(12-08-2022 09:18 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(12-08-2022 09:08 AM)Big Red Wrote:  But it's not convenient to the majority of the population. The population center of the state is around Joliet, which is quite a bit south of DeKalb and south of that...is half of the population.

At best, NIU is convenient to about 40% of the population and much less convenient to over half of the rest of the population.

Cook, DuPage, Lake, Kane, and McHenry counties make up over 7.5 million of the 12.7 million people in Illinois. That's nearly 60% of Illinois population closer to DeKalb than Bloomington.

Also, Joliet is also closer to DeKalb (69 miles) than Bloomington (98 miles).

I think a realization that needs to be understood is that the IHSA is the entire state. Population center sounds great, but isn't a deciding factor. South of I80 does not like the Chicago and yes, DeKalb might as well be Chicago. I mean when people talk about proximity, Chicago population in one sentence you can't ignore it in the next.

The downstate schools have a lot of pull. Representation. Always have especially for basketball. I went to an Illinois Basketball Coaches HOF and where was it? Redbird Arena. The board isn't comprised of and lead by some Chicago contingency. For decades basketball has and football was downstate. It's money for their people and close proximity for much of a base. Looking at it objectively and not as NIU fans and alumni, it may not be worse, but there is nothing DeKalb offers better than Bloomington or CU than close to Chicago and......

I am sure there is something else.

And honestly, I am not even sure the majority of people in DeKalb care or even know if State playoffs are there.

And oh, by the way, IHSA headquarters is in Bloomington.