Illini finding Windy City positively frigid

CHICAGO — Bob Falato has been to most of the 25 regular season games the Illinois basketball team has played at United Center since the building on the West Side opened in 1994.

The 1983 UI graduate and prominent donor recalls the glory days of Dee Brown, Deron Williams and Luther Head playing in front of 21,000 fans dressed in orange at the arena.

He also remembers last year, when the Illini squeaked by UIC in front of mostly empty seats (attendance: 5,151).

This year? He won't be at United Center for the UI's game against BYU on Saturday night.

"I've got two holiday parties to go to," he said.

Once a must-see in a city critical to the UI's mission, Illinois basketball has slipped several…