Richey | Champaign is the center of Illinois basketball again

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CHAMPAIGN — Jai'Deon Reed could only describe the experience of walking into Illinois' locker room at State Farm Center on Thursday morning as surreal.

The Meridian senior forward got Illini guard Nico Moretti's locker in the spacious, plush and certainly comfortable locker room space.

Walking onto Lou Henson Court for the first time generated a similar feeling.

"It was like, 'This is what I want to do. This is where I want to be,'" Reed said. "It's amazing. It's unreal. I've never played on a big college court like this. I've played on smaller ones, JUCOs, but this one is big. I love the atmosphere about it and everything."

A reasonable reaction.

The population of the four towns — Mounds, Mound City, Pulaski and Olmsted — from the southernmost tip of Illinois that feed into Meridian High School could only fill a quarter of 15,544-seat State Farm Center combined.

Meridian coach David Davis reveled in watching his team experience State Farm Center for the first time before Thursday morning's Class 1A state semifinal game. It's an experience Davis had himself — albeit at Carver Arena in downtown Peoria — when he was a senior guard and scoring leader for the Bobcats in their 2015 1A state runner-up finish.

"They were stunned," Davis said. "They said, 'It's everything that you said, Coach. Everything you described. We no longer picture it. We're living it right now.'"

Meridian will be back at State Farm Center for championship Saturday after beating Chicago Hope Academy 68-60 in Thursday's first state semifinal game. West Central awaits in the 1A title game.

"These guys seeing that moment — being on the bigger floor — they were ready for the lights," Davis said. "I'm stunned. I'm still shocked. I'm in disbelief. I think it's starting to hit me now, though, because my thoughts are everywhere."

But one thought was clear. Playing the state tournament in Champaign, at State Farm Center, means something. Even to an Indiana native and Indiana basketball fan.

"I'm a big IU fan, but this is special," West Central coach Ryan Sichting said, who wore Indiana argyle socks on Thursday underneath his black dress pants. "I wouldn't want to play anywhere else in the state of Illinois, and our guys are very happy and fortunate to be here and play."

Sichting's assistant coaches and players are the Cougars' Illini fans. Playing on the same court that two days prior saw No. 12 Illinois square off against No. 3 Purdue with the state of the Big Ten regular-season title on the line resonated.

"It's amazing," West Central senior Chance Little said after scoring 33 points in the Cougars' 70-65 double overtime win against Aurora Christian. "Not many kids get to come and do this, and it's even better to play in the state championship. I watch Illini basketball the time, and I'm a big fan. It was crazy just thinking there's a bunch of D-I kids, a bunch of superstars, that play here."

The IHSA state tournament called Peoria home between 1996 and 2020. The return to Champaign — its home from 1919-95 — coincided with Illinois basketball becoming relevant again in the Big Ten and nationally. There's been real synergy between Illinois re-emerging as one of the top teams in the country and the IHSA state tournament returning to the Illini's home court.

"There isn't a conversation that goes by every day after an Illinois game where my students aren't talking about Illinois basketball," Taylorville coach Ryan Brown said. He caught part of the Meridian-Hope Academy semifinal game before leaving for an Illinois Basketball Coaches Association meeting to select all-state players.

"Illinois is popular again and making a brand of it," Brown continued. "It's cool to wear Illinois stuff again for these kids."

The IHSA brought some of its own branding to State Farm Center, with its logo superimposed over the "Block I" at center court and a pair of logos on opposite ends of the court noting that the tournament was "America's original March Madness."

But it was still Illinois' home court. With the public address voice of the Illini — and Chicago Bulls, Chicago Bears and Chicago Fire — Tim Sinclair courtside to add to the experience.

"I think it's the best decision IHSA's made in several years bringing it back here," said Brown, who just finished his ninth season at Taylorville. He had previous stops at Mt. Zion, Sterling and Annawan, where he took the Braves to a 2009 Class 1A fourth-place finish.

"The electricity is back," Brown continued. "The first two years of being here, the crowds have been great — especially on championship Saturday. When I made my run, we made it to Peoria and that was great, but it was definitely a much-needed change to freshen up the state tournament.

"Now with Illinois playing well, this is the center of basketball in the state. As it should be."