Young, Talented Buckeyes Are Next Test for Illini: Team Has Never Dropped Three Straight Games Under Weber
By David Wilhelm, Belleville News-Democrat, Ill.
Jan. 6–CHAMPAIGN — How will Illinois handle the heat when No. 6 Ohio State visits Assembly Hall at 1 p.m. today?
The Illini, still dogged by injuries and desperately looking for a leader, dropped to 12-4 overall and 0-1 in the Big Ten on Wednesday when they lost 71-61 at Michigan. Five days earlier, they fell 65-59 at Xavier.
Coach Bruce Weber hopes the Buckeyes (12-2, 1-0) will provide a fear factor that will shake the Illini’s lethargy. Under Weber, Illinois never has lost three consecutive games.
“Ohio State is as talented a team that’s come in here since I’ve been here,” Weber said. “We’ve got a tough task in front of us. They can score a lot of points, and they have a lot of weapons. We’re going to have to play good basketball.
“Maybe we’ll worry about surviving. Maybe they’ll be scared a little bit. Fear in the stomach is sometimes a good thing.”
Illinois hasn’t lost to Ohio State in Champaign since Jan. 30, 1999, a 64-61 decision in a miserable season that saw the Illini finish 14-18 overall and 3-13 in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes have lost five in a row and 10 of 11 at Assembly Hall.
Despite their struggles, the Illini have grabbed the attention of Buckeyes coach Thad Matta, a native of Hoopeston, Ill.
“They’re experienced and have veterans that can shoot the basketball,” Matta said. “They have size and speed and are well-coached.
“We have to play great team defense becaue they have great balance. I can name eight guys that can come in and have a good night. It will be interesting to see how the game goes, because they have some bodies they can throw at us.”
The Illini, however, are nowhere near as healthy as Weber would like. His news conference Friday sounded all too familiar: Chester Frazier (foot), Warren Carter (hip) and Brian Randle (abdomen/groin) still are hurting. Frazier and Carter were unable to practice Thursday.
With physical limitations being such an obvious factor, no player has come close to filling the void left by Dee Brown, whose charismatic leadership helped calm the rough waters during his four-year career has been missed this year. Brown now plays for the Utah Jazz.
“I’m not trying to make excuses, but we’ve gone through a lot,” Weber said. “We haven’t had enough guys in practice because we’ve had injuries. And Rich (McBride) is in a funk.
“When you don’t have your older guys producing, giving you leadership and making plays … Instead of making plays, they’re just kind of running around feeling sorry for themselves.”
Center Greg Oden is one of the reasons the Buckeyes like their chances to win the NCAA Tournament. The 7-foot, 280-pound freshman has averaged 15.4 points and 8.7 rebounds since a right hand injury sidelined him for the first seven games.
“Greg Oden is a great player,” Weber said. “I think he’s also a great person. I think he’s a winner. When people ask me to compare him to somebody, I think of Bill Russell.
“I was young, but Bill Russell was about championships. Just watching Greg Oden in high school and in AAU, he didn’t always have the numbers, but his teams won. That’s what he cares about.”
Senior Ron Lewis, averaging 15.4 points, and senior Ivan Harris, averaging 10.1 points, add to the Buckeyes’ firepower. Ohio State’s top scorer, freshman Daequan Cook (15.6 points), does his damage off the bench.
Four Buckeyes have at least 26 3-pointers: Cook (31), junior Jamar Butler (29), Harris (28) and Lewis (26). Freshman point guard Mike Conley Jr. has 92 assists and just 27 turnovers, while Butler has 59 assists and 23 turnovers.
“Conley is really good,” Weber said. “He’s a winner. He plays to win. He’s great with the ball. He has a great feel for the game at point guard.”
Sophomore Jamar Smith will be back in the starting lineup for Illinois. Smith, who’s close to 100 percent healthy after a high ankle sprain, replaced McBride in the loss to Michigan.
“The positive is that every road team has lost,” Weber said of the Big Ten race. “No one’s up on anybody. If you’re going to compete and be in the upper half of the league, you have to win your home games. The other good thing is we don’t go to Ohio State. If we get them, they don’t have a chance to get us back.”
Contact reporter David Wilhelm at dwilhelm@bnd.com or 345-7822, ext. 22.
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Copyright (c) 2007, Belleville News-Democrat, Ill.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.
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