This entire series was his idea. And these were his years in school. So Jonny from The BoardRoom (our basketball podcast) joins me to discuss the next five years in our journey: the five John Groce years. Year one? Pretty great. Years 2-3-4-5? Not so much. 

Bob Zuppke (not his real name) joins me to discuss the end of the Bruce Weber era. It was working until it wasn't. We had fixed recruiting until we didn't. And the end was very, very bad.

Length warning of all length warnings: this episode is three hours and nine minutes long. It's three episodes, really. The build-up to 2005, 2005, and then the tumble from 2005. 

But mostly 2005. 

My friend Erik (who maintains The Stats) and I recap the years 1998 through 2002. Three Big Ten titles in five years. Not too shabby. 

Part III of this series covers 1993 (NCAA Tournament win over Long Beach State followed by the R32 loss to Vandy) through 1997 (NCAA Tournament win over USC followed by the R32 loss to Chattanooga). My guest: Daily Illini writer/editor at the time (and he's done a *few* more things since then), Will Leitch. 

Part II of my summer series reviewing the last 40 years of Illini basketball. Because it includes 1989, this one goes long. 2.5 hours long. 

Episode 1 of my summer series going through the last 40 years of Illini Basketball. Loren Tate is my guest as we cover the 1982-83 season through the 1986-87 season. From the arrival of Douglas and Winters to the NCAA Tournament loss to Austin Peay (and everything in between). 

I talk to Marc Davidson about his two seasons at Illinois, his professional career playing in France, his years as a high school coach, and his current cancer battle. His honesty, openness, and faith are quite inspiring. 

We have to stop doing these. Last year, after the Loyola loss, Tyler and I recorded what we called a "therapy session." And now, one year later, here we are recording another one. 

This is basically one long From The Stands from my hotel room at 1:18 am after trying to write (and failing) for nine hours. No other way to say it: Loyola + Houston has me completely devastated.