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Illini begin a new era
CHAMPAIGN -- I know from reading my e-mails and blog responses that for some Illini basketball fans, Eric Gordon's decision to attend Indiana signaled the end of the free world as we know it today. The rest of our lives will be spent watching a rag-tag basketball team made up solely of jockey-sized slow kids wearing funny glasses. Bruce Weber will confine his recruiting to places like Plano, Toluca and Mulberry Grove, where he has a better chance of reeling in an occasional 6-foot, honorable mention all-conference power forward. And you thought Illini football was bad? Well, I'm here to spread joy today, joy throughout Illini Nation, joy, hope and optimism that things aren't nearly as bleak as they appear. Life without Dee Brown and James Augustine will be different, but it won't be dismal. We are about to embark on a fun new mission, so pack a lunch, kids, and let's go for a little player-by-player tour of the new Illini basketball roster. Let's start with the seniors, Warren Carter, Marcus Arnold and Rich McBride. When the 6-foot-9 Carter elected to play rather than redshirt as a freshmen, we all knew it was a mistake. He arrived at Illinois weighing 183 pounds and now he admits, ''I wasn't ready. Even I can say that.'' Too bad, because Carter is now looking ready. His weight has increased to 220 (up 37 pounds). His bench press total has increased from 215 to 295 pounds. And his game has improved, too. Carter has been working like never before to make what he calls, ''My final go-around,'' something special. Weber believes it can happen, but only if Carter shows longer stretches of consistency. ''Warren has made great strides,'' Weber said. ''I've been on him maybe more than anybody else. I always used to joke, 'Warren, how you doing?' And he'd say, ''Chillin'.'' ''I told him he's going to chill through life. I'm hoping he has a sense of urgency. He has all the ability. He ran the mile in 5:20 and the only one to beat him was (point guard) Chester Frazier. This is a 6-9 kid who can run. Now, can he do it for 20, 25 minutes, game in, game out, when we need shots and rebounds?'' Carter has the answer: ''People have had high expectations for me, and sometimes I've felt I let them down. But now I'm to the point where if I know I've given it my absolute best, I won't be disappointed in myself. And that would be the worst thing, if you felt you could have done more.'' Arnold made his strongest summer impression on another Big Ten coach. He was a member of the Big Ten Conference touring team and Michigan Coach Tommy Amaker, who took the team to Australia, filed a glowing report with Weber. ''Tommy said he was definitely the best player on the trip, the most consistent,'' Weber said. ''I hope that helps Marcus because we could use some consistency from him.'' McBride is in a current state of limbo as he waits to hear what the university's disciplinary panel has to say about his recent arrest for DUI. McBride is practicing with the team but will likely not play for the first several games. Weber will rule after the university has its say. That said, McBride is a senior guard who can shoot the 3 and who worked hard at expanding his game last season, discovering that driving the ball into the lane can bring about positive results. The two juniors are key performers. Brian Randle has always been Illinois' go-to guy on defense. But Weber is hoping he can become the go-to guy when a basket is needed. If that happens, Randle will have emerged as one of the better all-around players in the country. ''He's worked very hard on his shot, but he needs to do it in games,'' Weber said. ''He can't miss a shot and put his head down. He has to come back and make another play.'' Confidence is the key for Randle, the intelligent, introspective forward with unearthly athleticism. ''The bane of my existence since I've been here is my jumper,'' Randle admitted. ''It has come along well. I've altered everything technically about it. I'm trying to keep my elbow at 90 degrees. Before it was in, out, up, down and every which way. ''Coach has said it before. I have a problem overthinking. Shooting, anything - it's about confidence. I spent this summer knocking down shots telling myself, 'Brian, you can shoot.' More than anything, it's to acknowledge it within myself that I can do it.'' Weber said Randle's breakthrough will arrive the day he discovers what former teammate Dee Brown always had. ''It's a mojo,'' Weber said. ''I was talking to (Gonzaga coach) Mark Few the other day. He was talking about (former All-American) Adam Morrison. Every time he stepped on the floor, he thought he was better than everyone else. I'm not sure Brian has that. I think Dee had it. He had that mojo, that feeling that you're great. ''If Brian is going to be a star, he has to have that kind of confidence.'' The other junior is Shaun Pruitt, one of last season's most pleasant surprises. ''His body is still changing,'' Weber said. ''It's amazing what he's done over the last two years. He has cut off weight, matured, gotten stronger and quicker. He was one of the surprises of the league last year and we need him to take the next step.'' The guard-heavy sophomore class is headed by Jamar Smith and Chester Frazier. Smith, who emerged as one of the most talked-about freshman shooters in the country, has few equals when it comes to hours logged in the gym. Weber loves his commitment and in Smith he sees a naturally blessed shooter who can become the total package with more physical strength and ball-handling skills. ''We have challenged him to advance his game,'' Weber said. ''When he went with coach (Wayne) McClain to China over the summer, he played some point guard so he'd have to create and pass. He worked so hard last year and he has continued to do that. He can be a focal point of our team.'' Frazier is first in line to take over Dee Brown's point-guard duties. He matches Brown's energy and even has Brown's mojo. What he doesn't have is a reliable jump shot and the ability to keep all that energy under control. ''There is no doubt he has the toughness,'' Weber said. ''And he's our most confident player. But I need him to slow down. The Orange Krush, I fear for their lives when he's coming up the court because you never know where the pass is going to go. ''We need him to have balance and more calmness to his offense.'' But if you ask Smith who is this team's most improved player, he doesn't hesitate in naming Frazier. ''He worked hard this summer on his shot and he has slowed down a lot (on offense). But his defense is as in-tense as ever.'' The other player who will take turns at the point is transfer Trent Meacham, who arrived from Dayton and who has the steadiness Frazier sometimes can't find. ''He's a combo guard, a safe point guard,'' Weber said. ''I would like him to become a little more confident and cocky on the court. He's a very nice kid, but on the court I don't want him to be nice. If we can get him to do that, he'll surprise some people.'' The forgotten man in the sophomore class is Calvin Brock, but at least Weber now says Brock is ''in the mix.'' ''I hope he can rise up,'' Weber said. ''We've talked about the inconsistencies in his school work, in his life and in his ability to take care of business. Because of that he hasn't been able to perform on the basketball court the way he can. ''But he's older and more mature. He had a good summer. He took care of business in the classroom and on the court. He can slash and get out on the break. He can do some things that are different than our other guys. If he can show me he's mature and consistent in his effort and lifestyle, maybe he can get into that rotation.'' The final sophomore is another transfer, Steve Holdren, a 6-5 forward from Champaign who will sit out this season after arriving from South Dakota State. Forward C.J. Jackson is technically a redshirt freshman. Conditioning and health issues have slowed his rise, but Weber sounds hopeful. ''He has made enormous progress. The problem he's had is endurance. He basically failed every conditioning thing we did last year. This year, I don't know if he has missed any. ''He can be a rebounder, a screener and a garbage guy with the big bodies.'' Perhaps the most intriguing players are the two freshmen, Brian Carlwell and Richard Semrau. Carlwell looks like a lock to become a dominant inside presence. The question is when. ''Brian gives us something we haven't had,'' Weber said. ''I don't know if I've ever been around a guy who can block shots like that. He's 7-foot, 270 pounds, long, and has a good knack for blocking shots. He has to improve some of his offensive skills. ''If you ask the guys, Richard would rank as the biggest surprise. He has very good skills. He has a little bounce and he ran well. He's a skilled power forward. The question is, can he guard anybody?'' Randle is among those impressed by the freshmen. ''I think they're going to make a pretty big impact, to be honest,'' Randle said. ''Brian Carlwell is huge. Offensively, he's still trying to get his bearings. Defensively, he's blocking things with his elbow at the top of the square. So if nothing else, little guards who like to put up floaters, they know where the ball is going to go. ''Richard is kind of like James Augustine. He runs the floor extremely well. He's very athletic and he can step out and shoot the three consistently.'' Sure, the first exhibition game is still nine days away. The regular-season opener isn't until Nov. 13. Any-thing, including injuries, can happen. But on the school's new basketball schedule poster, the team is pictured in front of a blackboard and on it is written, ''Winning is a habit.'' Illinois has won 25 games or more in each of the last six seasons. On paper, this team probably isn't as good as some past groups. But Weber says this team is working harder than any past squad. And don't be surprised if Weber hatches a few lineup combinations you hadn't thought about. Losing blue-chip recruits is always a setback. But gloom and doom? I just don't see it. Mark Tupper can be reached at mtupper@herald-review.com Get area high school sports scores and statistics at Varsity Sports. E-mail this story | Print this story | Search archives | RSS Show comments |  Hide comments | Hide comments on all stories |
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