When Northwestern came to town Sunday, my original column idea was to reach out to Wildcats athletic director Jim Phillips. Get his thoughts on the work being done at his alma mater, Illinois. Talk to him more about Lou Henson and the 1989 Flyin' Illini, a coach and a team he knows so very well.
But Phillips didn't make the trip to Champaign-Urbana. He had to stay in Evanston for a trustees meeting.
Too bad. It's always good to talk to the friendly Chicagoan, who has gone on from student manager with Illinois basketball to become one of the power players in the Big Ten.