It may have been five days premature, but then again, it’s been going on all season.

The fans who packed Assembly Hall Wednesday erupted when Will Smith appeared on the Jumbotron, declaring what the fans have known all season: The champ is here.

The intro that played each of the 17 times men’s basketball took the court at Assembly Hall this year was ready to greet the team at it’s send-off pep rally Wednesday.

So was almost every Illini head coach, the cheerleaders, Illinettes, basketball band and thousands of Orange-clad fans.

“The next time we return to Champaign, we want to put another banner up there that says ‘National Champions’,” head coach Bruce Weber said.

The team walked onto the floor through a gauntlet of cheerleaders and Illinettes, dodging partitions set up for a garden show this weekend.

They lined up behind a microphone, with coaching staff and managers flanking the players. Weber was the first from basketball to address the crowd, thanking them for following the team on every road game this season. He said the support played a vital role in many of the team’s wins, and that they look for the sea of orange to flood St. Louis on Saturday.

“On Saturday, these guys made plays, but you guys made noise, and the noise probably got us over the hump,” Weber said of the roles players and fans played in the overtime win against Arizona that sent Illinois to the Final Four.

After Illinois lost to Duke in last year’s Sweet Sixteen, Weber had shirts made which proclaimed the Illini would be in the Final Four in their 100th season. Most players, as well as Weber and one of his daughters, wore the shirts when they stood in front of the fans.

“We’re going to St. Louis to chance the label that we’re the best program never to win a national championship,” forward Jack Ingram said to the crowd.

Illini cheer Illini

Eight Illini head coaches addressed the crowd before the team arrived at the pep rally, and almost all had something good to say about men’s basketball’s run for a national championship.

Soccer coach Janet Rayfield, whose team made it to the Elite Eight in the fall, congratulated Weber’s team on going a step farther. Football coach Ron Zook assured the crowd that his team is working to catch up with Illinois’ elite athletes. Women’s golf coach Paula Smith applauded the loyalty of Illini fans.

But almost every coach had something good to say about the quality of the men’s basketball team.

“It’s been a lot of fun just to watch the entire year,” swimming coach Sue Novitsky said. “It’s been a great example of how when everybody plays together, works together, how far you can get.”

Party Planner

If the Illini win Saturday, the National Championship game will be televised on the Jumbotron at Assembly Hall. Doors will open at 7 p.m. for the 8:21 p.m. tipoff. Parking and admission will be free.

No matter what happens in St. Louis, however, a season-end celebration is scheduled for Tuesday at Memorial Stadium. Weber and the team will be on hand to celebrate the end of Illinois basketball’s historic 100th season.

The celebration will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be free.