Arizona's Jawann McClellan reacts on the court as Illinois' Dee Brown (11) and teammates celebrate their 90-89 overtime win in the Chicago Regional championship game of the NCAA tournament Saturday, March 26, 2005, at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

 JEFF ROBERSON

4.Β Allstate Arena, Chicago, 2005.Β There wasn’t much neutral about the β€œneutral” court setting for the Illinois vs. Arizona Elite Eight showdown. It was cold with snow flurries all week in Chicago, and there was almost no community feel, even in downtown Chicago. But once at the Allstate Arena (capacity 16,597) it wasn’t much different than playing on the Illini’s campus 137 miles away. Everyone wore Illinois orange and the crowd was as loud as any I’ve ever heard, be it The Pit in Albuquerque or old Mac Court at Oregon. Illinois’ stunning comeback from a 15-point deficit in the final four minutes to win in overtime was over-the-top drama.Β 

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