Illini continue stunning run in Big Ten tournament with win over Purdue

March Madness is still alive in the Illinois basketball locker room.

After all the losing, bad offense down the stretch and chemistry problems, the Illini might have figured something out at the right time.

Buoyed by 26 points from freshman point guard Demetri McCamey and a solid contribution from three other freshmen, No. 10 Illinois upset No. 2 Purdue, 74-67, in overtime in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament Friday at Conseco Fieldhouse.

A team that was already expected to be home is two wins from the NCAA tournament.

"Sometimes you can't explain it,'' said Illinois coach Bruce Weber. "It's an understatement to say this was a big win, especially with the struggles we've had this year.''

Illinois shot a season-high 61.2 percent from the field. McCamey was 6-for-6 from the 3-point line. Instead of the Illini cracking with the game on the line, Purdue wilted, missing all 10 field-goal attempts in overtime. A team that sets the school record for losses in a single season, the Illini improved to 15-18 overall by winning three straight for the first time since the first three games of the season. Where was this all year?

"It's just disappointing. It shouldn't have been here,'' Weber said. "If it means we can figure it out here at the end and find a way to do something and get through tomorrow and do something special on Sunday, I guess it's worth it. I wish the journey wouldn't have been so long.''

By winning for the first time against a ranked team in nine games this season (Purdue is No. 17 in the top 25), Illinois advanced to the semifinals today against No. 6 Minnesota, a 59-58 winner over No. 3 Indiana. The Illini need the automatic berth that goes to the tournament champion to reach the NCAAs for the ninth straight year.

The Illini became the first No. 10 seed to reach the semifinals in the tournament.

"Even in the tough times, I believed,'' said Illini senior forward Brian Randle. "These guys understand now what it takes. Nobody likes to lose. It's not what Illinois basketball is about.''

For the second straight day, assistant coach Jerrance Howard shouted "another day'' as the Illini entered the locker room.

"We came here to win this thing,'' Weber said. "We can't get too high. We can enjoy it for about a half an hour, then go back to the hotel and see if we can get enough energy to win tomorrow.''

Illinois rallied from a 63-58 deficit with 1 minute 12 seconds left in regulation. McCamey sank a 3-pointer to tie it with 18 seconds left, then the Illini never trailed in overtime. McCamey and freshman forward Mike Davis lifted the Illini in overtime.

McCamey scored Illinois' first two baskets, then assisted on the third to Davis underneath the basket. After McCamey missed on a two-on-one fast break, Davis grabbed the rebound and scored for a 71-66 lead with 1:02 left in overtime.

"We needed someone to be special,'' Weber said. "Demetri was very special.''

Even some characteristically poor shooting from the free-throw line -- the Illini were 4-for-8 in the overtime -- didn't spoil the moment.

While Shaun Pruitt had 14 points and nine rebounds as Illinois dominated inside, the freshman class made the difference. Davis scored a career-high 10 points on 5-for-10 shooting in 17 minutes.

"Purdue has great freshmen,'' Davis said. "We see what they're doing. We're a little jealous. They got all the limelight. We wanted to show what we can do.''

When Purdue freshman forward Robbie Hummel buried a 3-pointer for a 60-55 lead with 2:08 left in regulation, the Boilers had their fourth 3-pointer in a 5-minute span. But Illinois rallied behind McCamey.

Freshman guard E'twaun Moore scored 22 points to lead Purdue (24-8). In a year when the Boilermakers had different stars on different nights, McCamey stole the show.

"We talked about it all year, guys who have been special for us and made huge plays,'' said Purdue coach Matt Painter. "Demetri McCamey was a guy who was special tonight, 6-for-6 from three, big shot after big shot. That was the difference.''

Thanks to McCamey and the freshmen, the show goes on.

NOTES: Freshmen scored 16 of Illinois' first 28 points. … Iowa is the only team to win the conference tournament title by taking four games in four days. The Hawkeyes did it as a No. 6 seed in 2001.

John Supinie can be reached at Johnsupinie@aol.com. For more coverage, read Illini Talk blog at www.sj-r.com and www.pjstar.com.

Illinois report card

Front court A

Illinois controlled the paint, building a 36-18 in points in the paint. Shaun Pruitt was 7-for-9 from the field. Forward Brian Randle was effective before fouling out in overtime.

Back court A

Demetri McCamey answered every big shot from Purdue with one of his own. Now the challenge for him is to string together back-to-back big games. Chester Frazier deserves a purple heart.

Bench A

Freshmen Mike Davis, Jeff Jordan and Mike Tisdale made key contributions. Jordan played a career-high 15 minutes.

Overall A

This is the only way for the Illini to win it. They came up with an A game and Purdue only managed a C.