March 4, 2001

Box Score

Illini fans welcome the champs back at UI Willard Airport Sunday night.
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By JOHN AKERS
AP Sports Writer

MINNEAPOLIS - When Illinois breaks from its huddles the rest of this season, players must find something new to say.

Chanting "Big Ten champs!" won't be enough any more.

Despite some tense moments Sunday, the fifth-ranked Illini claimed a share of their second Big Ten Conference title in four seasons with a 67-59 victory over Minnesota. Illinois led for the first time in the second half when Sean Harrington hit a 3-pointer for a 48-46 lead with 6:04 remaining.

"We got away with one today in a game that meant a lot," Illini coach Bill Self said. "That trophy, even though it will be a co-trophy, will be something we treasure forever."

The Illini (23-6, 13-3), which finished in a first-place tie with No. 3 Michigan State, earned the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten tournament next week at Chicago's United Center because of a 77-66 victory over the Spartans on Feb. 6.

Self became the first coach in 22 seasons to win a title in his first season in the Big Ten.

The Gophers (17-12, 5-11) will open the Big Ten tournament Thursday against Purdue in the No. 8 vs. No. 9 game.

"Illinois is a deserving Big Ten champion," Minnesota coach Dan Monson said. "I think our guys had the heart of a champion. Maybe not the ability, but the effort and the heart."

The Gophers, down to seven scholarship players, were forced to play a 1-3-1 zone that worked against the Illini, who were 20-of-55 from the field (36.4 percent) and 7-of-26 from 3-point range (26.9 percent). However, they made 20 of 23 free throws.

"Their zone gave us problems, and we bailed them out by taking jumpers" Self said. "We can play a lot better, but they had a lot to do with that."

Minnesota led 31-30 at halftime despite falling behind 14-2 during the opening minutes. The Gophers went on a 13-2 run and eventually took a 27-25 lead on a basket by Terrance Simmons, who led all scorers with 19 points.

The Gophers held that lead until Harrington's 3-pointer. When Minnesota was forced to switch to man-to-man, in order to get the ball, the Illini's second-half man, Frank Williams, took over.

Following a Minnesota turnover, Williams drove the lane and dunked, pushing Illinois' lead to 50-46. A basket by the Gophers' Shane Schilling tied the score at 50-50 with 4:43 remaining, but another driving basket by Williams gave the Illini a 52-50 lead and they never again trailed.

Williams has built his reputation as one of the Big Ten's best players, if not the conference's player of the year, with his big second-half performances. He came into the game averaging 9.7 points in the second half, 5.3 in the first.

When the Illini broke from their last huddle of the game, leading 63-57 with 43 seconds remaining, they shouted "Big Ten champs!" with conviction.

"This is our last time saying that," Illinois forward Sergio McLain said. "We feel good, but we know it's not over. That wasn't our season. It's one of many goals.

"We got it. Now it's time to move on. It's going to be a war from now on."