Chemistry is Illinois’ favorite subject.
Without it, the Illini might be Ohio State.
Chemistry, however, has never been an exact science.
Sometimes you go into the lab and everything blows up in your face.
Sometimes the physics majors win.
Sometimes talent beats your brains in.
“Sometimes you get whipped,” said Illinois coach Lon Kruger after his Illini (22-9) were destroyed by Purdue 68-47 Saturday in the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament at the United Center. “The feeling we have right now–I don’t recall that happening this season.”
Getting 22 points from senior guard Chad Austin, 19 points and seven rebounds from senior center Brad Miller and 14 from sophomore forward Mike Robinson, the Boilermakers (26-6) beat Illinois for the third time this season to move into Sunday’s title game against Michigan (23-8).
Last time Purdue played Illinois, you’ll recall–on Feb. 14 in West Lafayette–the Boilermakers prevailed just 75-72.
The difference Saturday?
“We kind of waited around for things to happen instead of making them happen,” said Illinois senior forward Brian Johnson. “Purdue has size inside and athletic guards. They’re a tough team. What they do consistently is kick our butts. Why? Because they hate us. And until we do something about it, they won’t stop doing it.”
Looking at the score, what was surprising was that Illinois controlled the game’s early moments, enjoying an 18-10 lead at the 11-minute mark. But after going ahead 20-13, the roof collapsed on a team whose steady play and unemotional response to challenges has been its trademark all year.
During a 12-2 run keyed by Austin and Miller, the Boilermakers surged to their first lead at 23-22 with 4:13 to go. Purdue simply took charge from there, outscoring Illinois 18-5 in the last 7:52 before the break and opening the second half with a 12-4 run that blew it open.
“They concentrated on Brad,” said Austin, “and that opened up the outside game for us, and then when they started to guard us out there, we got it in to Brad.”
Illinois exacerbated its woes on the other end, shooting 36 percent for the game, just 15 percent (3 of 20) from three-point range. Senior guard Matt Heldman tied his season low with only three points. Senior forward Jerry Hester, who’d hit double figures in 14 straight games, finished with only seven points. Kevin Turner led with 12–on 5-of-15 shooting. Center Jarrod Gee, held scoreless in the first two meetings with Purdue, had 11 points and seven rebounds, but it didn’t matter.
That the Boilermakers dominated despite playing without injured guard Jaraan Cornell and with a weakened Brian Cardinal (flu) scoring only two points only made it that much harder for the Illini to swallow.
Kruger’s five senior starters have lost only nine games this season, three of them to Purdue. The Illini trailed at halftime only six times, three times against Purdue. The Illini were handed only three double-figure defeats, two of them by Purdue.
But after an electrifying run to a share of their first Big Ten crown since 1984, the Illini enter NCAA tournament play with a 21-point blemish on their resume.
Illinois’ hope is that Saturday won’t matter.
“I don’t think today’s game will affect our seed at all,” Kruger said. “If we’d won today and tomorrow it might have enhanced our seed, but I don’t think a loss hurts us.”
And what about morale?
“It’s embarrassing and humbling,” Kruger said. “But maybe this will reinforce the importance of continuing to do what we did so well over 16 conference games.”
For the Illini, Sunday’s NCAA selections can’t come too soon. A good seed would ease what they’re feeling right now: a huge bruised ego.
“This definitely slowed our momentum,” Johnson said. “But we did a great job over our last 10 or 11 ballgames. I think the (selection) committee respects that.”
