http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/ With Sun-Times sports reporter Herb Gould en-us Copyright 2009 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:15:19 -0600 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification
Bruce Weber formally welcomes another top recruiting class to Illinois today when basketball's early signing period begins.
The class includes Jereme Richmond,  a 6-5 forward from Waukegan; Meyers Leonard, a 6-11, 215-pound center from Robinson, and Crandall Head, a 6-5 guard from Rich South.
All are considered four-star recruits. Richmond is ranked 36th among the nation's seniors by Rivals.com. Leonard rose to 39th and Head at 81st. Richmond, who committed to Illinois while a high school freshman, is projected as a small forward. Head, the younger brother of former Illini star Luther Head, is projected as a shooting guard or combo guard. Head is expected to be sidelined by a major knee injury this season.
In other Illini basketball news:
* Jeff Jordan will miss Illinois' first two games because he played in a non-sanctioned 3-on-3 last summer, the NCAA has ruled. The junior guard will miss Illinois' opener against SIU-Edwardsville Friday and Northern Illinois on Tuesday, and will be eligible to return against Presbyterian on Nov. 21. Jordan had quit the program last spring before returning this fall.
``It was an innocent thing,'' Weber said. ``We feel bad for Jeff.''
* It's looking more and more like freshman guard Joseph Bertrand will redshirt. Bertrand, who underwent knee surgery in September, won't play in Illinois' early games to protect his redshirt status. The knee needs rest, but if Bertrand rests it, he loses valuable practice time in what's shaping up as a very competitive situation for playing time.
* Jordan's absence will give Weber more minutes to spread around as he tries to settle on a starting lineup and a rotation.
Four starting jobs look solid, with freshman guard D.J. Richardson joining the three returning junior starters--Demetri McCamey, Mike Tisdale and Mike Davis. The final-starter position is shaping up as a battle betwen junior Alex Legion, freshman Brandon Paul and senior Dominique Keller.
Legion, who has a big offensive upside but must dig in on defense, would add an explosive dimension. Paul, who played well as a starter in the final exhibition game against Quincy, has a bright future. And Keller is a bit unorthodox, but brings energy and a knack for scoring when he's on his game.
In the end, look for the players to sort things out by delivering when they have opportunities.
``It could be matchups,'' Weber said. ``It could be how they're doing that week. Maybe someone is better coming off the bench. Or do we have all of our better offensive players in at one time? That's our biggest dilemma right now. That's what we have to figure out.''

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]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/11/weber_brings_in_another_big_re.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/11/weber_brings_in_another_big_re.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:15:19 -0600 ``They'll both play,'' Zook said. ``Juice understands that. Jacob gave us some things [at Purdue] that I'm excited about. The ball came out of his hand quick, and he stuck it in there well.''
Zook said he's helping Williams regain his confidence amid the shocking disappointment of Illinois' 1-6 start.
``No one saw this coming,'' the coach said. ``But the way he's handled, it, I'm not sure there a lot of adults who could have handled it as well. Juice wants to win. I told him, `Everybody's piling on you. You somehow have to separate that stuff.' It's a confidence issue. He has to overcome that, and that's something we as a coaching staff have to help him do. He's done it before, he can do it again.''

]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/10/juice_trying_to_regain_confide.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/10/juice_trying_to_regain_confide.html Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:32:23 -0600 ``Let's put one thing to rest,'' athletic director Ron Guenther said Saturday at halftime of the Illinois-Purdue game.  ``There will be some changes, but there won't be a change at the top.''
``We're still going to evaluate [the program at the end of the year],'' Guenther said. ``But I think it was unfair to start jumping [on Zook] at the end of [his] fifth year.''
Guenther broke his silence to confirm a Big Ten Network report saying Zook would be back. Guenther said the subject came up in a conversation Friday with Big Ten Network analyst Glen Mason, who is scheduled to meet with Guenther for a BTN project.
As late as Thursday, Guenther had maintained through Illini spokesman Kent Brown that no decision had been made, and that the program and Zook would be evaluated at the end of the season.
``Ron Guenther is emphatic that Ron Zook will return next year,'' Mason reported. ``Ron Guenther is disappointed like most Illini. He is aware that there are problems, but his belief is that Ron Zook is capable of correcting those problems, and that all he needs is time, and he deserves the time to correct them.''

]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/10/zook_will_return.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/10/zook_will_return.html Sat, 24 Oct 2009 10:31:06 -0600 With Illinois' offense sputtering mightily, Ron Zook said Monday he will go with backup Eddie McGee at quarterback vs Michigan State Saturday (11 a.m., BTN) and sit down four-year starter Juice Williams.
McGee, a fourth-year junior who came to Illinois with Williams, led Illinois to its lone victory this season, a 45-17 rout of Illinois State, when Williams was sidelined by a strained quadriceps muscle after just two plays.
``Believe me, this is not all on Juice,'' Zook said on his radio show on WDWS in Champaign Monday. ``The poor guy has at times played extremely well, but the thing you try to do in athletics is you're trying to get a spark.''
No one needs a spark more than the Illinois offense. The Illini, who were expected to be a scoring machine led by Williams and receiver Arrelious Benn, have managed only three touchdowns in their three losses, and all of them have come in the fourth quarter when the game was no longer in doubt.
``This is not a knee-jerk reaction,'' Zook said. ``This is a lot of thought and what-if, what-if, what-if. But the bottom line is, we're in a part of our schedule now where we've got to go play.''
--Herb Gould

## ]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/10/mcgee_in_juice_out_for_flounde.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/10/mcgee_in_juice_out_for_flounde.html Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:22:13 -0600 Here's how the sportswriting world, and journalism, have changed during my career. Illinois has two marquee players: quarterback Juice Williams and receiver Arrelious ``Rejus'' Benn. Juice got hurt on the first play against Illinois State Saturday, and Benn failed to catch at least one pass for the first time in his college career. This is pretty significant stuff to me, even if Juice's injury clearly was minor.
And yet, they were not made available after the game, so we were unable to talk to them. I don't know whose decision this was, coach Zook or his media relations staff. And while something about it didn't seem right, I was relieved, in a way. Because I had to file a story and notes 37 minutes later, including a five- to 10- minute trip back to the pressbox, and had no time to wait, or waste.
It was yet another reminder of how the business has changed, and how the relationships between media and athletes have changed. There's so much more media now, and we get so much less real reporting done because of adversarial concerns and micro-managing.
In the old days, we just went into the locker room. And far from being worried about saying the wrong thing, the athletes seemed interested in letting people know what was on their minds. I looked forward to talking to Bears such as Dan Hampton and Jimbo Covert after games, and I think they did, too.
And even in college, on my Notre Dame beat, you could go in the locker room, and the players seemed to understand that the spotlight came with responsibility. Even in the dark days, when Gerry Faust's coaching career was fraught with tough losses, the players answered questions. I always figured that helped prepare players for life after college, whether they were going to play pro football or deal with tough situations in other parts of their life. Many Irish players I covered--people like Steve Beuerlein, Allen PInkett, Tim Brown--dealt with some hard questions, and they turned out all right. Maybe talking to us helped. I can't imagine that it hurt.
Of course, the lockerrooms are closed by virtually all the college teams I encounter these days, with a few exceptions. And it makes sportswriting more difficult and less difficult at the same time. It's harder to get questions answered. But there's less work because there are fewer interview opportunities. And if the product suffers, the office tends to want our stories sooner and shorter, anyway.
In a way, I understand why schools and teams fret about access and spin-control. They're faced with more and more media, who are less and less trust-worthy. And they're more interested in TV and radio sound bites, which tend to avoid controversy. I just can't help but think our lives were richer when we trusted each other more, and didn't take ourselves so seriously. It certainly was a lot more fun and interesting.
Hope you're feeling better, Juice. And sorry about your streak ending, Rejus. But as both of you often mention, it's all about the win. Enjoy it.

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]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/09/no_juice_no_benn_no_big_deal_i.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/09/no_juice_no_benn_no_big_deal_i.html Sun, 13 Sep 2009 10:48:49 -0600 Two players, tailback Mikel Leshoure and defensive back Ashante Williams, have been given one-game suspension for violating team rules, coach Ron Zook said Tuesday. Obviously unhappy with the play of his receivers, notably Jeff Cumberland and A.J. Jenkins, who both made critical mistakes vs. Missouri, Zook also said sophomore wideouts Cordale Scott and Fred Sykes, and junior Chris James will have expanded roles. Cumberland and Jenkins will continue to have opportunities, though.
Zook also said he'll look at shaking up his secondary, with true freshmen Walter Aikens and Terry Hawthorne, a converted receiver, getting chances at safety after Donsay Hardeman's tough game vs. Missouri. In addition, cornerback Dere Hicks could see time at nickelback as the Illini try to bounce back from their troubling 37-9 loss to Mizzou.
``I don't want to push the panic button, but we have to play better,'' Zook said. ``We understand that the Illini Nation's upset, and they should be. I don't blame them. They deserve better.''
##
]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/09/zook_2_suspensions_and_shakeup.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/09/zook_2_suspensions_and_shakeup.html Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:50:01 -0600 Three true freshmen head the list of first-year Illini who are most likely to play: Cornerback Terry Hawthorne, tailback Justin Green and defensive end Michael Buchanan. Hawthorne, Ron Zook's top 2009 recruit, has moved over from wide receiver, a position he's likely to return to after this season. Green has impressed coaches with  a burst that makes him a factor even though Illinois has four capable veterans at running back.
Other freshmen probably will take off their red shirts as the season progresses, out of necessity and because they show they can help. But Zook knows players benefit greatly from using a redshirt year to develop.
``Hopefully, that list [of true freshmen who play immediately] is smaller than it's been since we got here,'' the coach said.

###
]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/09/hawthorne_green_debuts_likely.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/09/hawthorne_green_debuts_likely.html Wed, 02 Sep 2009 08:29:46 -0600 Hawthorne has not been full-go at training camp due to an off-season broken hand. And while he has the speed to excel in pass coverage, his 6-foot, 175-pound frame wouldn't be your first choice to break up a sweep.
But it's an interesting move because it could get him on the field quicker. Hawthorne easily could move back to receiver down the road. And playing some corner might make more attractive to pro teams way down the road.
* In another camp development, senior Daniel Dufrene, the likely starter at tailback, is recovering after an ankle sprain Tuesday. The seriousness of the injury is not known, but Zook and his staff most likely are going to err on the side of caution at this point. Dufrene is the most accomplished of five contenders at running back. Sophomore Jason Ford, who had a big game against Indiana last year, is the most intriguing. The running-back derby won't start playing out in a serious way until the season gets going.
### ]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/08/illini_football_hawthorne_on_d.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/08/illini_football_hawthorne_on_d.html Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:31:31 -0600
]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/08/gonzaga-illini_on_jan_2_at_uc.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/08/gonzaga-illini_on_jan_2_at_uc.html Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:46:49 -0600

Answer: Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan.
What's the question? You make the call.
a) Who are the top three picks in the Big Ten's pre-season media poll? (The poll only goes three deep in an apparent effort to spare any schools the indignity of being picked low. It's sort of the collegiate version of kindergarten diplomas.)
b) Who are Illinois' first three Big Ten opponents?
c) Both of the above.
The correct answer is c). If the Illini can get off to a quick start, they could be in for a big year. If they struggle early, though, their character will be tested--once again.

]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/07/illini_face_the_big_ten_favori.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/07/illini_face_the_big_ten_favori.html Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:47:53 -0600 Michael Jordan's son Jeff, who had been expected to play a solid role as a junior at Illinois next season, has decided to leave the basketball program to concentrate on his academics, the school announced Wednesday.
``I loved playing for the Fighting Illini and appreciate the support I was given by my teammates, coaches and the great fans here,'' Jordan said. ``But I have come to the point where I'm ready to focus on life after basketball. I will concentrate on earning my degree from the University of Illinois and the opportunities that await upon graduating.''
Jordan, who was given a scholarship last semester after being a walk-on, had been expected to inherit the defense-perimeter role held by Chester Frazier, who finished his career this spring. Whether as a starter or a key reserve, he figured to play a lot of minutes and be a leader for a promising that will add four freshmen to a nucleus that will return four other juniors.
 Jordan averaged 8.4 minutes as a sophomore after playing 5.3 minutes as a freshman. He had 58 points, 42 assists and 24 rebounds in his 59-game Illinois career.
``Jeff was an invaluable member of our team the past two seasons and I thank him for his contribution to our program,'' coach Bruce Weber said. ``He brought great work ethic to the gym and pushed himself, as well as his teammates, each and every day to improve. We will miss him, but we fully support the decision he has made. When the game of basketball has been a top priority throughout your life, it is very difficult to transition away from playing. I know Jeff has given this much thought. He is an outstanding, mature young man who will be successful in whatever areas he pursues in the future.''

ENDIT

]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/06/jeff_jordan_leaves_basketball.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/06/jeff_jordan_leaves_basketball.html Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:51:49 -0600 Some of it--the choice and timing of nonconference opponents--is Illinois' doing. Some of it is the bizarre way the Big Ten comes up with its schedules, which makes me think they must be generated by an old Commodore VIC-20 down in the basement of the home office in Park Ridge.
But here's the point: When I asked Juice Williams about the schedule, he showed a lot of knowledge and maturity. It ought to be very encouraging to Illini fans who wonder about opening with four major-college opponents (Missouri, Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State) that were a combined 40-13 last year, finishing with two dangerous nonconference games (Cincinnati and Fresno State) and playing a string of tricky middle games in between (at Indiana, at Purdue, Michigan, at MInnesota, Northwestern).
`You can't base your schedule on what you saw last year,'' the senior quarterback said. ``We were in the Rose Bowl two years ago. What did we do last year? Going off last year's hype is good to talk about. You can make all these predictions and assumptions.
``But once you put the pads on in a new season, it's two totally different things. Whether its the No. 1 team in the country, or the last team in the country, we're gonna go out there and hit you hard. We're going to be efficient on offense, and come out and try to do our thing.''
Good for Juice. We may look back at this schedule next December and say: Bad idea. But the players need to tune that out and go play, and from the sound of their quarterback, that's what they intend to do.



]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/04/juice_on_schedule_bring_it_on.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/04/juice_on_schedule_bring_it_on.html Sun, 26 Apr 2009 10:58:40 -0600 Suggestions are being taken at www.fightingillini.com/trophyvote .

Here's mine: I would call the trophy ``the Governor's Till.'' It would be a treasure chest with a hand dipping in and clutching doubloons--a tribute to our many notorious state leaders from both sides of the aisle who have run afoul of the law.
But since that's not going to happen, I suggest you visit the website and make your own suggestions, or vote for one of the four ideas at the site. The Land of Lincoln  Trophy and President's Trophy both look like good choices.
Suggestions will be accepted until April 15. Sorry for not posting this sooner, but that darned Final Four was occupying my time.

Here's an announcement from the University of Illinois explaining the process. . .


``Illinois and Northwestern Working Together to Establish New Football Series
Trophy
The University of Illinois and Northwestern University are collaborating to
establish a new trophy for the winner of the football game between the two
institutions. The Sweet Sioux Tomahawk Trophy, which went to the winner of
the Illinois-Northwestern football game from 1945-2008, was retired
following the 2008 contest and both schools have agreed to play for a new
trophy beginning in 2009.
``Northwestern and Illinois are looking at a very unique opportunity to
establish a traditional series trophy that will last for generations,'' said
Illinois Director of Athletics Ron Guenther. ``As the only two Big Ten
institutions in the state of Illinois, our game attracts a great amount of
attention, which only adds to the pageantry of the trophy. We're hopeful our
players, coaches and fans will continue to view this game as a very special
tradition in college football.''
Both institutions are asking their fans for feedback on the new trophy by
participating in an online poll on each of the school's athletics web sites.
Four possible ideas, along with the opportunity to offer an alternative,
will be provided until April 15. The schools expect to announce the new
trophy around each of their spring football games on April 25.

Four possible suggestions for the new series trophy include the following:
* The Land of Lincoln Trophy - A replica of Lincoln's stove pipe
hat mounted on a piece of White Oak (Illinois' state tree).
* President's Trophy - Recognizing the four presidents associated
with the state of Illinois - Lincoln, Grant, Reagan and Obama.
* The Popcorn Bowl, named after the Illinois state snack.
* Graham-Grange Fire Bell (original series trophy started in
1941 was a fire bell) named after two of the greatest players at each school, Otto Graham of Northwestern and Red Grange of Illinois.

The website for fans to vote is:  www.fightingillini.com/trophyvote ''

]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/04/new_illinois-nu_trophy_to_be_c.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/04/new_illinois-nu_trophy_to_be_c.html Fri, 10 Apr 2009 09:51:04 -0600 Illinois men's basketball assistant coach Jerrance Howard, said he turned aside a preliminary inquiry from Kentucky about possibly joining the Wildcats staff.
``I'm an Illini for life,'' Howard said on the Talking Illini program at Talkzone.com.
Howard, who has been on Bruce Weber's staff for two seasons, is off to a strong start as a recruiter. He had been an administrative assistant under Billy Gilllispie at Kentucky when he was hired by Weber. A Peoria native, he played at Illinois in 2001-04.

]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/04/jerrance_howard_staying_put_at.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/04/jerrance_howard_staying_put_at.html Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:54:58 -0600
PORTLAND, Ore.--Now what?
During the darkest moments of Illinois' 76-72 loss to Western Kentucky, Bruce Weber was trying to catch the attention of the referees, so they could better absorb his looks that could kill. Behind him, his staff sat slumped over in their chairs, looking like they'd spent too much time pondering their 401-k's.
Things always look better than they are when you win. And worse than they are when you lose.
The future isn't nearly as grim as the Internet banshees would have you believe. But there is much work to be done if Illinois is going to regain its perch as one of the nation's premier basketball programs.
As I told you before the post-season began, it's all about the sophomores. Seniors Trent Meacham and Calvin Brock did themselves proud, leaving it all on the floor in their final appearances. If Chester Frazier had not been sidelined by an injured right hand, he would have done the same.
And what did that add up to? After being down 17 points, Illinois needed a miracle comeback to make the final score respectable.
Frazier would have made a little difference. More defense and leadership might have helped. But Western Kentucky was the better team in every way as it bounced Illinois from the NCAA tournament. You had to admire the way the Hilltoppers play the game.
Frazier or not, what really hurt was the way Illinois' sophomore core was exposed. Center Mike Tisdale was in over his 7-foot-1 head, going scoreless in 19 foul-prone minutes. And guard Demetri McCamey was skittery, too, going 0 for 5 from three-point range and committing four turnovers.
The 235-pound Tisdale needs to spend as much time with a knife and fork as he does in the gym this off-season to reach his goal of 260 pounds. McCamey, on the other hand, needs to listen to Weber's advice to drop a couple of pounds and increase his stamina.
If Tisdale and McCamey work at it, they and Mike Davis, Illinois' other sophomore starter, have a chance to accomplish a lot as juniors and seniors.
People are questioning whether Tisdale and McCamey have the mental makeup to take the next step and become tough competitors. They'll have a better chance of doing that with more strength and stamina. Even Illini heroes Brian Cook and Deron Williams needed time to mature.
It's easy to overlook now, amid the gloom and doom of the Western Kentucky disaster. But Weber did an excellent job of rebuilding a team that went from 16-19 last to 24-10 this year--with a group of gritty seniors and unpolished sophomores.
``It was a good year,'' Weber said through his Hilltopper disappointment. ``You feel sad for Chester. But Calvin came through. Trent played like he never thought he would dream of playing
``The other guys have to learn. We learned something after last year. Now we have to learn something after this year. We set a goal of getting 24 wins and getting in the NCAA, and that's what we did. Next year, we have to shoot a little higehr. But you're going to have to work harder to get there.''
This isn't all about the players, either. Weber knows he needs to do a better job of going to his bench. And next year, he'll have the bodies to do that.
We'll take Weber's word for it that Alex Legion, the ballyhooed transfer from Kentucky, didn't figure things out quickly enough, but some of that's on the coaches. An effective Legion would have been a big help against the Hilltoppers' three-point barrage.
Four excellent recruits also are coming in: Guards D.J. Richardson, Brandon Paul and Joseoph Bertrand, plus forward Tyler Griffey. This class, ranked 10th in the nation by ESPN, should give Weber the best depth he's had at Illinois.
Despite the Western Kentucky debacle, Weber remains a top-notch coach. And now that he's making strides in recruiting, Illinois has a chance to keep moving up in the world. If Weber keeps pushing his players--and himself.

]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/03/illinis_future_promising_if_th.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2009/03/illinis_future_promising_if_th.html Sat, 21 Mar 2009 11:45:27 -0600