Bleacher Report - Articles by Benji Maurer

Illinois a Dark Horse In The Suddenly Loaded Big Ten

Benji Maurer — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:33:52 -0500

Coming off a 16-19 season in 2008, no one really knew what to expect this season from Bruce Weber's young Illini team.

Last season, this team was plagued by two talented, but underachieving seniors, maddening inconsistencies, and bottom ten national ranking in free throw shooting. Add to that the final chapter of the Jamar Smith saga in the offseason, and this team looked like it was headed for another year in the cellar.

However, due to some unexpected overachieving play by some of Weber's young unknowns, the Illini are right in line for an NCAA berth, and are sure to be a tough draw every night in the brutal Big Ten schedule.

The improved play of big men sophomores Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale has really deepened an Illini squad which was already strong in the backcourt. Even with the Jamar Smith debacle, this team has moved on rather nicely.

Experience was not a question mark in the backcourt, but long range shooting was a concern with Smith's departure. Senior guard Trent Meacham has responded nicely by shooting a sizzling 49% from 3-point range for the season, while shooting over 50% so far in Big Ten play. Kentucky transfer Alex Legion, and sophomore Demetri McCamey also are long range threats, and senior leader Chester Frazier currently leads the Big Ten in assists.

This was all supposed to be one year away because of the brilliant recruiting class that Weber awaits next season. The improvement of all these players has the Illini right in the thick of the Big Ten race now, but it won't be easy.

The Big Ten currently has the country's top conference RPI rating, and is unexpectedly deep with so many teams vastly improved from last season. Currently Michigan State holds the conference lead and seems to be a cut above everyone else. After the Spartans it looks to be completely fair game, with the exception of Northwestern and Indiana.

Illinois must take care of the current home stretch; four out of their next five games are home at Assembly Hall. They have Michigan Wednesday night, and then they travel to the Breslin Center for their first shot at the Spartans.

This is Bruce Weber's first season at Illinois where every player on the roster is one that he brought there. I look forward to seeing them continue to make progress.

Go Illini!

Would the Real Fighting Illini Please Step Forward?

Benji Maurer — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 05:33:17 -0400

After a hard-fought, yet disappointing 20-17 win over Louisiana-Lafayette, the verdict is still out on this year's Fighting Illini football team. Sitting in the stands at Memorial Stadium in Champaign this past Saturday, I just could not figure out why this team just hasn't gotten it going yet.

It seems as though they choose to excel at something different every week.

Week One against an awfully good Missouri team showed some monumental weaknesses defensively, even though it was against the Tigers, who could be the nation's best on offense. If these guys are considering themselves to be a legit program, they must turn in better performances than that.

Despite getting torched defensively, they showed some guts being down 18 in the second half of that game with an aerial show of their own, and they ended up losing that game by just 10 points.

Then came their big unveiling of the new Memorial Stadium against Eastern Illinois the following week. They turned in a 47-21 rout of the Panthers in Champaign, but this game also had its glaring disappointments.

I guess I could have looked at it from a glass half-full perspective in seeing that Illinois surrendered just 278 yards of total offense. But then I'd be ignoring that 185 of those yards that came on the ground from senior running back Travorus Bess on just 15 carries.

No school that claims to better than the previous season's Rose Bowl team can be allowing 12 yards a carry to a Division I-AA running back. That just can't happen, especially when P.J. Hill and Beanie Wells are just weeks away.

Thankfully, the Illini offense racked up 533 yards, including a whopping 399 on the ground, and the Panthers were never a real threat.

Then came the Cajuns. We all know that Illinois won, but if this game had been five quarters long, the Illini would be 1-2. It was a complete flip-flop as the defense really came to play, which was very encouraging. The defense put pressure on the QB all game long and once again allowed fewer than 300 yards of total offense.

The problem this time was the Illini offense just couldn't get it going. Although they moved the ball, they had a real problem finishing drives and with penalties. More than anything, it was their passion that was lacking. At times it seemed as though they didn't care to be there, and that they were playing not to lose rather than playing to win.

With all that said, the non-conference slate is history, and I think Illinois is very fortunate to be idle this weekend before they kick off conference play on the 27th against Penn State at Beaver Stadium.

This team needs to regroup. The real season begins in a week as they begin play in a conference that looks to be up for grabs.

So far, the Big Ten has once again disappointed with Ohio State and Michigan both getting trounced last weekend in their high profile matchups. It's the other teams like Michigan State, Purdue, and Northwestern that have been surprising. Wisconsin seems to be the only team living up to preseason hype.

Outside of Ohio State on Nov. 15, Illinois plays the best teams in the conference all on the road. If this team can play to its potential, I don't think there's any doubt it can challenge for a Big Ten title. Although they did lose two key players from last year, they have also returned as much talent and experience as anyone in the conference.

The biggest concern for this team is definitely the defense. Zook said before the season started that the defense was going to end up being the strength of this team, and we have not seen that. Although they've put some good pressure on the quarterback, they are still far too vulnerable to big plays, which have often put them in situations that they can't get out of.

Offensively, the Illini have as many weapons as anyone. However, I think that for them to improve offensively, they have to get Arrelious Benn the football. Through the first three games, it seems as though offensive coordinator Mike Locksley has been using Benn as a runner as much as a receiver. I DON'T GET THIS!

Benn's strength is catching the ball, running after the catch, and breaking tackles. Right now, he doesn't seem to be getting those opportunities. When the Illini look deep, they are not looking to him. They do have more talent at receiver with Chris Duvalt and Will Judson, but Benn is this team's best playmaker.

For them to improve on offense, they need to find him more. It's really that simple.

Penn State is up next, and this is a team that has looked mighty impressive, especially offensively, where their lowest yardage output so far is 454 yards. In fact, you could argue that they look better than anyone in the Big Ten right now.

The outcome of this game should paint a fairly clear picture of whether or not Illinois should be considered in the race for a Big Ten title.

Kyle Orton's Time Is Now

Benji Maurer — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:09:45 -0400

I don't know about the rest of Bear Nation, but there is not a single person on the Chicago Bears football team that I'm rooting for more than Kyle Orton.

No, I'm not one of those crazy Bear fans that are putting Kyle Orton into the NFL MVP mix. I'm an optimist, but not that much of one.

However, it was such a breath of fresh air to see a quarterback comfortable in the pocket. It was a relief to see a quarterback that was not afraid to actually STEP INTO the pocket and throw a strong pass while getting hit. I also found it pleasing to see Orton prove some people wrong, the people that say Rex's arm is so much stronger than Orton's.

While Orton did not necessarily throw a real deep pass during the game, he showcased a fairly accurate and strong throwing arm throughout the evening.

There was a different feel to that position than I've felt as a fan in quite awhile, and I think it has to do with the confidence level in Kyle Orton. If you look back at the last four seasons, this REALLY IS Orton's first shot as the Bears' starting quarterback.

No...you can't count 2005. While he did start and win 10 games, he was nothing more than a bandage at the quarterback position. Ron Turner has even been quoted of saying that they kept it very basic for him, and rightly so. After all, he was a rookie.

You also cannot count the end of last season, due to the fact that the Bears were eliminated from playoff contention. He was playing those three games because someone else was not up to snuff. In truth, Kyle Orton was trying out to be the 2008 starting quarterback, and that is where I really believe Orton truly won the job.

While he wasn't unbelievable, but he was efficient, and he didn't hurt the Bears, only throwing one pick in the three games. Not to mention that two of those teams still had something significant to play for.

Most importantly, he was still in the shadow of Rex Grossman. He may have seen a little more light, but he was still in the dark, and that's the key to 2008. For the first time, ever, he's actually earned, not inherited, being placed ahead of Rex.

He actually feels important to the Bears' franchise now, and what we saw against the 49ers was the first example of a quarterback feeling that confidence. He's never felt that since he was a college boy, and I'm looking forward to seeing what that produces.

Hopefully I'll get to see the guy I couldn't stand while he was at Purdue, when he was torching Illinois and every other Big-10 team.

Go Kyle!

Bank On It, Cubs Will Take NL Central, Maybe More

Benji Maurer — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 09:58:05 -0400

What a week for this team. The Chicago Cubs were an unimpressive 22-30 on the road entering Milwaukee for this four game series with the talented Brewers. They had Milwaukee dwellers splurging as much as a reported $1000 for a seat behind home plate, and $200 for a bleacher seat.

They had Brewers' All-Star outfielder Ryan Braun talking some minimal trash by saying all the pressure was on the Cubs, that the Brewers were as confident as they'd ever been, and they had nothing to lose. Well, I have a question?

Where's the confidence level now Ryan???

The Cubs not only responded by their best road series of the year, but they crushed the Brewers in every facet of the game. Sending them reeling from one to five games out and possibly third place in the National League Central.

Everyone was talking about the Cubs needing to somehow figure out CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets, while no one was discussing what the Brewers were going to do about facing Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, and Rich Harden in order.

How 'bout 22 IP, 16 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 27 K, and three wins.

That would be what the Cubs' "Big Three" did to the Brewers' stacked lineup in the latter three games of a four game sweep. That's not to mention Ted Lilly, who opened the series also notching a quality start.

This isn't to say that the Cubs will see any more of the Brewers for the rest of the season. In fact, I believe the Brew Crew will outlast the Cardinals and everyone else for the National League Wild Card. With that statement comes an obvious prediction. Yes, the Cubs will win their second straight division crown. And this year, unlike other years, is really saying something.

To do what they've done this week in Milwaukee says something about their resiliency. This was the first time all year they were really faced with pressure to maintain their division lead, and also their identity as the NL's best squad. They responded brilliantly with dominant pitching, contagious hitting, and also very solid defense.

Despite the stomping of their division rivals, I refuse to predict any further. Being a lifelong Cub fan, I'm smarter than that. One thing I do know, however, is that this is the best chance they have had since I've been watching them to win the whole thing. There's not a team in the NL (possibly in the majors) with more talent and depth top to bottom than they have.

Regardless, it's going to be a really fun final two months of the regular season. Just about every division outside of the AL West has a serious race going on, and it will be a treat to watch.

However, I do believe that we Cub fans will have the most fun.