Rayna Patel and different Orange Krush members on the bus to Boston.
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VIDEO: Our night with the Orange Krush was named one of the top 5 videos of 2023 in judging by APSE.CHAMPAIGN — A bus carrying 32 members of the Orange Krush is scheduled to pull out of a State Farm Center car parking zone round 8 p.m. immediately.Destination: Boston.“I completely agree: It’s nuts,” Orange Krush vice president Zach Torf mentioned. “But if there’s one word to describe the Orange Krush, it’s ‘nuts.’“It’s who we are. We’re Illini basketball fanatics.”
Brad Underwood holding court docket with the broadcast group. #Illini #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/M40ncYfgsN
— Scott Richey (@srrichey) March 27, 2024
The Krush children are making the 16-hour, 1,079-mile drive to support Brad Underwood’s surging Illini, who tackle Iowa State in Thursday’s second game at TD Garden (estimated tip time: 9:09 p.m.).The hope is to arrive in time for an Illini pregame celebration at close by Hurricane’s, kicking off a wild weekend on the East Coast. The bus back to Champaign departs after Saturday night time’s East Regional remaining.“Another red-eye,” Torf mentioned. “It’s the most spur-of-the-moment thing we’ve ever done.”The college students organized lodging on their own, Torf mentioned, some staying with mates and others going the Airbnb route.
The Orange Krush normally takes up to 150 college students on in-season roadtrips. Considering the distance, timing and stakes, the journey celebration was restricted for what can be their longest journey in group historical past.Torf mentioned 32 will sound like 150, although, as soon as in the enviornment.“There will be no shortage of noise coming from our seats,” the junior mentioned. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, to watch our team in the Sweet 16 with 31 other people as passionate as you are.”