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Imrem: It's time for Illinois-DePaul matchup

The basketball programs at Illinois and DePaul have been like feuding half brothers.

They don't talk for decades. They don't exchange Christmas cards. They refuse to sit at the same Thanksgiving table.

Overall, DePaul and Illinois look for something — a reason or an excuse — to not play each other.

That reality fast-broke through the mind last weekend when Kansas finally was forced to play Wichita State.

Kentucky and Louisville play. Cincinnati and Xavier play. Wisconsin and Marquette play. All sorts of cross-town and cross-state rivals play.

Now even KU and WSU have played.

Isn't it about time Illinois and DePaul were persuaded to spark up a series of games? (Yes, this is my annual plea for the Fighting Illini and the Blue Demons to share a court.)

Kansas wouldn't have played Wichita State if the irascible NCAA Tournament selection committee hadn't placed them in the same region.

Reports indicate that Kansas head coach Bill Self resisted Wichita State's overtures over the years.

The Jayhawks had little to gain: win and Kansas was supposed to; lose and Wichita State chewed off the heel it had been nibbling at.

Just imagine how disappointed Kansas fans are to no longer rule the state after losing to Wichita State, which will play Notre Dame on Thursday night in the Sweet Sixteen.

Now Kansas will have to schedule and beat Wichita State to begin the process of regaining the statewide supremacy Jayhawks fans believe is their birthright.

No matter who won, the game was going to be historic. Both Illinois and DePaul could stand to make a little history about now.

The Fighting Illini and Blue Demons are struggling, the latter more than the former. Each needs a boost, and scheduling each other would be an antidote to fan apathy.

It would be good for Illinois. It would be good for DePaul. It would be good for college basketball in the city and state.

Who knows? Maybe a showcase event like DePaul-Illinois would prompt premier prep players to notice and consider sticking around here to play before the home fans.

Up to now, DePaul and Illinois haven't been able to reconcile whatever their differences are.

For a while the problem was that one of them was ahead of the other and didn't want to risk losing that advantage.

Then there were the times when one or the other was suspicious of the other's recruiting ethics.

Then this coach wouldn't like the other coach or that athletic director wouldn't trust the other athletic director.

Well, people, what's the problem now? You don't have to be friends, just friendly; actually it might be more fun if you were unfriendly.

When DePaul hires its new head coach, get him and John Groce together and the two ADs together and set up an annual game in Chicago.

The programs can't wait for the NCAA Tournament to get them together because it might be years before both are good enough to qualify in the same season.

So, everybody, just go ahead and do it.

Wichita State and Kansas played and, regardless of the outcome, the state of basketball in their state is better for it.

A guess is that if DePaul and Illinois play once, they'll wonder why they took so long to enjoy each other's company.

If they want to invite other local schools to come along and make it a tournament, that would be even better.

Thanksgiving dinner would be full of half-brotherly love even if a food fight broke out.

mimrem@dailyherald.com

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