Mark Grote

As watching it through that lens, as just pure fan and not analytically, not because I had to take notes for work, but because I was watching it with my heart, it was a painful game to watch.

It was so painful to watch Illinois miss every three that they were taking, miss every easy shot that they were attempting in the first half.

One guy on Iowa was sustaining them throughout this game.

They had one guy to stop, and that was Bennett Sturtz.

And they couldn't stop him until they eventually stopped him towards the end of the game.

But watching it from this standpoint, and I'm not like...

I watched this game with my parents, and my mom even noticed.

She was like, boy, Eugene was like, boy, you are just – because I'm pumping my fist.

It's like, you don't really get into these games as much.

I was down for it, but watching it that way was painful.

It was painful to see Keaton Wagler go two for seven from three.

They were – Illinois was three of 17 from three in that game, and they just –

It was painful until they finally pulled away late with that 8-0 run, and then I finally was able to take a few deep breaths.

Maybe this is why I don't watch college basketball emotionally, because I'm very emotional about it.

I, too, as a public school girl going to North Texas where we don't put on airs and such, and I went to a public high school as well, I...

I don't know why the lead public institution of the state has the stepchild complex at times, but I'm into it because I get it.

I support Illinois, period.

And so I identify with the Illini and the fan base.

I can tell you do.

So I also have often been... I've often been...