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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 30-10.
- #30 Morez Johnson Jr.
- #29 Marcus Arnold.
- #28 Matthew Mayer.
- #27 Kevin Turner.
- #26 Mike Davis.
- #25 Trent Frazier.
- #24 D.J. Richardson.
- #23 Tyler Griffey.
- #22 Will Riley.
- #21 Dain Dainja.
- #20 Jack Ingram.
- #19 Marcus Domask.
- #18 Tomislav Ivisic.
- #17 Robert Archibald.
- #16 Brandon Paul.
- #15 Frankie Williams.
- #14 Marcus Griffin.
- #13 Sergio McClain.
- #12 Alfonso Plummer.
- #11 Lucas Johnson.
- #10 David Mirkovic.
Before my 10th favorite Illinois men's basketball player of my 30-year fandom, David Mirkovic, could walk, my 9th favorite Illini, Damir Krupalija, had to crawl.
In many ways Mirkovic and Krupalija were quite similar players, four men who played with absolutely no fear, whether out on the perimeter or in the paint, and could stroke the ball from deep.
Out of Rockford Boylan High School, Krupalija was a bit of an under-the-radar recruit for Lon Kruger's Illini at a time when Illinois high school basketball was absolutely loaded. While I remember reading that some kid named Krupalija was going to Illinois, I don't remember him being listed as one of the top high school basketball players in the Chicago Sun-Times at the time.
On a rebuilding Illinois team that lost 13 games in conference, a freshman Krupalija was someone I loved instantly, always playing hard, sometimes to his detriment with a little too much reckless abandon. Next to Cory Bradford, Krupaljia was my favorite player on that 1998-99 Illinois team. I especially remember a cold Sunday in January of 1999 when Krupalija played well during an Illinois loss at Indiana, with CBS announcer Billy Packer impressed by Damir's lack of fear. It was clear that the potential was certainly there with Krupalija, who was like a piece of clay that needed to be molded.
After starting his fair share of games as a freshman, including during the Illini's surprising run to the Big Ten Tournament title game, Krupalija came off the bench for much of his last three seasons as Illinois had a loaded frontline of Marcus Griffin and Brian Cook. Always providing instant energy and physicality, Krupalija certainly made the most of his minutes, never hesitant to take an open shot, crash the glass, and get up into an opponent.
An energizer bunny and wreckling ball, Krupalija was a key reserve on the 2000-01 Illinois team that was so deep that fellow juniors Lucas Johnson and Robert Archibald were also reserves. Krupalija especially stood out during the championship game of the Maui Invitational that season, a loss to Arizona during which he rallied the Illini late in the first half with his defensive activity in the passing lanes and recklessness going to the hoop. Apparently, Krupalija was named the MVP of the Illini's 2001-02 preseason tournament in Las Vegas, during which the Illini beat Southern Illinois. I totally did not know this fact, as these games were not televised from what I could remember.
Sadly, Krupalija got hurt late during his senior season during a Super Bowl Sunday loss at home to Michigan State. While able to return for the NCAA Tournament, the oft-injured Krupalija was clearly limited physically. Unfortunately, Johnson suffered a similar fate his last season with Illinois.
Ultimately, Krupalija was a starting-caliber big who accepted his role off the bench on the deepest Illini teams I have ever seen. Illinois fans could always count on Damir bringing energy and impacting the game in some positive way, whether hitting a shot, hustling down a rebound or annoying an opponent with a hard yet clean foul.
Looking at my last three Illinois favorite players in #11 Johnson, #10 Mirkovic and #9 Krupalija, several themes emerge:
To me, Krupalija was all of the above and more, a very talented and underrated player who got overshadowed on a team full of stars but always provided an emotional lift and played his role to perfection.
Whenever Damir stepped on the court, one thing was guaranteed: the game was about to get a whole lot more interesting.
In many ways Mirkovic and Krupalija were quite similar players, four men who played with absolutely no fear, whether out on the perimeter or in the paint, and could stroke the ball from deep.
Out of Rockford Boylan High School, Krupalija was a bit of an under-the-radar recruit for Lon Kruger's Illini at a time when Illinois high school basketball was absolutely loaded. While I remember reading that some kid named Krupalija was going to Illinois, I don't remember him being listed as one of the top high school basketball players in the Chicago Sun-Times at the time.
On a rebuilding Illinois team that lost 13 games in conference, a freshman Krupalija was someone I loved instantly, always playing hard, sometimes to his detriment with a little too much reckless abandon. Next to Cory Bradford, Krupaljia was my favorite player on that 1998-99 Illinois team. I especially remember a cold Sunday in January of 1999 when Krupalija played well during an Illinois loss at Indiana, with CBS announcer Billy Packer impressed by Damir's lack of fear. It was clear that the potential was certainly there with Krupalija, who was like a piece of clay that needed to be molded.
After starting his fair share of games as a freshman, including during the Illini's surprising run to the Big Ten Tournament title game, Krupalija came off the bench for much of his last three seasons as Illinois had a loaded frontline of Marcus Griffin and Brian Cook. Always providing instant energy and physicality, Krupalija certainly made the most of his minutes, never hesitant to take an open shot, crash the glass, and get up into an opponent.
An energizer bunny and wreckling ball, Krupalija was a key reserve on the 2000-01 Illinois team that was so deep that fellow juniors Lucas Johnson and Robert Archibald were also reserves. Krupalija especially stood out during the championship game of the Maui Invitational that season, a loss to Arizona during which he rallied the Illini late in the first half with his defensive activity in the passing lanes and recklessness going to the hoop. Apparently, Krupalija was named the MVP of the Illini's 2001-02 preseason tournament in Las Vegas, during which the Illini beat Southern Illinois. I totally did not know this fact, as these games were not televised from what I could remember.
Sadly, Krupalija got hurt late during his senior season during a Super Bowl Sunday loss at home to Michigan State. While able to return for the NCAA Tournament, the oft-injured Krupalija was clearly limited physically. Unfortunately, Johnson suffered a similar fate his last season with Illinois.
Ultimately, Krupalija was a starting-caliber big who accepted his role off the bench on the deepest Illini teams I have ever seen. Illinois fans could always count on Damir bringing energy and impacting the game in some positive way, whether hitting a shot, hustling down a rebound or annoying an opponent with a hard yet clean foul.
Looking at my last three Illinois favorite players in #11 Johnson, #10 Mirkovic and #9 Krupalija, several themes emerge:
- That is a whole bunch of personality, intensity and crazy.
- I love me guys who play with an edge and fire.
To me, Krupalija was all of the above and more, a very talented and underrated player who got overshadowed on a team full of stars but always provided an emotional lift and played his role to perfection.
Whenever Damir stepped on the court, one thing was guaranteed: the game was about to get a whole lot more interesting.
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