Starting 5: Maryland 88, Illinois 65 | Sports

INDIANAPOLIS — Tom and Mary Beth Jakstys are used to traveling to cheer on their son.

And they were surrounded by fellow Illinois fans while they grabbed a bite to eat at nearby Loughmiller’s before Illinois — where Jason Jakstys is nearing the end of his redshirt freshman season with the Illini — suffered an 88-65 loss against Maryland in a Big Ten tournament quarterfinal game Friday evening.

“For me, it’s a dream come true, to have my son playing for the team I’ve rooted for my entire life,” Tom Jakstys said. “We try to get down to the home games as much as possible and root the team on, support the team.”

Loughmiller’s was a popular stop for Illinois fans shortly before 3:30 p.m. Friday, when the Illini had advertised the start of a pregame party in advance of the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

The restaurant — which touts its Reuben sandwich as the best in Indianapolis — was more than happy to welcome Illinois fans from far and wide.

“Great crowd, fantastic people,” Loughmiller’s co-owner Danny Scotten said. “A lot of the midwest Big Ten schools are just salt of the Earth. You can’t go wrong. They’ve been fantastic. They came strong (on Thursday), and they’ve been here all afternoon.”

Lifelong Illinois fans Justin Thomas and Roland Thomas — who once walked the same halls at Harvey Thornton High School as Morez Johnson Jr. — were among those on hand before the loss, which busted Illinois’ bid for a second straight conference tournament crown.

“They’re fun to watch, especially when they’re hitting shots,” Justin Thomas said. “When they’re at their ceiling, yeah they can be a Final Four team. But they could also lose in the first round if they don’t hit their shots. I’ll be an optimist and say they can get to the second weekend like last year.”

Early experience

Urbana High School graduate Sam Reel probably won’t complain when March draws to a close.

Not that Reel — a marketing and communications manager at Indiana Sports Corp. — isn’t enjoying a busy stretch. He’s been helping coordinate local media at the Big Ten men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.

Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games are on tap from March 28-30 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

“With this month, obviously with Big Ten tournaments back-to-back, it’s been pretty full,” Reel said.

Reel spent time within Illinois’ sports information office during his senior year in high school thanks to an internship program offered by Urbana where he graduated in 2018.

He isn’t far from where he subsequently spent his college days at nearby Butler.

“Having the chance to work with Kent (Brown) and having his knowledge of the decades of experience in the field,” Reel said. “With Derrick (Burson), as well, and kind of just picking those guys’ brains … seeing that from an early age, a really unique opportunity to (learn from) some of the best guys in the industry.”

That experience has paid dividends in the last seven years.

“I really kind of turned that into where I’m at now, where I’m able to work on some of the biggest events in the country every year,” Reel said. “Getting that experience in high school with Illinois and then taking it to the next level has been instrumental.”

Play the hits

Illinois band director Barry Houser was able to take the entire Marching Illini to Orlando, Fla., for the Citrus Bowl last December.

Traveling to the Big Ten tournament — or the NCAA tournament — is a bit of an easier undertaking for a smaller crew.

“We’re really excited to be here,” Houser said. “A little less logistics than traveling with 400 college students, for sure. Makes for a really, really great time.

“Things are a bit different this year with all of the band and cheer hotels being on the perimeter of Indy, typically we’re downtown, so there’s been kind of a set of logistics that we worked through there. But otherwise, it’s been really great.”

The basketball band’s time in Indianapolis went — and sounded — swimmingly, as usual.

“It’s great timing as we’re getting ready to go into spring break,” Houser said. “I think everyone’s really excited about that. Couple of days, maybe, spring break (arrived) early, because of our departure time.”

Undeniable talent

Robbie Hummel had seen Illinois a few times before Friday’s setback, most recently in its dominant 94-69 win against Indiana on Jan. 14.

His thoughts on the Illini on the eve of what will almost assuredly be their fifth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance?

“There’s no denying how talented the team is,” Hummel said. “I think defensively would be my concern a little bit … but the offense, to put up 106 in their first game … the ball was moving, they’re playing with tempo. There was a lot to like about what they did (against Iowa).”

Illinois emerged from a crowded conference to draw within three wins of another conference tournanent title.

The Big Ten’s quarterfinal teams entered Friday with plenty to play for, in Hummel’s estimation, even knowing their seasons wouldn’t end by falling short in the conference tournament.

“Obviously a championship is on the line so if you can get to that, that’s the ultimate goal,” Hummel said. “You’re just looking to build momentum. You’re looking to put together a run where you feel good about going into the NCAA tournament on a positive note.”

Hummel — who earned three All-Big Ten First-Team honors at Purdue from 2007-12 — will join Lisa Byington, Jalen Rose and Andy Katz on NCAA tournament coverage for CBS and Turner Sports.

It’s an easy assignment to look forward to.

“It’ll be great,” Hummel said. “There’s nothing better than working NCAA tournament games, whether its for Westwood One radio or Turner and CBS. I feel very fortunate to get to do it.”

Consistency is key

Katz joined Hummel and play-by-play announcer Kevin Kugler as the sideline reporter for Big Ten Network on Friday afternoon.

The venerable analyst views consistency as Illinois’ missing link.

“If it’s any indication of what we saw against Iowa, that’s them at their best,” Katz said. “They’re a team that certainly can compete against anyone in the country. The problem is, how do we know that’s going to be consistent? That’s the unknown.”

Illinois was among the Big Ten programs Katz liked most entering Friday night.

“It’s always about matchups in the tournament,,” Katz said, “but I do believe that Michigan State, if Wisconsin shoots like (it did against UCLA), Maryland and Illinois all have the capability to get to the Final Four.”