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Sports Editor Matt Daniels with a look at what’s going on around the area:
Three reasons we love sports today
➜ 1. Get all the presents and shopping done ahead of Sunday afternoon. Or at least take a two-hour break from noon until a little after 2 p.m. Because Braggin’ Rights is about to go down, with the Illinois men’s basketball team trying to avoid a two-game losing streak and snap a 10-game winning streak by Missouri.
➜ 2. It wasn’t a rout, but a win is a win is a win. The Illinois women’s basketball team has 10 of them now after a 69-57 victory against Southern on Friday at State Farm Center in Champaign.
➜ 3. Mark Feb. 15 down on your calendar, Illini fans. That’s the night former Illini standout Terrence Shannon Jr. will see his No. 0 jersey raised to the rafters at State Farm Center with Michigan State in town.
Former Illini and Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown fires the football as he celebrates a second quarter touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Dec. 9. Brown tip-toed down the sideline and around the pylon for the score, helping the Bengals win 27-20.
Numbers game: 168
rushing yards former Illini Chase Brown needs to hit 1,000 for the season. The 24-year-old running back with the Cincinnati Bengals brings 832 rushing yards — good for 17th in the NFL — into Sunday’s home game for Cincinnati (6-8) against the reeling Browns (3-11) that kicks off at noon at Paycor Stadium.
Reigning state champion Hunter Eastin and the Unity wrestling team hosts the 16-team Unity Invitational on Saturday at the Rocket Center in Tolono.
Crowd control
Three events I’m paying attention to
➜ 1. Unity Invitational. The 16-team tournament features wrestling teams from all parts of the state descending upon the Rocket Center in Tolono for a jam-packed Saturday on the mat.
➜ 2. Monticello Holiday Hoopla. The eight-team boys’ basketball tournament and eight-team girls’ basketball tournament, featuring a heavy dose of local teams, tips off next Thursday morning and continues until the championship games next Saturday night.
➜ 2. Centralia Holiday Tournament. The Champaign Central boys’ basketball team is in the 81st version of the holiday tournament that tips off in southern Illinois next Thursday, with the Maroons playing the last first-round game against Harding (Tenn.) at approximately 9:15 p.m.
Michael Ryan wrapped up his first season in charge of the Centennial volleyball program in 2024.
Coach’s corner
Three questions with Centennial volleyball coach Michael Ryan:
➜ 1. My favorite sports team is … the Chicago Bears. It has been a tough couple of decades, but I have faith. Perhaps blindly
➜ 2. Three coaches I’d like to have dinner with are … Mike Krzyzewski, Russ Rose and Phil Jackson.
➜ 3. My biggest pet peeve is … not being able to take constructive criticism from others.