Green Street | Playing all the hits (so far)

Oct. 25—The news on Thursday of ‘s two-year contact extension that will carry the Illinois women’s basketball coach through the 2029-30 season got me to thinking about five of the key moments from her tenure in Champaign.

A tenure that includes 41 wins, an NCAA tournament appearance and WBIT championship. Here’s my list:

It wasn’t the tournament the Illini expected to be in, but the WBIT run was still something to savor for Green and her players after an up-and-down 2023-24 regular season. The takeover was in full effect at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse in the title game despite some first-half foul trouble. As was ‘s standout defense on Villanova guard (and throughout the five-game tournament). A heavily pro Illinois crowd watched as confetti fell after a 71-57 Illini win against the Wildcats in Indianapolis, with Illinois crowned the inaugural WBIT champions — the first postseason tournament title in program history.

The moment was dampened slightly by an ESPN bracket release snafu and the fact the Illini landed a spot in a play-in game. But this Selection Sunday was a crowning moment of Green’s first year with Illinois returning to the NCAA tournament for the first time in two decades. What Green accomplished in year one no one thought possible before the 2022-23 season began four months earlier. Green admitted as much. A 70-56 loss to Mississippi State in a First Four game amid an injury to left unfinished business. Business that is still unfinished entering Green’s third year.

There’s little doubt the upset win against Iowa on New Year’s Day was the first true indicator that Green was building something special at Illinois. That it came with the show on full display was that much more impressive. Clark dropped 32 points with some jaw-dropping three-pointers (the future WNBA No. 1 overall pick poured in seven made three-pointers). But ‘s scoring punch (24 points) and Cook flashing her skills at both ends of the floor tipped the scales, as the Illini thrilled a State Farm…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/green-street-playing-hits-far-145700642.html

Author : The News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.

Publish date : 2024-10-25 14:57:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.