CHAMPAIGN - "Oh, no, not again." When Brian Randle hobbled off the court at the Maui Invitational last Wednesday, every Illini fan who follows the basketball team had to gasp with that kind of thought. Sitting directly behind me at the Lahaina Civic Center, I could actually hear a distraught Illini fan utter those very words.

"Oh, no, not again."

During his star-crossed Illini career, Randle already has undergone four surgeries. One was self-induced (he punched a wall in disgust, breaking his hand), but most of his problems seem to have sought him out. If there's an ankle sprain hiding somewhere on the floor, the good money says it will jump up and attach itself to Brian Randle.

When he's healthy, Randle is as fine an athlete is there is in the country. No one jumps higher. Few have more high-flying grace around the basket. And when he can clear his body and mind of aches and pains, Randle is truly a joy to watch play.

Then an opponent bangs into his knee, the nerve goes numb and Randle crumples in a frightening heap. When he tried to climb to his feet last week, he could not feel his foot, prompting him to tell coach Bruce Weber, "It might be broken."

Randle wasn't trying to be dramatic. He was scared and, given his history, who could blame him if he feared the worst?

The good news is that Randle's leg was not broken. It was a bruised nerve and with some luck, he will be able to go full-speed at practice today.

"On Saturday, he only did some shooting," said Weber, who needs Randle to be 100 percent for Wednesday night's game at Maryland, part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. "(Sunday) he did some shooting with some running. We're trying to help him find some confidence in his leg.

"He is slowly getting the feeling back. One toe, then the next. I guess he has feeling in his foot now and hopefully the calf muscle. It's a little bit of cautiousness on his part because of all he's gone through.

"There's a chance he might not be able to play (Wednesday) but the doctors and trainers think he should be OK."

The doctors have tried to reassure Randle by telling him he can't do any more damage by playing on the still-tingling leg.

Randle is crucial because this is not a game Illinois is likely to win short-handed.

Now in his 19th season at Maryland's head coach, Gary Williams' teams have been nearly unbeatable in non-conference home games. The Terrapins' record over that stretch is 129-2, so there would not appear to be much wiggle room. Plus Maryland won in Champaign last season.

That said, this is not one of Maryland's finest teams, not yet, anyway. It's a young, up-and-coming group and if there ever was a chance to go into the Comcast Center and steal one, this is it.

But that chance diminishes significantly without Randle.

Roses anyone

Steak or lobster? Lobster or steak?

Illinois' football team is patiently playing the waiting game as college football's bowl picture will finally come into focus this weekend. Illinois' destination will hinge on a handful of games to be played Saturday but the reward would appear to be somewhere between very good and great.

Illinois has finished its regular season with a 9-3 record and could still be in line for a Bowl Championship Series game if things break right. That could include an invitation to the Rose Bowl, if Ohio State can wiggle into the national championship game.

Just two-and-a-half weeks ago Ohio State looked like its national title dreams had blown away when Illinois won in Columbus. But things have worked out nicely for the Buckeyes, especially if there's a little cooperation this weekend. LSU's loss to Arkansas opened the door. Now, perhaps, Ohio State can walk on through.

Ohio State's fate hinges on the outcome of two games to be played on Saturday. Top-ranked Missouri meets Oklahoma in the Big 12 Conference title game and No. 2 West Virginia takes on Pittsburgh. If either Missouri or West Virginia loses, Ohio State is likely to step into the national championship game.

That would clear a spot in the Rose Bowl and although the Rose Bowl committee is not obligated to pick a Big Ten team, there are indications they'd like to maintain the traditional Big Ten vs. Pac-10 matchup and an Illinois vs. Southern California game would give them that.

There are other games that could impact the Illini and their BCS hopes, too. Hawaii losing to Washington would be a help. Arizona upsetting Arizona State could help. UCLA knocking off Southern Cal could help.

And if things don't work out for the Illini in Pasadena, Calif., or at another BCS bowl site, there's still the Capital One Bowl Jan. 1 in Orlando, Fla., most probably against Florida.

Either way, Illinois enjoys a certain comfort level this weekend, kicking back and watching it all unfold, all the while knowing they're in pretty good shape.

Illini linebacker Leman named Lott finalist

Leman a Lott finalist

Illinois senior linebacker J Leman is one of four finalists for the fourth annual Lott Trophy. The other three finalists are LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis and Virginia defensive end Chris Long.

The Lott Trophy is designated to honor college football's top defensive player based on his performance both on and off the field.

Leman was a unanimous all-Big Ten choice, a mid-season All-American and a finalist for the Draddy Trophy for academic excellence. The Illini captain is a senior from Champaign with 124 tackles, 40 more than anyone else on the team. Illinois was the most improved team in the country, going from just 2 wins in '06 to 9-3 this season

The winner will be announced Dec. 9 at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, Calif.