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| SportsSaturday, October 13, 2007 11:14 PM CDT |
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Randle's health could dictate Illini season
CHAMPAIGN — Brian Randle woke up Thursday morning and said he nearly had an anxiety attack. “I was thinking, this is really my last year. There’s no more work after this to get better for another college season. It’s at an end,” he said. Then Randle did something he’s done too little of during his injury-plagued, five-year Illini basketball career. He smiled. “I’m really looking forward to enjoying it,” Randle said. “I’d like to get a championship and push it as far as we can into the postseason.” Those are goals coach Bruce Weber shares with Randle, the introspective forward who has endured four surgeries and more physical and emotional setbacks than anyone can accurately count. Now, though, Randle is being looked to for one final, pain-free year. If he and fellow senior Shaun Pruitt can deliver special farewell seasons, Weber believes his team will be halfway toward being a major surprise in the Big Ten Conference. The other half of the equation? “We need two or three of our newcomers to step up for us, too,” he said. Weber assessed the team during Illinois’ annual media day gathering Friday, a few hours before the start of the Illini Madness event at the Assembly Hall. Even though the conversation was on the upcoming season, there was an air of euphoria at the Ubben Basketball Complex because Weber had received three verbal commitments from high-profile recruits within the past 24 hours. On the Ubben court shooting in street clothes was Jereme Richmond, the sophomore at Waukegan who committed to Illinois before his freshman season. Those players might be a major part of Illinois’ future. But for now, the work will be done by players like Randle, Pruitt and newcomers such as Rodney Alexander, Demetri McCamey and, perhaps, Riverton’s 7-foot-1 Mike Tisdale. Randle could be the key to the season. He’s the most athletic player on the team, if not one of the most athletic players in the country. But his inability to stay healthy has dogged him throughout his career and has Weber and Randle beyond merely crossing their fingers. Weber said all he can do is hope fate shines kindly on Randle. “I wish he could just play and have some success and start feeling good about himself,” Weber said. “You have to appreciate what he has gone through— four surgeries (two for a sports hernia, one on his hand, one on his shoulder) and numerous other injuries. It never seems like life has treated him fair, and it’s probably easier for him to frown than smile. “He just has to relax and play, but he doesn’t. He thinks too much. He misses a shot, and for the next six minutes the game is going on, and he’s still thinking about that shot. He overanalyzes everything. “We have to keep a smile on his face, and we’re going to have to challenge him to do that. We’re not going to let him pout. He’s beyond that. Life has taken him on so many twists and turns. The heck with it. Go smile, enjoy it and make the most out of it.” Weber hopes the same for Pruitt, who was the only player on the roster to start all 35 games last season and who thought about the NBA draft over the summer before deciding to return. “He has to be one of the best big men in the league, and possibly in the country, if he plays up to the level we expect,” Weber said. To do that, Pruitt will need to improve on a 51.3 percent free-throw performance. Pruitt says he has changed his free-throw routine and expects much better results. As for the newcomers, Weber sounds as though Alexander, a 6-7 junior-college transfer, will see plenty of playing time. “He’s very athletic and has a good body,” Weber said. “When he gets his feet set, he’s one of our best shooters.” Sophomore Chester Frazier returns at point guard but is likely to share playing time with McCamey, whose strength and play with the ball have been impressive. In fact, in the search for a shooting guard, Weber said he might play Frazier and McCamey together, although Trent Meacham, Steve Holdren and Calvin Brock will compete for time, too. Tisdale could be the X-factor if he can maintain his body weight and strength during the next three weeks of practice. “He’s the one people are going to be surprised about,” said McCamey. “He’s so skilled for a big man. He’s 7-1, shoots the 3 and can dribble and pass. He’s like a skinny Dirk Nowitzki (of the Dallas Mavericks). He has running hooks and a lot of moves. I was so surprised.” Weber said how Tisdale and fellow freshmen Bill Cole and Mike Davis perform in the Orange & Blue scrimmage on Oct. 28 will be important in determining whether they redshirt. The team plays exhibition games Oct. 31 against Quincy and Nov. 6 against Kentucky Wesleyan before opening the season Nov. 11 at home against Northeastern. 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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ILGeorge wrote on Nov 9, 2007 6:31 PM:
TDOG wrote on Oct 13, 2007 2:37 PM:
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