After 12 seasons with the Illini, Theresa Grentz resigns as head coach.

The Illinois women’s basketball team hasn’t been competitive in years, and despite every effort from Grentz, has not attracted, in my opinion, enough attention to warrant their stay at the Assembly Hall.

In the past seven seasons the Illinois women’s team has been to the NCAA tournament only once–in 2003, with a 1st round exit. It’s hard not to suggest that her Hall of Fame induction gave her more time than she deserved. This is something Ron Guenther should have done years ago.

Someone should ask Bruce Weber if he’s interested in the position.

With the NBA Regular Season finishing up on Wednesday - fans, coaches, and players are poised for the “real” season - The NBA Playoffs. While I am very partial to the Chicago Bulls and I am anxiously awaiting their performance in the postseason, I will be posting regular thoughts, observations, and anecdotes on my take of the NBA Playoffs.

As the season winds down the playoff brackets are starting to take shape. Here’s a look as the situation as it stands now, with two days left in the regular season:

The Eastern Conference has eight teams locked into postseason play, but the seeds have yet to be decided. Currently the Bulls are sitting in the 2-spot, as they hold the tiebreaker over the Cavs. The Cavs are in the must-win on the road tonight against the 76ers, as they have to win out and hope the Bulls lose if they want to slip into the 2-spot. While the schedule favors the Cavs for their remaining two opponents (76ers, Bucks), the Bulls have been dominating opponents lately, including the Nets who the Bulls beat by 31 points in their last meeting on April 6th. The Nets are hosting the Bulls in their season finale tomorrow and are hoping to win in order to move ahead of the Wizards, who currently own the 6-seed.

The Western Conference is awaiting the result of the battle for the #8 seed between Golden State and the L.A. Clippers. The Warriors currently are sitting in the 8-spot and enjoy a 1-game lead on the Clippers but both teams have two remaining games. Both teams face tough opponents tonight as the Clippers are on the road against the Suns and the Warriors are hosting the Mavericks. However, with the playoffs looming the top teams in the West may be resting their starters so both teams could pull out a win. Also, the Warriors are the only team on the Mavs schedule that has yet to lose to Dallas. While the Warriors control their own playoff destiny, the Clippers only hope to sneak in is if they win Tuesday against the Suns and Wednesday at New Orleans/Oklahoma and the Warriors lose both their remaining games. With the way the Warriors play defense (as in lack there of), anything can happen.

Here’s how the conference standings currently look and they will most likely not change before the playoffs. The current standings are pretty set in stone, except maybe a switch between Washington and New Jersey in the East and maybe a switch between Golden State and the Lakers in the West.

Eastern Conference

1. Detroit

2. Chicago

3. Toronto

4. Miami

5. Cleveland

6. Washington

7. New Jersey

8. Orlando

Western Conference

1. Dallas

2. Phoenix

3. San Antonio

4. Utah

5. Houston

6. Denver

7. LA Lakers

8. Golden State

The playoff situation for the Bulls would be best suited if they secured the 2-spot and faced either Washington or New Jersey in the first round. They would also avoid potential matchups against Miami and Detroit, until a potential Eastern Conference Finals matchup. The road to the Eastern Conference Finals will not be easy though, as the Bulls would have to potentially face tough opponents in both the Toronto Raptors or the Cleveland Cavaliers.

That’s all for now. Enjoy the final games of the regular season and remember to check back here for analysis throughout the playoffs and into the NBA Finals. Go Bulls.

The Boston Celtics solidified the No. 2 spot on Friday night.

(Un)fortunately for them, it’s the No. 2 spot in the NBA lottery.

In a game that paid tribute to the Celtic greats of the glory years, the current team is competing for something and it feels a little like shame. At least for the players.

“I probably (would have played), but since we were in the hunt for a high draft pick, of course things are different,” Ryan Gomes said after the loss. “I understand that. Hopefully things get better. Now that we clinched at least having the second-most balls in the lottery, the last three games we’ll see what happens. We’ll see if we can go out and finish some games.”

Gomes went on to say to the Boston Herald, “The players weren’t thinking about the lottery and all that,” said Ryan Gomes, “but reality is reality. Now that our position in the lottery is set, hopefully we can go out and win some games.

“Things could change now, but another thing you’ve got to think of is that he (Rivers) was doing that for a reason. It could be for that reason (lottery position) or it could be for getting the younger guys some playing time or seeing who’s going to be here next year. There’s a lot of things that go into that.”

People are ripping on Gomes for selling out. But who wants to play for losers? Gomes doesn’t. He was pulled from the game in third quarter, dispite having 13 points, and seems betrayed and to have lost faith in the organization. I would have.

The Celtics may have more balls in the lottery, but they’re missing two big ones. Is Durant worth losing the trust of your players? Maybe, but a team should never intentionally lose games for a draft pick. It shouldn’t be allowed, especially when it’s that obvious.

The worst part is people are calling Gomes a traitor for stating the obvious and talking about what everyone already knew the Celtics were doing. He just confirmed it. Gomes isn’t a sell out, the Celtics are. They’re selling their sole for a kid out of Texas with a shoe deal. For shame.

This is the first in a nine-part series leading up to the NFL Draft.

Since Dave Just is the resident baseball expert and Brian Klein is the Illini townee, I guess that makes me the football guy. So it’s my duty to do my best Mel Kiper Jr. impression and preview the NFL Draft by conducting each team’s draft projection. With the big day less than two weeks away, we’ll take a division-by-division look at each team’s draft needs and a few projected picks. At the end of the series, I’ll finish it off with my overall draft “big board” and mock draft.

So let’s start with everyone’s favorite division, the NFC North, in order of last year’s finish.

Chicago Bears
Last Season Finish: 13-3, Division Champion, Conference Champion, Super Bowl runner-up
Picks: 31 (1), 37 (2-from NY Jets), 94 (3), 130 (4), 168 (5) 221 (7-From SF through Cle), 241 (7)
Glaring Hole: None
Team Needs: OLB, G, T, DT, WR, TE
Draft Outlook: With recent Super Bowl losers failing to make the playoffs the following season in recent years, the Chicago Bears will have their work cut out for them in the draft to break that trend.The Bears passed up their opportunity to move up to the No. 6 spot and get rid of complaining linebacker Lance Briggs. Probably for the best since no one in that spot is worth the money or fits into the Bears’ need. They solidified the secondary by trading for Adam Archuletta. But the Bears’ once deep D-line rotation took a hit due to free agency and Tank Johnson’s recent jail sentence (he could be repremanded by the commisioner’s office as well.) They signed Anthony Adams from the 49ers who fits well into their Cover 2 scheme and 2006 pick Dustin Dvoracek will come back from a season-long injury. Still, the line needs to be strengthened, as well as the aging offensive line. But the team has no major needs and is in prime position to go far again, despite recent runner-up failures.
Projected First Pick: Ben Grubbs, OG, Auburn
If Grubbs falls to the end of the first round, which non-top tier O-linemen usually do, then the Bears should not hesitate to snag Grubbs, who will be a great replacement for an aging Ruben Brown. They can address tackle letter in the draft or next year.
Dark Horse: Drew Stanton, QB, Michigan State
Jerry Angelo has a history of taking the best player available and if Stanton is there the Bears would be lucky to have him. Maybe the most underrated QB in the draft, Stanton would easily compete with Rex Grossman in the next few years for the starting job. Maybe he won’t take over, but at least it’ll make Grossman think about his job a little harder. The Bears have been too adament in handing the reigns to him. Stanton would make him work at being a better playcaller and competitor Monday-Friday. Maybe he won’t be taken with the 31st pick, but possibly the Bears’ early second-round pick.

Green Bay Packers
Last Season Finish: 8-8, 2nd place NFC North, Did not make playoffs
Picks: 16 (1), 47 (2), 78 (3), 112 (4), 157 (5), 193 (6), 228 (7), 243 (7)
Glaring Hole: RB
Team Needs: QB of the future, DT, DE, CB, S
Draft Outlook: Brett Favre is back for the 2007 season and he even let his team know before minicamps started. Still, nobody is sold on former first-round pick Aaron Rodgers taking over this team after Favre hangs up his cleats. But make no mistake about it, this team needs a running back. Ahmad Green bolted for the bucks Houston offered him, leaving the Packers with four sub-par replacements. They need to find a feature back to survive the 2007 season. The offensive line is great when its healthy, but has the potential for holes, though Favre’s backside is well protected by left tackle Chad Clifton, and left tackle is the cornerstone for any team. The defense over-achieved in 2007, but it won’t fall too far off last year’s numbers. AJ Hawk will be a stud middle linebacker and Charles Woodsen, though old, adds valued experience to a desperate secondary.
Projected First Pick: Michael Bush, RB, Louisville
The Packers would love to get their hands on Marshawn Lynch, the Cal RB, however, unless they move ahead of the Bills, who currently have Anthony Thomas slated to be their starting back, that won’t happen. Michael Bush is the next-best option, a polished prospect, but a risk coming off that leg injury that sidelined him for much of Louisville’s ‘06 season. Still, the Packers need a running back too badly to not draft Bush.
Dark Horse: Leon Hall, CB, Michigan
Being the best corner in this year’s crop doesn’t say much, but Hall still would be a good pick here for the Packers, who could use some secondary help. Maybe not top playing speed, but he’s physical and can make plays.

Minnesota Vikings
Last Season Finish: 6-10, 3rd place NFC North, Did not make playoffs
Picks: 7 (1), 41 (2), 72 (3), 106 (4), 146 (5), 182 (6), 217 (7)
Glaring Hole: QB
Team Needs: RB, WR, DE, LB
Draft Outlook: This team lacks talent at any play-making position. The receivers corp is three No. 2 wideouts, the running backs have potential, but oft-injured/suspended and the team doesn’t have a quarterback, which is usually a problem. Steve Hutchinson leads a good offensive line with no one to block for. The defense is not bad, especially on third down, the strong point being the secondary who underachieves at times, and safety Darren Sharper isn’t getting younger. The team is on pace to continue its fall to the bottom of the NFC. The linebacking corps is young and only one of them, All-rookie Ben Leber, can be counted on for consistent contribution in ‘07. This team enters the draft needing a lot of help.
Projected First Pick: Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma
Lucky for the Vikings that none of the teams ahead of them need a running back, otherwise this pick would stink for them. Peterson is as close to a sure thing this draft has, even coming off the fluke injury. Minnesota needs Brady Quinn or DeMarcus Russell, but Russell won’t drop to seven and if Quinn does, head coach Brad Childress won’t pull the trigger. Plus, the draft has some talent at QB they can get in the second and third round. They need a wideout, but none are worth the No. 7 pick outside of Calvin Johson, who they won’t get.
Dark Horse: Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska
Polished, big and beastly. If he slips through the Redskins, he might be tough to pass up, even though this team needs O, not D.

Detroit Lions
Last Season Finish: 3-13, 4th place NFC North, Did not make playoffs
Picks: 2 (1), 34 (2), 66 (3), 101 (4), 139 (5), 145 (5-from Miami), 154 (5-from StL), 158 (5-from Den), 255 (7-compensation)
Glaring Hole: QB
Team Needs: TE, S, CB, WR, DT, DE, LB, G
Draft Outlook: The Lions find themeselves in a familiar position–at the top of the draft. They need a lot, so it’s a good thing they have so many picks in the first five rounds. Jon Kitna is not a starting quarterback in the NFL, period, and neither is Josh McCown. The team needs a wide receiver to compliment Roy Williams, but I’m sure Matt Millen would be hesitant to waste a top pick on one after recent busts (Charles Rogers and Mike Williams … maybe), even though Calvin Johnson is the top talent in the draft. But even with Johnson, they don’t have anyone to throw it to him. The defense is not good, ranking fifth to last in total defense in 2006. The offensive line is a group of untalented journeymen and practice-squad players, outside of center Dominic Raiola and recently aquired tackle George Foster. But position players are a top priority.
Projected First Pick: Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson after trade with Tampa Bay
Matt Millen is not a good draft-day GM … or any day GM. With all the talent in the first five picks in three positions he needs to address for his team, Millen wants to trade out of the No. 2 spot. He’ll only find a suiter if the Raiders don’t take Calvin Johnson and it could be the Bucs, who would love to get a guy like Johnson for Chris Simms to throw to. Millen might get another few picks and Adams is a stellar pass rusher, but this is like passing on Reggie Bush for Mario Williams. Peterson, the two QBs or Johnson would help this team A LOT, but that’s besides the point–its the Lions.
Dark Horse: Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech
It’s not often the best player in the draft is a dark horse, but that’s Matt Millen for you. Only he would be dumb enough to take four wideouts with the top pick in his tenure, and only he would be dumb enough to pass on Johnson.