With the backdrop of Dawn Weber's passing surrounding much of the18.5 hours leading up to their semifinal match-up, the Minnesota Golden Gopher and Illinois Fighting Illini staff and team greeted Illini coach Bruce Weber as he made his way to the court for the introductions prior to tip.  Weber announced on Friday night that he would coach his team in the Big Ten Tournament game because his mother was such a driving factor in his life as a person and as a coach.  "My mother has been very influential in my life and career, and that is why I have decided to coach the team on Saturday, because that is what she would have wanted," Weber said in a statement. 

The decision to coach was not a difficult one for Weber, because his mother made her wishes very clear before heading into surgery in an attempt to repair a ruptured aorta on Friday.  "The last thing she told my sister before she went into surgery was not to tell me and not to tell my brother (who is coaching in the state tournament).  Then we would worry about it and we wouldn't coach," Weber told the media.  "That was in her heart. Everyone felt that we should coach the game."

The Illini team came together in a circle as the crowd at the United Center observed a moment of silence for Ms. Weber's memory.  Coach Weber raised his hand to the crowd in appreciation and the first sound in the arena was a single fan calling out, "We love you Bruce." 

Whether due to tired legs from playing less than 24 hours after their quarterfinal win over Northwestern, or because of heavy hearts, the Illini opened the game at a sluggish pace, trailing 10-2, seven minutes in, but from that point on, Illinois went on a 14-4 run that got the crowd and the team refocused on the task at hand.  Despite a determined Minnesota effort, Illinois defeated the Gophers 64-56 to advance to the tournament's championship game on Sunday afternoon. 

Weber displayed the full range of emotions throughout the day.  From reservation and appreciation for the fan's support before the game, to the typical frustration and elation that accompanies a big victory.  The season, which had been shaping up to be a storybook one, took on a difficult plot twist in the final chapters, but Weber knows that dwelling on his loss will not help his team achieve their collective goals.  After meeting with his family after the game Weber will resume as close to regular game preparations as possible for the tournament finals on Sunday. 

While the Illini's "March to the Arch" has taken on a number of new subplots, the general principle of team unity has never been more important.  "I got emotional myself.  I know how coach feels. My grandma past away this summer, so it hits close to home, especially having coach as a father figure," junior forward James Augustine said.  "This team is a family, so we felt it with him."

Illinois will continue its quest for a second Big Ten Tournament title victory in three years on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. CST.  The Fighting Illini will play the winner of the Iowa vs. Wisconsin semifinal game.