UIHistories Project: A History of the University of Illinois by Kalev Leetaru
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Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - Overview of University of Illinois for Chicago Alumni (1926) [PAGE 45]

Caption: Book - Overview of University of Illinois for Chicago Alumni (1926)
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I

DlKECTORY OF ILLINOIS MEN I N CHICAGO AND VICINITY

93

BASKETBALL

AESITY basketball moved into its line new home at Illinois this year—the splendid playing floor of the men's new gymnasium, where there is seating capacity for 7,000. Here it was that the Illini cheered Captain " T e d " Haines and his teammates in their 1926 battles. Illinois 7 conference record, six games won and lost, all things considered, was conceded to be as good as might be expected. Illinois had an excellent record in basketball before Craig Euby came to coach four years ago—its achievements included one championship team which won all its games ?.nd a tie for the championship. But under Coach Ruby the Illini predict that the record will even be better. In the four years in which he has coached here his teams have won 29 and lost 19 conference games. This is bettered by only one conference rival, Purdue, which has won 29 and lost 18 games in the same time, one game scheduled having been called off. In 1923, Ruby's first season, Illinois won seven games to five lost. When Illinois in the next season, 1924, tied with Wisconsin and Chicago for the championship, the feat was a tribute to the fighting spirit of the five and the skill and determination of the young coach. Illinois lost four out of its first six games, two by one point. The team was considered completely out of the race—the captain was injured— but, undaunted, players and coach "came back" so superbly that six successive games were won, and the championship shared. In 1925, with one regular from 1924 available, and without a well-balanced squad, Illinois won seven straight Big Ten games before the team suffered a defeat. The team won eight and lost four games, winning a tie for second place. Coach Ruby's playing experience was at the University of Missouri, where he was twice captain and was declared by his coach, Dr. Meanwell, now of Wisconsin, to be "the best basketball man I have ever had under my direction." When Coach Meanwell left, the young player was selected to succeed him—a severe test. But under Ruby's coaching Missouri won the Missouri Valley championship in 1921 and tied for first honors in 1922. Brought up under the short-passing game, Ruby's playing experience led him to develop a style of his own, based on the fundamentals and best points of the short-passing game, but combined with adaptations from the long passing system.

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