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Let's continue with my countdown of my 30 favorite Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball players of my fandom, spanning from the 1996-97 season until present day. Here are numbers 30-28.
I'd be remiss doing this list without mentioning a player from the 1997-98 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team that won a share of the regular season Big Ten title with Michigan State and earned a #5 seed during the 1998 NCAA Tournament.
With a starting lineup of five seniors, Lon Kruger's second Illinois team was the definition of the sum being greater than its parts:
Also on this team were freshman Sergio McClain and sophomore Victor Chukwudebe.
While I loved every one of the Illini's starters on this team, Turner was my absolute favorite because of his nasty crossover dribble that would leave defenders frozen and free him up for a smooth-looking jumper. While this Illinois team was incredibly balanced, it was most fun when Turner got on a heater, in my opinion.
Of course, I will never forget Turner and the Illini drubbing Michigan State at home and Indiana on the road that season, with the victory in Bloomington famous for Bobby Knight saying after the game that he "...hopes to get buried upside down so all of his critics can kiss his ass." I remember listening to that game and Knight's rant on the radio, enthralled while writing a paper for my high school biology class as Knight was ejected by referee Ted Valentine. Fun times!
Of course, I also remember Turner having a tough shooting performance during his final game against Maryland, a second-round loss during the 1998 NCAA Tournament. How I badly wanted Illinois to win that game, to advance to the Sweet Sixteen and play defending national champion Arizona.
Still Turner and the rest of the 1997-98 Illinois team laid the foundation for the Illini's amazing run from 2000-2006. Honestly, I should be including the starting lineup as a group for my 27th favorite player, but Turner will get the nod as the captain of this most memorable team that really got me into Illini basketball.
I'd be remiss doing this list without mentioning a player from the 1997-98 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team that won a share of the regular season Big Ten title with Michigan State and earned a #5 seed during the 1998 NCAA Tournament.
With a starting lineup of five seniors, Lon Kruger's second Illinois team was the definition of the sum being greater than its parts:
- Undersized point guard Matt Heldman was a fearless ballplayer with a memorable release, almost corkscrewing into his three-point shot.
- Shooting guard Kevin Turner was a streaky scorer out of Simeon High School, capable of getting hot quickly.
- Small forward Jerry Hester was the beginning of the Illinois pipeline out of Peoria, an absolute man on the court, a versatile rock for the Illini.
- Power forward Brian Johnson was a rugged, heady walk-on who eventually earned a scholarship and paved the way for his brother Lucas to come to Illinois.
- Center Jerry Gee was an efficient lefty scorer who went by Jarrod his senior season.
Also on this team were freshman Sergio McClain and sophomore Victor Chukwudebe.
While I loved every one of the Illini's starters on this team, Turner was my absolute favorite because of his nasty crossover dribble that would leave defenders frozen and free him up for a smooth-looking jumper. While this Illinois team was incredibly balanced, it was most fun when Turner got on a heater, in my opinion.
Of course, I will never forget Turner and the Illini drubbing Michigan State at home and Indiana on the road that season, with the victory in Bloomington famous for Bobby Knight saying after the game that he "...hopes to get buried upside down so all of his critics can kiss his ass." I remember listening to that game and Knight's rant on the radio, enthralled while writing a paper for my high school biology class as Knight was ejected by referee Ted Valentine. Fun times!
Of course, I also remember Turner having a tough shooting performance during his final game against Maryland, a second-round loss during the 1998 NCAA Tournament. How I badly wanted Illinois to win that game, to advance to the Sweet Sixteen and play defending national champion Arizona.
Still Turner and the rest of the 1997-98 Illinois team laid the foundation for the Illini's amazing run from 2000-2006. Honestly, I should be including the starting lineup as a group for my 27th favorite player, but Turner will get the nod as the captain of this most memorable team that really got me into Illini basketball.
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