Want a copy of today’s edition? Here’s a map of single-copy locations
Sign up for our daily newsletters
Sports Editor Matt Daniels with a look at what’s going on around the area:
Members of the Illinois men’s basketball team throw t-shirts to the crowd at the Orange Krush Tip-Off Event last Wednesday night at State Farm Center in Champaign.
Three reasons we love sports today
➜ 1. Less than a week until the Illinois men’s basketball season tips off. The Illini, who looked like a new team during Sunday’s 91-74 loss at No. 24 Mississippi in a charity exhibition game, have six days before Eastern Illinois arrives for a 7 p.m. start next Monday at State Farm Center in Champaign.
➜ 2. Wanting a basketball fix at State Farm Center this week? You’re in luck. The Illinois women’s basketball team tips off at 6 p.m. Friday against Lewis in an exhibition game. All children 12 and under who show up dressed in a costume the day after Halloween will receive a free general admission ticket.
➜ 3. Cross-country runners from all 18 Big Ten teams will descend upon the UI Golf Course in Savoy. The venue hosts the Big Ten Championships on Friday.
From left, JJ Schmidt, Reid Craddock and Peter Samu have helped lead St. Thomas More football to a 7-2 record this fall.
Numbers game: 2
area 8-man high school football teams in St. Thomas More and Milford/Cissna Park who are in the playoffs. The Illinois 8-Man Football Association is separate from the IHSA, but follows the same postseason format. STM (7-2) plays at St. Anne (7-2) while Milford/Cissna Park (6-3) plays at Martinsville. Both first-round games kick off at 7 p.m. Friday.
The Fisher/Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley boys’ soccer team will try to win its second IHSA postseason plaque this month when the Bunnies play Normal U-High on Tuesday evening in Monticello in a Class 1A sectional championship match.
Crowd control
Three events I’m paying attention to
➜ 1. Minnesota at Illinois football. Beat the Gophers (5-3, 3-2) on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign and the No. 24 Illini (6-2, 3-2) should stay ranked in the first Associated Press Top 25 poll of November.
➜ 2. Fisher/Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley vs. Normal U-High boys’ soccer. The Bunnies (20-3-1) vie for their first Class 1A sectional championship in program history when they play the Pioneers (21-5-1) at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in Monticello.
➜ 3. Centennial vs. Springfield boys’ soccer. The Chargers (13-7-2) look to keep their postseason run going when they meet the Senators (17-7) at 4 p.m. Tuesday in a Class 2A sectional semifinal match at Warrensburg-Latham.
Cody Drone and his baby, Leo.
Coach’s corner
Three questions with first-year Sullivan boys’ basketball coach Cody Drone. His team tips off the season on Nov. 25 at St. Teresa:
➜ 1. My favorite sports team is … the Illinois men’s basketball team.
➜ 2. Three coaches I’d like to have dinner with are … Mike Krzyzewski, Brad Stevens and Jay Wright.
➜ 3. My biggest pet peeve is … people who talk during movies.