‘We were just special’: Eclectic group of Illinois players says emotional goodbye after memorable season ends
INDIANAPOLIS — When the clock hit zero, Illinois senior forward Ben Humrichous dropped to a squat and bowed his head. Freshman guard Keaton Wagler looked back toward his team’s bench as UConn celebrated its 72-61 national semifinal win over the Illini, and he saw Humrichous having a private moment. “When I saw that, the tears started going down my face super fast,” Wagler said.
Then a funny thing happened. As the Illini walked off the Final Four court Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium, the mass of orange-clad fans gave their team one last goodbye. “It didn’t feel like we lost, honestly,” wing Andrej Stojaković said.
“Obviously you understand that the game’s over and you lost. But the way how loud it was, the way they looked at you, clapping for you, yelling for you, it’s truly special how many people came out to support us. ” The emotions were evident in the locker room afterward.
Coach Brad Underwood, a onetime community college coach who just carried his “dream job” program to college basketball’s biggest stage, was in tears. He was far from the only one. Asked about this season, Humrichous — a senior who grew up 50 miles from Lucas Oil Stadium — was puffy-eyed as he described this team.
“It was a joy,” Humrichous said, seemingly at a loss for words. “It was a joy. ” In reaching the Final Four, this Illinois team did something the program hadn’t done in 21 years.
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