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Sports Editor Matt Daniels with a look at what’s going on around the area:
Darius Williams, Faces of Winter photo shoot at the News-Gazette in Champaign on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024.
Claire Dixon, Faces of Winter photo shoot at the News-Gazette in Champaign on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024.
Three reasons we love sports today
➜ 1. Congrats to Darius Williams of the Rantoul wrestling team and Claire Dixon of the Hoopeston Area girls’ basketball team. The duo received the most votes in our weekly poll for our latest high school Athletes of the Week, powered by Copper Creek Contractors. Read more about the pair in Monday’s News-Gazette.
➜ 2. The quarterback who helped Northern Illinois beat Notre Dame this season will suit up for Illinois in 2025, with Ethan Hampton transferring and signing with the Illini on Thursday (More, C-3).
➜ 3. Of course, it’s still Luke Altmyer’s team to lead next season — and in the Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31 — but the addition of Hampton gives the Illini another veteran option at quarterback.
Illinois guard AJ Redd (5) in a NCAA basketball game at the State Farm Center in Champaign on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024.
Numbers game: 2
points of the 97 scored by the Illinois men’s basketball team in its Braggin’ Rights win last season against Missouri who will actually dress and be able to play this Sunday for the Illini in the latest game against the Tigers. But don’t expect to see a lot of walk-on guard AJ Redd in action at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis since Redd — who had two points in one minute of action late in last season’s win against Missouri — has played a total of 11 minutes in the first 10 games this season.
Brad Underwood will coach in his eighth Braggin’ Rights game on Sunday.
Crowd control
Three events I’m paying attention to
➜ 1. Illinois at Missouri men’s basketball. Brad Underwood aims to secure the first Braggin’ Rights win streak of his Illinois tenure against one of the nation’s hottest teams — the Tigers have won 10 straight since an 83-75 loss at Memphis in their season opener on Nov. 4 — on Sunday at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis.
➜ 2. Southern at Illinois women’s basketball. The third game of a five-game homestand this month at State Farm Center for the Illini (9-2) tips off at noon on Friday against the Jaguars (2-10).
➜ 3. Hocking (Ohio) at Parkland men’s basketball. The fifth-ranked Cobras (12-1) vie for their third straight victory when they host the Hawks (11-4) at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond cross-country and boys’ track and field coach Matt Thomas.
Coach’s corner
Three questions with Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond cross-country and boys’ track and field coach Matt Thomas:
âžœ 1. My favorite sports team is … the Green Bay Packers. I grew up in a predominantly Bears’ household and yet have always been a Packers’ fan. Even before they were any good.
âžœ 2. Three coaches I’d like to have dinner with are … Vince Lombardi, John Wooden and my dad, former Arcola football coach Steve Thomas. Vince Lombardi was a genius motivator, and I always admired how he broke down a game into simplicity for his athletes. With John Wooden, I am not sure there is a coach who has been able to touch more lives of athletes and coaches. My dad passed away in 2001 (I was 21 at the time). He was also a great coach like the other two. He had a way of inspiring his athletes to do more than they thought they could. But he also made them into better people. Selfishly, I would just like to be able to see him again.
âžœ 3. My biggest pet peeve is … when I see a student or athlete who has a natural gift and they waste it.