TULSA, Okla. ? What's unique about Illinois? Across their front line, the Fighting Illini go 7-1, 6-9 and 6-9. That makes them the tallest team in the 2011 NCAA Tournament. Heck, the Illini frontcourt is the tallest in all of college basketball.
So why does Kansas' seem so much bigger?
Maybe just because twin Jayhawks forwards Marcus and Markieff Morris ? who go 6-9 and 6-10, with beef to back up their height ? are such good players. It allows them to, among many other good things, intimidate.
Intimidate ? that's something the Illini big guys don't do. How could they, given they ranked sixth in the Big Ten in rebound differential? With not only height but experience up front ? Mike Tisdale, Mike Davis and Bill Cole are all seniors ? that's an awful statistic.
Tisdale ? the 7-1 guy ? is someone whose slenderness of frame you undoubtedly noticed even if you watched half of one Illinois game this season. After the Illini's practice at the BOK Center on Saturday, the perimeter-oriented center said (with a straight face) that he weighs 250.
Sure doesn't look it.
He also said the Illini are "tough enough" to bang with Kansas or anyone else.
"We go in and fight," Tisdale said. "We play hard. I think we can bang with the best of them."
There is a sizable faction of Illini fans who would roll their eyes (if they were being nice) at that. Without a doubt, Illinois has no chance to beat KU if its big ? rather, tall ? guys defer physically in any way to the Morrises.
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