A Peoria native sent Illinois basketball fans, ESPN announcer into a frenzy with legendary sequence in 2002

PEORIA — Twenty many years back, Peoria native Frank Williams led Illinois to a win in a Large 10 showdown that incorporated a two-score sequence immortalized by broadcast analyst Dick Vitale.

A video clip clip of that minute surfaced on social media Saturday, getting Illini admirers again to an era in the first 5 several years or so of the 2000s the place Illinois basketball was a force on the countrywide phase.

Peoria indigenous puts on a present

The video clip is a wonderful window again by means of time to that good period for Illinois.

It opens with Frank Williams building a steal in opposition to Iowa then barreling down the ideal wing, where he flips a at the rear of-the-again pass to established up a layup.

“Hi there! Hello! Showtime!” Vitale screamed. “Frank Williams placing on a clearly show in passing the rock. He’s driving, drawing and dishing the rock.”

Before Vitale could finishing praising him, Williams built another steal, intercepting an Iowa pass. Williams raced to a layup off the turnover. He elevated his arms as he ran down court docket, and Iowa referred to as a timeout.

“It is really the Frank Williams demonstrate,” Vitale proclaimed.

Slice to the crowd, bouncing up and down in the Assembly Hall grandstand in what looked like a tsunami.

Peoria a big component of early 2000s Illini

Williams performed a few seasons for the Fighting Illini, leading the group to a string of NCAA Tournament appearances.

Soon after the 2000-2001 year, he was named the Massive 10 Participant of the Year. He performed with fellow Manual Substantial Faculty stars Marcus Griffin and Sergio McClain.

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It was aspect of a great run of groups.

Invoice Self’s 2000-01 staff was developed close to a few foreseeable future NBA gamers, such as then-sophomore Williams, who averaged 14.9 factors, 4.4 assists and 3.7 rebounds for each game.

That workforce went 27-8 and won a share of the common-period Significant Ten title. They had been the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region and went on to the Elite 8.

The 2001-02 Illini, led by Williams, went 26-9, attained a share of the Major 10 typical-year title and state-of-the-art to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sporting activities columnist, and handles Bradley men’s basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. Achieve him at 686-3206 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.

This posting originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria indigenous experienced famous sequence for Illinois basketball on ESPN