Return to the Hall: Illini greats reunite

Erica Magda

A Night of Legends began with a ceremonial tip-off between the 1989 Flyin' Illini and the 2005 NCAA runner-up - a dream matchup for Illini basketball fans. But with most of the '89 team pushing 40-years-old and carrying added inches on their waists, the '05 Illini alley-ooped its way to a relaxed 84-70 victory.

But many Illini fans have often wondered who would win in a matchup between the 1989 Flyin' Illini and the 2005 runner-up team in their primes. Flyin' Illini MVP Nick Anderson's take?

"Just match it up," Anderson said. "I'll let everybody else be the judge of it. Just match it up ... We played against the best back then. Not taking away anything from Deron Williams' and Dee Brown's team, but we created havoc all day."

Kendall Gill, who looked like he could suit up for the 2008-09 team, agreed with Anderson.

"One thing, I don't like to compare the two teams, but we were so much bigger; we played against so much better competition," Gill said. "Back then, everybody stayed in school, when these guys played, I don't want to take anything away from them, but all the good players went to the pros. That's the way you can measure it."

Anderson still Flyin'

Anderson may have added a few pounds to his 6-foot-6 frame since retiring from the NBA in 2002, but the former NBA standout showed Saturday night that he still has the shooter's stroke.

Anderson sunk three 3-pointers, extending out to more than 25-feet at times, and finished with 14 points. Anderson, who said he hadn't played basketball in 10 months, still had just enough athleticism to gently dunk a ball in the second half.

"I can still stand and shoot," Anderson said. "I might not be able to get down the floor like I used to but when you lose those abilities ... I think I still have the spark to play the game."

Anderson now works in the community relations department of the Orlando Magic, a team he spent 11 seasons with. Anderson has rarely visited since declaring for the NBA Draft following his junior season in 1989, but said he plans on staying in closer touch with the program.

"This is an honor," Anderson said. "I never thought in my wildest dreams that anything like this would be happening to myself because I just wanted to play basketball. All the accolades and things come afterwards. It's just the icing on the cream."

'Developing a program'

Saturday's festivities were a "long time coming" for Bruce Weber.

The Illinois head coach, assistant Jerrance Howard and former Illinois trainer Rod Cardinal worked on organizing the event for months.

But the idea for an alumni game first circled around the athletic department in 1992. "Better late than never," Weber said.

"It's a special moment in Illini basketball history," Weber said. "I just feel good that it's happened. And then the crowd ... I mean on a hot September night after a football game and they stayed; they loved it."

Weber watched as 30 former players' jerseys were hung from the Assembly Hall rafters but said he hopes former Illini coach Lou Henson will be honored similarly soon.

"You talk about family when you talk about a program, and we're developing a program. Wins help, there's no doubt, but it's about the past, the history and the future," Weber said.

A handful of recruits were in attendance to watch the festivities, including Class of 2010 verbal commit Crandall Head, brother of former Illini Luther Head.

"We're making the effort to reach back, and hopefully it will help us in the future," Weber said.

Williams simply golden

Weber tried to organize players for the jersey ceremony with five minutes left to go in the second half but couldn't get one player off the floor: Deron Williams.

Weber asked Williams to exit the floor, but the Utah Jazz guard shook his head and said, "This is my work out."

"I was just praying he didn't get hurt and not only him but Dee, Frank Williams, all the guys that are still playing," Weber said. "He said he needed to work out today ... He loves to play that's why he's special."

Williams became the first Illini to win an Olympic gold medal in basketball when Team USA reclaimed its hoops supremacy in the Beijing Games.

Williams and Jerry Colangelo, managing director of USA Basketball, were honored at halftime of the alumni game Saturday night. Sporting his gold medal, Williams received a standing ovation and chants of "U-S-A" from the 15,417 at the Assembly Hall Saturday night.

"Deron was one of my top picks at point guard because I believed in him," Colangelo said. "He did the University proud, the country proud.

And he wants to continue representing this country going forward, so I'm sure you'll be seeing him in 2012 in London."

Williams led all scorers with 19 points. Proceeds from the game benefited multiple charities, including Williams' Point of Hope Foundation.

Dee still smilin'

Although Williams was the main attraction of the night, his teammate Dee Brown took a close second. Known as one of the most popular athletes at Illinois, Brown could routinely hear his name chanted by still-adoring fans.

"The students sounded unbelievable tonight," Brown said. "I loved playing here, I'm going to miss it, and it was just an honor to play out here today. I miss the winning, being around all the orange."

Brown played for the Turkish club Galatasaray Cafe Crown last season but is back in the States working to earn a spot in the NBA. Brown, who played one season with the Utah Jazz, signed with the Washington Wizards in July and is working out with the team in the nation's capitol.

Lucas Johnson leaves with stitches

Lucas Johnson spent his four years at Illinois (1999-2002) selling out his body for loose balls and rebounds. The 6-foot-8 former Illini, known for his intensity and hustle, didn't slow down a notch at A Night of Legends and took home a bloody memento of Saturday's alumni game.

Midway through the second half, Johnson left the game with two gashes above his nose from "one of the sharpest elbows in the world, Brian Cook." The wounds required stitches.

"I had enough of those in four years here. I didn't need one tonight," Johnson said.

"If you were picking one guy in this entire group to get hurt, of course it'd be me. They're warning me not to hurt Deron (Williams), and all of a sudden I'm the one getting stitched up but it happens."

Two worlds collide for Chris Hicks

The former Illinois walk-on guard woke up at 6 a.m., got dressed and took the Medical College Admission Test. After sweating through the most grueling exam of his life, Hicks then traded his No. 2 pencil for a basketball, driving to Champaign to participate in the Night of Legends alumni game.

"It's definitely been a long day for me," Hicks said after scoring four points on the night. "It's been fun. When I was running out here for introductions, I was a little late coming out, but when I ran out here I had a little tingle in my spine. This place is unbelievable."

After graduating from the University in the spring, Hicks moved back to his Chicago home to dedicate himself to a career in the medical field. He said the chance to play at Assembly Hall again, even if it did complicate an already stressful day, was worth the effort.

"You know, I've met most of these guys already but just to see all of them, and Dee, Deron and Luther, I wanted to cry. I'm just glad I could be a part of it."