I don’t think I’ve ever had a short post on ALE.  Looking back, even my “I’m gonna be on vacation for the next week” posts have been 400+ words.  So now, a brevity experiment.  Can I make my point in less than 200 words?

Huge game today.  Probably the game with the most riding on it in years.  Win, and I think we’re in, no matter what happens on Friday.  Lose, and I think we have to get to Sunday of the Big Ten Tournament just to have a chance at an at-large.  And getting to Sunday would mean beating Wisconsin (again) and then Ohio State.  Not bloody likely.

Under different circumstances, this would be a 2-game series with Wisconsin (today and Friday), with a 1-1 record sending us to the tournament.  But the way this sets up, a win today is exponentially better than a win on Friday.   It gives us that 11-7 Big Ten record that we need, and it also prevents us from getting the kill-shot of 14 losses. A 14 in the loss column probably destroys our tourney chances, and the only way to avoid 14 losses is to win today or win the BTT.

So it’s win on Dom Keller Senior Day or come back to the Assembly Hall next week to play an NIT game.  Your move, Demetri.

(217 words.  And I’ve got 800 more in me. I’d never make it as an actual sportswriter.)

(Wait, 217 words?  What’s the area code for Champaign again?  Looks like I don’t have to wear my lucky socks today – I’ve received a SIGN.  Illini by 9.)