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Sports Editor Matt Daniels with a look at what’s going on around the area:
Illinois men’s basketball coach Brad Underwood talks with Ed Walsh of Urbana, left, and Don Weitekamp of Rantoul while appearing on WDWS’ ‘Monday Night SportsTalk’ at the Esquire in downtown Champaign in March 2023.
Three reasons we love sports today
➜ 1. Illinois men’s basketball coach Brad Underwood has become a frequent guest on ‘Monday Night SportsTalk,’ at the Esquire through the years. He’ll be there again this Monday on the WDWS 1400-AM and 93.9-FM radio show from 5-6 p.m.
➜ 2. If you watch Saturday’s CBS broadcast of the Illinois-Michigan football game, you should hear a familiar voice.
➜ 3. Brian Barnhart, the long-time Voice of the Illini, was asked by CBS to recreate three of Red Grange’s touchdowns from his memorable performance against Michigan in 1924 in a style from a 1920s broadcast. It is supposed to kick off the CBS broadcast before the 2:30 p.m. game that honors the 100th anniversary of the dedication game of Memorial Stadium.
After Illinois played Kansas on Sept. 7 in front of a sell-out crowd at Memorial Stadium, a second sellout of the season was announced on Wednesday night when the Illini host Michigan on Oct. 19.
Numbers game: 77
sell-outs at Memorial Stadium in its history, with Saturday’s game against Michigan the latest. Of the 77 (coincidence, maybe, since 77 was Red Grange’s number with the Illini) that have happened since the venue opened late in the 1923 season, 16 have come when Michigan is the visiting opponent in Champaign.
Illinois outside hitter/opposite Averie Hernandez and the Illini carry a four-match win streak into Sunday’s home date with Maryland at Huff Hall.
Crowd control
Three events I’m paying attention to
➜ 1. Michigan at Illinois football. When these two teams will meet again in Champaign is unclear, but it won’t happen until at least 2029. All the more reason to cherish Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. kickoff on a historic day at Memorial Stadium.
➜ 2. Maryland at Illinois volleyball. The Illini (12-5, 4-3 Big Ten) will try to increase their win streak to five when the Terrapins (10-7, 1-5) visit for a 1 p.m. first serve on Sunday at Huff Hall. A special bonus: two-time Olympic medalist and former Illini Jordyn Poulter will be there.
➜ 3. Los Angeles Dodgers at New York Mets. Former Parkland standout Kevin Kiermaier is on the Dodgers. Can he get to his second World Series this weekend?
St. Joseph-Ogden girls’ basketball coach Drew Arteaga
Coach’s corner
Three questions with St. Joseph-Ogden girls’ basketball coach Drew Arteaga, who has led SJ-O to three regional titles in his first three seasons:
➜ 1. My favorite sports team is … Illinois basketball. I really enjoy watching Brad Underwood and Shauna Green’s teams compete.
➜ 2. Three coaches I’d like to have dinner with are … Mike Krzyzewski to hear about his military experience relating to coaching, Dan Hurley to learn his offensive concepts because I thought they were phenomenal last year and Phil Jackson to hear about the Bulls’ championship runs and what that experience was like as a coach.
➜ 3. My biggest pet peeve is … personally, hearing people chew their food. While coaching, missed layups.