I was at the "Paint the Hall Orange" game vs. #1 Wake Forest 20 years ago. It was the best Illinois crowd of my lifetime. I have the framed picture on the wall above me as I type this. We won 91-73 but we were up by at least 32 points deep into the second half. Here's the whole game on YouTube:
That crowd was _hungry_. We didn't want to just watch Illinois beat #1, we wanted to will it into existence and be a part of making it happen. The crowd was so overpowering and electric that we just broke Wake Forest's will to compete. That's how you get up 30+ points on #1. Obviously that was a championship-level Illini team on the floor but the crowd energy was a difference-maker.
Some Illini crowds cheer and get loud after the team does something good, just as a reaction. The truly great crowds are a virtual 6th man on the court making something happen.
If you are going to the game tomorrow, don't just show up waiting to cheer in response to made baskets. Don't get quiet if something doesn't go right. Don't wait for the team to play well before you make noise.
Bring the energy before the opening tip...chant and yell and scream and intimidate Tennessee. Make it a point of pride that you are part of the competition. #1 doesn't just go down while you sit and watch. You have to influence every dribble for 40 minutes and be even louder during timeouts and breaks to set the tone before play resumes.
I don't want to see a court storm if we win unless that energy was there all game up to the very finish. I'd rather it be like in 2004 where there was no reason to storm the court because the other team was so broken and they knew who #1 was. Court storms are for upsets and buzzer-beaters. What's better than a court storm is creating the home court environment worthy of a #1 team. We have the talent for a championship team. Lots of people are picking us to win because they remember 20 years ago and what Illinois basketball can be. Time to remember what a #1 crowd feels like.
That crowd was _hungry_. We didn't want to just watch Illinois beat #1, we wanted to will it into existence and be a part of making it happen. The crowd was so overpowering and electric that we just broke Wake Forest's will to compete. That's how you get up 30+ points on #1. Obviously that was a championship-level Illini team on the floor but the crowd energy was a difference-maker.
Some Illini crowds cheer and get loud after the team does something good, just as a reaction. The truly great crowds are a virtual 6th man on the court making something happen.
If you are going to the game tomorrow, don't just show up waiting to cheer in response to made baskets. Don't get quiet if something doesn't go right. Don't wait for the team to play well before you make noise.
Bring the energy before the opening tip...chant and yell and scream and intimidate Tennessee. Make it a point of pride that you are part of the competition. #1 doesn't just go down while you sit and watch. You have to influence every dribble for 40 minutes and be even louder during timeouts and breaks to set the tone before play resumes.
I don't want to see a court storm if we win unless that energy was there all game up to the very finish. I'd rather it be like in 2004 where there was no reason to storm the court because the other team was so broken and they knew who #1 was. Court storms are for upsets and buzzer-beaters. What's better than a court storm is creating the home court environment worthy of a #1 team. We have the talent for a championship team. Lots of people are picking us to win because they remember 20 years ago and what Illinois basketball can be. Time to remember what a #1 crowd feels like.
