UI guard Joseph Bertrand took part in more drills at the team's practice this morning, a positive sign for the freshman that underwent knee surgery in September.

Bertrand, who hasn't played in a game, participated in about 1/3 or 1/2 of practice, coach Bruce Weber estimated. The Sterling product also stayed after practice and shot jumpers with freshmen teammates Brandon Paul and D.J. Richardson.

Still, Weber said "something crazy would have to happen" in order for the Illini to insert Bertrand into a game and cancel his chances of qualifying for a medical redshirt. A redshirt remains the likely scenario.

"(It would have to be) an injury (to another guard) or we would have to hit a downslide," Weber said today. "He's still not close to being ready to play."

The coach said he spoke to Joseph and his mom, Lorita Bertrand, about the situation.

"We've got to approach it as if it's going to be a redshirt," Weber said.

Players are optimistic Bertrand will have an impact, though it probably will be later in his career.

"He's better than people think," Richardson said today. "Me and Joe, we've been in the gym a couple times since he got back healthy. He looks great to me. He looks like the same Joseph."

Though his conditioning is behind the other players, Bertrand won dunk titles in high school and his bounce appears to be intact. He was messing around with teammates the other day and bumped his head on the rim while attempting a dunk, Richardson said.

"I don't know if (athletics trainer) Al Martindale knows, but the other day we were in here doing dunks and he hit his head on the rim and he got a little cut right here," Richardson said, pointing to his forehead. "So he kind of looked back to normal. But he might be jumping higher right now."

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