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Sports Editor Matt Daniels with a look at what’s going on around the area:
Illinois running back Josh McCray, Bret Bielema, his family and Illini fans everywhere were celebrating after Illinois beat South Carolina 21-17 to win the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., and clinch the program’s first 10-win season since 2001. Illinois ended its season ranked 16th in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll.
Three reasons we love sports today
➜ 1. The Illinois football team ends this season with the No. 16 spot in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll. It’s the highest final ranking since the 2001 Illini team concluded its season ranked 12th.
➜ 2. Our veteran Illini football beat writer and AP Top 25 voter Bob Asmussen — who had Illinois 12th on his final ballot — is already thinking ahead to the 2025 season, though. He went ahead and explained his way-too-early Top 10 for the upcoming fall, with the Illini in the conversation.
➜ 3. Ohio State winning a national title Monday night means the Illini will host the reigning national champ again, with the Buckeyes visiting Memorial Stadium on Oct. 11. Illinois beat Michigan, the 2023 national champs, 21-7 this past season in Champaign.
Oakwood graduate Katelyn Young has been a star in her college career at Murray State.
Numbers game: 2,602
career points Oakwood graduate Katelyn Young has with the Murray State women’s basketball team. Already the program’s all-time leading scorer coming into this season, the 22-year-old, 6-foot-1 graduate forward in her fifth season at Murray State gets a chance to add to her scoring totals when the Racers (12-4, 6-1 Missouri Valley Conference) host Indiana State (3-14, 1-5) on Friday night.
Salt Fork junior Bracie Hird and the Storm could clinch a spot in Friday night’s Vermilion County Tournament championship game with a win against Georgetown-Ridge Farm on Wednesday night.
Crowd control
Three events I’m paying attention to
➜ 1. Armstrong-Potomac vs. Westville girls’ basketball. The Trojans (6-14) and Tigers (6-17) tip off at 5 p.m. Wednesday in the Vermilion County Tournament, with the winner playing Oakwood in the fifth-place game at 5 p.m. Friday at DACC.
➜ 2. Salt Fork vs. Georgetown-Ridge Farm girls’ basketball. The Storm (19-2) and Buffaloes (9-8) tip at 6:30 tonight. The winner advances to Friday night’s Vermilion County Tournament title game.
➜ 3. Hoopeston Area vs. Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin girls’ basketball. The winner of this 8 p.m. game on Wednesday between Cornjerkers (12-7) or Blue Devils (13-8) plays for the Vermilion County Tournament title on Friday.
Austin Helmuth with his wife, Natalie, and their son, Cohen.
Coach’s corner
Three questions with Arthur Christian baseball coach Austin Helmuth:
➜ 1. My favorite sports teams are … the Chicago Cubs and the Illini.
➜ 2. Three coaches I’d like to have dinner with are … Joe Maddon, Phil Jackson and Brad Underwood.
➜ 3. My biggest pet peeve is … when players say the word ‘bet.’