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Sports Editor Matt Daniels with a look at what’s going on around the area:
State Farm Center in Champaign will host a blood drive on Wednesday afternoon.
Three reasons we love sports today
➜ 1. State Farm Center will host a blood drive from 1-7 p.m. on Wednesday, part of Abbott and the Big Ten’s blood donation competition. The Big Ten school that donates the most blood will receive a $1 million donation from Abbott toward student or community health.
➜ 2. Also at State Farm Center on Wednesday: a 5:30 p.m. Orange Krush Tip-Off event, with Brad Underwood and his players in attendance to mingle with the passionate Illini student section
➜ 3. Need an actual Illini basketball fix? Check out the Bulls at 7 p.m. Wednesday to catch Ayo Dosunmu in action at New Orleans, while Terrence Shannon Jr. and the Timberwolves play their second game at 9 p.m. Thursday at Sacramento.
Dillon Gabriel and Oregon sported this look against Ohio State on Oct. 12.
Numbers game: 4
different uniform combinations Oregon football, a team known for its wide variety of jersey styles, has worn in four home games this season at Autzen Stadium. The Illini have gone with one look in their two road games — white jersey, orange pants and the italicazed, underlined orange Illinois helmet — this season heading into Saturday’s Top 20 showdown at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.
Holland Martin of Mahomet-Seymour is one of 12 area girls’ tennis players who will play at the IHSA state tournament starting on Thursday.
Crowd control
Three events I’m paying attention to
➜ 1. Illinois at Oregon football. How the Illini offensive line handles Oregon’s pressure is vital on Saturday afternoon. The Ducks are tied for 18th in the country with 20 sacks, while Illinois has given up 20 sacks, tied for 110th in the country.
➜ 2. IHSA girls’ tennis state tournament. Eliza Agate, Holland Martin, Adella Bird, Elana Religioso and Haley Reed of Mahomet-Seymour, Aliya Morgan, Anna Houpt and Reese Rundle of Danville, Kara Charney and Fiona Leakey of Champaign Central, Kruthi Ramanath of Uni High and Catherine Ra of St. Thomas More all begin play Thursday in the Chicago suburbs.
➜ 3. IHSA football playoff pairings. The brackets get unveiled starting at 8 p.m. Saturday.
Kevin Martlage and his two daughters, Sophia and Kelsey.
Coach’s corner
Three questions with St. Joseph-Ogden girls’ tennis coach Kevin Martlage:
âžœ 1. My favorite sports team is … sorry, Illini fans, but the Indiana Hoosiers. I’m a life-long Hoosier and a 1996 grad.
âžœ 2. Three coaches I’d like to have dinner with are … Bobby Knight, Tony Dungy and Joe Torre.
âžœ 3. My biggest pet peeve is … not being on time.