By Bobby La Gesse

Senior Writer

ROSEMONT, ILL. – What is the better Hollywood script, Illinois coming from fifteen down to beat Arizona in overtime to go to the Final Four, or Illinois senior guard Luther Head helping to lead Illinois to the Final Four with only one good leg?

There are plenty of stories coming out of Illinois’ run to the Final Four, but none are as impressive as Head’s.

Especially since Head saw playing through a “tweaked” hamstring as no big deal.

“I’m sore, but I’m not bad,” Head said.

The media and Illinois’ coaches speculated as to if Head would start or even play during the Sweet Sixteen and the Elite Eight. Everyone worried, but not Head.

He kept telling everyone his leg was fine. And was it ever. He scored 32 points, hit seven threes, dished out eight assists and played 63 minutes in both games at the Allstate Arena on his way to being named to the regions All-Tournament Team.

Sure the leg hurt – Head told fellow guard Dee Brown he could not run back to the huddle for timeouts and occasionally grimaced between plays – but Head had bigger things to deal with. Namely, making sure his team overcame a 15-point deficit to Arizona.

“Lu came and told me to keep fighting,” Brown said.

A hamstring can not keep Head from continuing Marching to the Arch. After five days of whirlpool, ice, massage and stim treatment, the injury can only slow his pace to St. Louis.

“I just looked at my teammates, and said no matter what happens don’t give up,” Head said. “That was my biggest concern. No matter what happens stop the ball.”

Head took it upon himself to make sure the Illini did not give up. He hit the first three to spark Illinois’ storybook run to win the game. He intently stared down the Arizona defenders after stealing an errant pass by Channing Frye, telling the Wildcats that the Illini would win without uttering a word. To top it off, he hit the layup that made the difference in the game.

Where would Illinois be without Head – one leg or two?

“Without Luther, we have no chance,” said Illinois head coach Bruce Weber. “He fought through some pain. We thought he would play, but we didn’t know once he got going if he would be able to play.”

Two years ago, during Head’s sophomore season, he played most of the year with a pelvic injury. It made practice impossible at times. Rest would heal the injury, but a couple days of activity and the injury would be re-aggravated. Then-Illinois trainer Rod Cardinal called it the most frustrating injury he dealt with in his thirty years on the Illini sidelines.

Head could not jump like he did during his freshman year, when he dazzled Illinois fans with his alley oops and fast break dunks. He missed seven games, but grinded his way through the season.

After going through that, a tweaked hamstring is almost easy to get over.

“Man it isn’t even comparable for him,” said Illinois senior forward Roger Powell Jr.

The hamstring was not bothering Head as he celebrated the improbable comeback. He hugged head coach Bruce Weber with fellow guards, junior Deron Williams and freshman Calvin Brock. He walked over to Brown, who was giving a radio interview, and the two started screaming to each for a national audience to hear.

Head did limp when walking into the post-game press conference. And like all week, he had a matter of fact response ready when asked about his limp.

“I’m limping because I have ice on my leg,” Head said.