, MA3 hours agoVolunteer rescuer seriously injured Friday helping unresponsive teenage hiker in NH – The Boston Globe