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INDIANAPOLIS — Bruce Weber reached into the Lou Henson clothing vault Sunday and pulled out a sport jacket that looked like it was stolen from the coat room at an Orange Bowl cocktail party.
The term “fresh squeezed” came to mind when Weber strolled to the Illini bench prior to the start of Sunday’s championship game of the Big Ten Tournament.
Weber has collected a half-dozen or more orange sport coats since becoming head coach at the University of Orange and Blue. And when Ryan Baker, the host of his TV show, recently presented him with an orange necktie as a gift, Weber announced that his inventory of school-color neckwear had now reached 63.
“I’m going to have to get a new tie rack,” he said. “The old one only holds 62.”
Illinois tried to complete a fantasy weekend run Sunday, going for its fourth victory in four days. Alas, Wisconsin is too good, too polished and too savvy to be suckered into any sloppy play now. The Badgers made half of their 18 3-point shots and easily turned back the Illini, 61-48.
At least disgruntled Illinois State fans won’t be storming Champaign to hunt down anyone wearing orange. Blame for the Redbirds not being invited to the NCAA tournament will be placed somewhere, but it’s not Illinois’ fault.

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The Washington Huskies will again tempt fate on Selection Sunday.
Like last year, the Huskies have a practice scheduled for tonight in anticipation of a postseason invitation.
Last year, UW had no need to take the court when it was snubbed by the NIT.
But this season, despite a worse record (16-16 compared to 19-13 last year), the Huskies’ chances of playing again appear better thanks to the introduction of a new postseason tournament, the College Basketball Invitational.
After the NCAA tournament selects 65 teams and the NIT takes 32, the CBI will invite 16 more (the CBI says it will compete for teams with the NIT, but logically, it will choose from teams left over).
Playing for the right to say “We’re No. 98″ might not seem like much.
But UW coaches and players say they would like to continue their season.
Do the Huskies deserve to keep playing?
“In the conference that we are in, no doubt,” said coach Lorenzo Romar, citing the strength of the Pac-10 this season.
The CBI was formed as a reaction to the NIT reducing its field from 40 to 32 teams after it was taken over by the NCAA. The NIT also now is required to invite all regular-season champions that don’t make the NCAA tournament.

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