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Sports Editor Matt Daniels with a look at what’s going on around the area:
Danville native Trent Sherfield is in his first season as a wide receiver with the Minnesota Vikings and in his seventh NFL season overall.
Three reasons we love sports today
➜ 1. Watch out for No. 11 on the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night. That’s Danville native Trent Sherfield, who will suit up for his seventh NFL playoff game when the Vikings play the Rams at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Sherfield has eight catches for 83 yards this season and primarily plays on special teams.
➜ 2. Former Illini Dawuane Smoot got to enjoy his first playoff win since 2017 on Sunday. The 29-year-old defensive end for the Bills saw time getting after Broncos quarterback Bo Nix in Buffalo’s 31-7 win.
➜ 3. Former Illini Kendrick Green, Jake Hansen and Del’Shawn Phillips all played during the Texans’ 32-12 playoff win on Saturday against the Chargers. Next up? A chance to beat the the two-time reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Brad Underwood will vie for his third road win against Indiana on Tuesday night.
Numbers game: .333
winning percentage Brad Underwood has against Indiana when facing the Hoosiers at Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind. The eighth-year Illinois men’s basketball coach is 2-4 on the road against the Hoosiers, enjoying a 75-71 overtime win on Feb. 2, 2021 and a 74-57 win on Feb. 5, 2022. He gets a chance to add to his win total in Assembly Hall on Tuesday night when his Illini (12-4, 4-2 Big Ten) tip off at 6 p.m. Tuesday against the Hoosiers (13-4, 4-2).
Alexa Jamison and the Salt Fork girls’ basketball team hosts Cissna Park on Monday night in a Vermilion Valley Conference showdown in Catlin between two of the area’s top programs this season.
Crowd control
Three events I’m paying attention to
➜ 1. Cissna Park at Salt Fork girls’ basketball. The winner on Monday night in Catlin between two of the area’s top programs asserts itself as the team to beat in the Vermilion Valley Conference.
➜ 2. Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin at Armstrong-Potomac boys’ basketball. BHRA carries a 17-0 record into this VVC showdown on Tuesday night. The host Trojans (13-4), meanwhile, have won three straight since losing to the Blue Devils in the championship game of the Heritage/BHRA Holiday Tournament on Dec. 28.
➜ 3. Danville at Urbana boys’ basketball. Danville (6-9) will try to leave Oscar Adams Gym with a win against the host Tigers (3-8) on Tuesday night in Big 12 play.
Brandon Getche and his fiance, Kayla.
Coach’s corner
Three questions with Chrisman girls’ basketball coach and golf coach Brandon Getche:
➜ 1. My favorite sports team is … the St. Louis Cardinals.
➜ 2. Three coaches I’d like to have dinner with are … Phil Jackson, Brad Underwood and Mike Shildt.
➜ 3. My biggest pet peeve is … when people don’t pay attention and then complain about being lost about what to do.