Kendall Gill: Henson 'the reason for basketball success at UI'

CHAMPAIGN – Kendall Gill is probably like a handful of Illini basketball stars. He’s disappointed he didn’t make the initial cut for the University of Illinois athletic Hall of Fame. The inaugural class was unveiled Thursday.

Gill, a former NBA player who was a key member of the Flyin’ Illini team that captivated the state and while running, jumping and dunking its way to the Final Four, found himself a little melancholy that he wasn’t part of the first class of stars in school history.

He probably has company. There’s an argument for a group of football and basketball players. Just in hoops, Deon Thomas is the school’s all-time leading scorer, and Dave Downey holds a 54-year-old single-game scoring record of 53 points that still stands today. Neither man was included on the first class. But as Gill puts it, he can get over the fact he was left off. He just can’t understand how one name wasn’t placed on the list.

Lou Henson.

“I’m disappointed,’’ Gill said. “I thought I would be on the first ballot. That’s the way it goes. I’m not going to cry about it. To leave coach Henson off, that’s the reason why I’m ticked off. I was totally disappointed.

“He’s the reason for basketball success at the University of Illinois. Before any players, Lou Henson has to go on there. Point blank. End of story. No discussion.’’

Henson resurrected a once proud basketball program that floundered in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s following the dark days of the Slush Fund scandal. In the two seasons before Henson arrived on campus, the Illini finished last in the Big Ten Conference. Let’s repeat that. Back to back last place finishes in the Big Ten. Down trodden is an understatement.

The city of Chicago had forgotten the Illini, and the Illinois high school basketball coaches had turned its back on the program because they were upset one of their own hadn’t been hired as coach. Nevertheless, Henson left a New Mexico State program that he guided to the Final Four and came to Illinois to build from the ground up.

He initiated staples such as the Orange Krush student cheering section and the Rebounders Club. He rebuilt relationships with coaches across the state, including the powerful group of black coaches in the city. In the process, Henson began putting respectable teams on the floor, then upset the No. 1 ranked team in the country within five years.

By the mid-1980’s, the Illini won the school’s first Big Ten title in more than 20 years, and the Illini were regulars in the NCAA field. In 1989, the Flyin’ Illini caught the attention of the nation. A loss in the national semifinals ended the run, then an NCAA investigation found no hard evidence but slapped the Illini with sanctions that stifled the run. Henson retired from the Illini in 1996. His 423 wins are still the most in school history, more than 100 ahead of anyone else.

Had it not been for Henson, there might have never been a recruiting pipeline from Chicago, a stranglehold on prep recruits in the state and a reason to wear an orange sweatshirt.

“Without Lou Henson, is there any Fighting Illini? No,’’ Gill said. “It’s a big miss on coach Henson. When you think about Illinois athletics, you think about that orange coat and the Lou Do. That’s what you think about. It’s a travesty. I know you named the court after him. You’re in the college basketball Hall of Fame. How can he not be in the U of I Hall of Fame?’’

Admittedly, there were the “Dump Lou’’ folks after Henson was a victim of his own success. Had it not been for his winning teams, Illinois fans wouldn’t have known about winning. Suddenly, they wanted more, and he was under pressured to keep the program rolling. Eventually, the momentum ran out of gas. But without Henson rebuilding the program, there was no foundation for Lon Kruger, Bill Self and Bruce Weber to move forward. Illinois basketball was Illinois basketball because of the accomplishments and success under Henson.

“He was one of the most popular guys in college basketball, known by everyone,’’ Gill said.

This isn’t a slap to any of the stars that loaded the initial class. It’s highlighted by Olympians, stars in their day and innovators. Some folks are asking why Jerry Colangelo and Mannie Jackson were chosen for the first class and wonder if their donations made them more important. That’s for the committee to defend.

But for an inaugural class with 28 members, there’s no reason not to bump the number to 29, unless there was somebody on the committee holding a grudge.

As one reporter said, it’s “insane’’ to leave Henson off the list.

“I don’t understand,’’ Gill said. “How you can have a grudge against coach Henson? You can’t defend anything that indefensible.’’

Henson was the guy who had the guts to pick a fight with Bobby Knight, the guy who could recruit the players to take on the classic bully on the court and the guy who made it fun again to be an Illini fan.

Committee members have spoken to Gill about his feelings and the decision to leave Henson off the first ballot, he said. But what about the rest of us?

So, why 28? Here’s an idea. Go ahead and round up by adding Lou Henson with Chuck Carney, a football and basketball All-America from nearly 100 years ago. Then we can all be in agreement.

John Supinie is a columnist for Orangeandbluenews.com. During the day, he’s an Audi Brand Specialist at Green Audi in Springfield. Call or text him at 217-377-1977 if you’re looking for an Audi, Volkswagen, Toyota or preowned car. Ask for the Illini deal.