Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 11

Sports Decatur, Illinois Herald Review Wednesday, February 24, 1999 Commentary Illinois vs. Indiana mmm young Illini basketball team started coming up short offensively, and with Krupalija open ing eyes I III I II WHEN: Tonight, 7 p.m. WHERE: Assembly Hall, Champaign TV: ESPN-Regional including WCIA, Champaign RADIO: Illini Sports Network including WSOY (1340 AM, Decatur) RECORDS: Illinois 11-16 overall, 3-12 in Big Ten; No. 20 Indiana 20-9, 7-7 TREND: Indiana is coming off a 73-71 victory over Michigan and is looking to pick up consecutive victories for the first time in three weeks OF NOTE: Illinois' only chance to avoid the Big Ten basement is a victory tonight combined with Penn State losses at Michigan (tonight) and Saturday against Ohio State. After tonight's regular-season finale, Illinois will have eight days until the start of the Big Ten Tournament March 7 in Chicago.

make the most progress on the Illinois team. His most recent game may have been his best, an 18-point, 9-rebound showing against Iowa. It was the first time he showed the confident jump shot coaches believe will make him an all-around threat. "I've worked on that a lot in practice, that medium-range jumper," Krupalija said. "I felt confident to shoot it." For most of the season, confidence has been missing at the power forward position.

Illini coach Lon Kruger has rotated starters, trying Robert Archibald, Lucas Johnson, Victor Chuk-wudebe and Krupalija. But each time the starter struggled. "They called it a four-man curse at the start of the season," Krupalija said. "No one could play well as the starter." For Krupalija, it was simply a matter of finding his comfort level within the college game. "Coming in I didn't know what to expect.

I'd never played in a college basketball game. It took a while to realize how rough it is, but I also found out I can hang in there. Now, from a confidence standpoint, I know going into the game I can do some things out there." ILLINI Continued on B3 By MARK TUPPER Executive Sports Editor CHAMPAIGN He started the season wearing street clothes and a faint smile. Damir Krupalija arrived in Champaign with big plans, excited to be a part of a major college program. But when Krupalija, his parents and the Illini coaching staff reached a joint decision to withhold him from action during his freshman season, Krupalija put his plans on hold.

His hoped-for debut would have to wait. He'd try to make an impact next season. Before long, though, those plans changed again. When a iraosi ro) By JAMES S. TYREE Staff Writer DECATUR Shalin Bond stood outside Stephen Decatur Tuesday night, wearing too light a jacket for such a cold night.

A few feet behind him, a few friends were jumpstarting a car that had its lights left on. Bond was clearly frustrated, but not because of the automotive inconvenience. Rather, it was MacArthur's 68-54 victory over his Runnin Reds at Stephen Decatur. Bond is a sophomore, so he'll have two more years to get that elusive win over the Generals. But to him, beating a MacArthur team without seniors Kin Yanders and Corley Lee won't be the same "We just wanted to beat them one time before they go off to college," Bond said.

"Next year, we're going to be confident, but we really wanted to beat them this year." MacArthur had the tough task of beating Stephen Decatur a third time in one season. Plus, as Generals junior John Fluker pointed out, "the city championship was on the line." Both teams were 2-1 against city teams in Big 12 play. But Stephen Decatur perhaps became a victim of Eisenhower's success. Eisenhower stunned MacArthur Fri iff 'Next year, we're going to be confident, but we really wanted to beat them this Stephen Decatur's Shalin Bond L'w 'TV i "y' 'U Jw, )' ft A 1 mS' a if I I A (. ftjN A i XI 'A, 1 ff XSi Lr i.A fc with strong play in practice, the red-shirt idea was scrapped.

And seven games into Bryson earns honors ISU's Tarise Bryson Valley newcomer of year Story B4 the season, Krupalija suited up. Now, with only tonight's game against Indiana remaining before the Big Ten Tournament begins, it is Krupalija who has earned raves as one of the newcomers to them win six NBA titles. As Terrell Brandon pulled up for a 15-foot jumper with 30 seconds left, Randy Brown deflected the shot. But Tony Kukoc missed a wide-open 3-pointer with 11 seconds left. The Bucks got the rebound and as Brandon brought the ball down, Robinson set a screen and Brown slipped as he tried to move around him.

With Kukoc in front of him, Brandon dished off to the now-wide open Robinson, who went in for the easy, game-winning dunk. day night, and several Generals said that game served as a wakeup call. As a result, both teams played with high energy and the fans that filled the gymnasium fed into the frenzy. Throughout the first half, the game featured teams that stole and counterstole the ball, players who dove like kamikazes for loose balls, made sweet passes and connected on acrobatic layups. Stephen Decatur's Roosevelt Fuller displayed a smooth confidence in his jump shot during the second quarter, but Yanders answered with nine points in the quarter.

Lee, meanwhile, kept busy by rebounding and zipping slick passes for assists. When the all-out war of a first half ended, MacArthur led 34-24. The Generals were just as intense in the second half, but the Runnin Reds couldn't keep up the pace. MacArthur TUPPER Celebration will honor Lou's 700th Forget basketball. Talk to anyone who has ever played bridge against Lou Hen-son and you'll know.

Or anyone who has matched skills against him in checkers. Or dominoes. Lou Henson, one of the most kind-hearted men you'll ever meet, will slit your throat in the heat of competition. "He's the most competitive person I've ever been around," says Arizona State coach Rob Evans, who played for Henson at New Mexico State in the late 1960s and was his assistant for six years. "Very few people know he's a champion checkers player.

You dcn't want to play him." The intensity of Henson's competitive drive has never mellowed. That's why upon retiring in 1996 after his 21st season as head coach at Illinois, it took only 17 months before he was back in the saddle again. When alma mater New Mexico State asked him to help rescue its scandal-scarred program, Henson couldn't resist. And now, two seasons into the process, 'ol Lou-Do stands on the brink of history. His team's victory over North Texas Saturday pushed his career coaching record to 699-353.

And if he wins either of his remaining two games home contests Thursday against Utah State or Saturday against Nevada he will become only the 13th coach in Division I history to reach the 700 plateau. The others: Dean Smith, Adolph Rupp, Jim Phelan, Henry Iba, Ed Diddle, Phog Allen, Bob Knight, Ray Meyer, Norm Stewart, Don Haskins, Lefty Driesell and Jerry Tarkanian. Predictably, the 67-year-old Henson is down-playing the achievement. "I don't think that much about it," he said Tuesday. "Other people are talking about it and they're writing about it here.

But I haven't mentioned it to our players. They may not even know about it." Oh, they know about it. The whole state's aware of it," New Mexico State Athletic Director Jim Paul said. "This is a big deal." Paul said the university has planned a celebration of the accomplishment that will commence at center court immediately following Saturday's game. The Las Cruces Sun-News is publishing a 32-page special section commemorating the 700th victory.

Framed proclamations from the governor, state senate and house of representatives will be presented. So will a diamond charm created especially for Lou's wife, Mary Henson. And Coca-Cola has produced 3,000 six-packs of bottles that say "700 wins" on one side with Henson's likeness and signature on the other. "We're going to open the ceremony up to the public," Paul said. "Anyone who has something to present can come forth and do it and there will be a lot of people with gifts," he said.

"We're saying the gift has to be worth at least $100 so students won't be handing over their bubble gum collections." Paul said winning Thursday might be tough, since Utah State is the hottest team in the league. But he's certain the Aggies will win one of these final two. And he's all for the notion that 700 career victories should guarantee Henson a spot in the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. Despite the current fanfare, Henson figures New Mexico State might have to win the Big West Conference tournament in Reno, Nev. next week to reach the NCAA Tournament.

If he gets there, it will be his 19th tournament appearance including Final Four visits with both New Mexico State (1970) and Illinois (1989). "He's done a great job since returning here," Paul said. "And this couldn't happen to a classier gentleman." Marie Tupper is executive sports editor of the Herald Review. outscored Stephen Decatur 19-10 in the third quarter and stretched its lead to 61-38 before finally losing a bit of its intensity. "I just don't get that," Bond said as his friends still worked on the car.

"We wanted this game. Everyone in our locker room was fired up and there was a lot of intensity, but it looked like they wanted it more. Plus, they were missing nothing out there." MacArthur coach Brett Williams said reviewing the loss to Eisenhower helped establish the shots that Bond said the Generals weren't missing. A major difference for MacArthur Tuesday night, Williams said, was players like Springfield, Fluker and Smith moving without the ball on offense, then receiving the ball in open spots where they can hit better shots. Springfield scored eight points in the first quarter and again in the third and finished with a game-high 23 points.

Smith added a pair of baseline jump shots during the crucial third quarter. "They played a fine ball game and we don't have the offensive weapons to match them, and Lee makes everyone else better," said Stephen Decatur coach Mel Roustio. "That gives us such a small margin of error; by that I mean we have to get 90 percent of the loose balls and we've got to get penetration layups." Yanders finished the game with 22 points and Lee added 12 points in a fine all-around game. Marquise Richardson and Ish-mael Adams each scored 10 points for the Runnin Reds and Fuller finished with nine points. Both teams will finish the regular season on Friday night.

MACARTHUR 68, STEPHEN DECATUR 54 MacArthur (68) Springfield 23, Fluker 3, Yanders XL Lee 12. Smith 6, Thompson 0, Lewis 2, Simpson 0. Totals: 28 8-14 68. Stephen Decatur (54) Slaughter 5, Fuller 9, Richardson 10, S. Bond 7, Adams 10, De Priest 0, Goodman 2, Carson 7, J.

Bond 4. Totals: 19 13-20 54. MacArthur 19 15 19 15 68 Stephen Decatur 10 14 10 20 54 3-point goals MacArthur 4 (Yanders 4), Stephen Decatur 3 (Richardson, Fuller, Slaughter). (MacArthur 16 6, 12-3 Big 12. Next: Friday vs.

Mattoon. Stephen Decatur 1212, 8-7. Next: Friday at Danville.) CORLEY'S DISH: MacArthur senior Corley Lee, left, throws a behind-the-back Stephen Decatur in the first half on Tuesday night. Herald Review Joseph C. Garza pass an airbone Shalin Bond of TT k.

p. ilO CHICAGO (AP) Glenn Robinson only made one shot in the fourth quarter. Luckily for him and the Milwaukee Bucks, it was the only one that mattered. Robinson's dunk with four seconds left Tuesday sealed a 90-88 victory for the Bucks, who blew a 13-point lead and barely held off the Chicago Bulls. It was the fifth straight loss at home for the Bulls (2-9).

Brent Barry's two free throws tied the game at 88 with 44 seconds left, and the Bulls showed a flash of the defense that helped Toni Kukoc had 19 points to lead four Bulls in double figures. BUCKS 90, BULLS 88 Milwaukee (90) Robinson 12-19 0-0 24, Hill 4-10 1-2 9, Traylor 0-3 0-0 0, Brandon 5-12 0-0 10, Allen 6-11 3-3 16, Johnson 2 5 0-0 4, M.Curry 0-4 0-0 0, D.Curry 7-12 0 0 16, Gilliam 1-2 2-4 4, Del Negro 2-5 2 2 7. Totals 39 83 8 11 90. Chicago (88) Bryant 6-10 4-4 16, Kukoc 7-20 3 3 19, Simpkins 1-4 2 5 4, Brown 2-4 2 2 6, Harper 4-12 2 2 11, Barry 3 6 7-9 15, Lang 1 2 2 2 4, David 3 4 2 2 8, Jones 15 04 3, La Rue 0-2 0 0 0, Booth 0-3 04 0, Carr 02 2 2 2. Totals 28 74 26-31 Milwaukee 26 24 23 17 90 Chicago 29 16 18 25 88 3-Point Goals Milwaukee 4-14 (D.Curry 2-6, Del Negro 1-1, Allen 1-3, Robinson 0-1, Brandon 0-1, M.Curry 0-2), Chicago 6-16 (Barry 2-4, Kukoc 2-6, Harper 1-2, Jones 1-4).

Fouled out None. Rebounds Milwaukee 46 (Johnson 10), Chicago 52 (Kukoc 11). Assists Milwaukee 28 (Brandon 14), Chicago 24 (Kukoc 7). Total fouls Milwaukee 23, Chicago 16. Technicals Milwaukee delay of game, Robinson, Hill, Booth.

A 22,302 Associated Press ROBINSON TO THE RACK: Milwaukee's Glenn Robinson drives past Chicago's Dickey Simpkins on Tuesday night..