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Sports Editor Matt Daniels with a look at what’s going on around the area:
Illinois men’s golf coach Mike Small, right, listens to his dad, former Illini men’s basketball player Bill Small, during a November 2023 radio appearance on WDWS’ ‘SportsTalk,’ at the Esquire in downtown Champaign. Both Smalls will be our guests this Monday night at the Esquire for another ‘SportsTalk,’ show.
Three reasons we love sports today
➜ 1. Congrats to Lucas Fuson of the Cerro Gordo/Bement boys’ basketball team and Jasmine Johnson of the Rantoul girls’ wrestling team. Fuson and Johnson are The News-Gazette’s latest High School Athletes of the Week. Read more about the duo in Monday’s paper.
➜ 2. Illinois men’s golf coach Mike Small and his dad, former Illini men’s basketball player Bill Small, are set to join us for ‘Monday Night SportsTalk,’ at the Esquire in downtown Champaign in three days. Hope to see you there from 5-6 p.m.
➜ 3. It’s rivalry night in Champaign on Friday. Centennial hosts Champaign Central in a basketball doubleheader, with the girls’ game at 6 p.m. followed by the boys’ game at 7:30 p.m. Should be a fun night at Coleman Carrodine Gym.
Brad Underwood and Tom Izzo meet for the 13th time on Sunday.
Numbers game: 10
straight games the No. 12 Michigan State men’s basketball team has won ahead of its showdown on Sunday in East Lansing, Mich. Tom Izzo’s Spartans (15-2, 6-0 Big Ten) haven’t lost since a 71-63 defeat against Memphis on Nov. 26 at the Maui Invitational. Brad Underwood’s Illini (13-4, 5-2) are coming off the program’s most lopsided win at Indiana following its 94-69 triumph on Tuesday night. Buckle up.
The first Central-Centennial boys’ basketball game this season takes place Friday night at Centennial’s Coleman Carrodine Gym in Champaign.
Crowd control
Three events I’m paying attention to
➜ 1. No. 19 Illinois at No. 12 Michigan State men’s basketball. Have to imagine good friends Kylan Boswell of Illinois and Jeremy Fears Jr. of Michigan State will guard each other a time or two when their respective teams meet on Sunday.
➜ 2. Champaign Central at Centennial boys’ basketball. Chris Bush and the Maroons (10-6) will try to get a road win, while Kayden Peat and the Chargers (8-8) will try to continue their recent run of success in the Champaign rivalry.
➜ 3. Vermilion County Tournament. The girls’ tournament tips off Friday night with three games and the boys’ tournament does so Saturday with three more games at Danville Area Community College.
Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin boys’ track and field coach Nathan West
Coach’s corner
Three questions with Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin boys’ track and field coach Nathan West:
âžœ 1. My favorite sports teams are … the Illinois football and Illinois men’s basketball teams.
âžœ 2. Three coaches I’d like to have dinner with are … Bret Bielema, Brad Underwood (at a Pizza Hut, of course) and Dan Campbell.
âžœ 3. My biggest pet peeve is … athletes asking me what we are doing at practice that day during school.