This isn't where the Illinois players want to be, playing in the NIT. It was NCAA tournament-or-bust for these guys. Truth is, with their spring break starting today, some of them would rather be on a beach somewhere than preparing for Kent State's visit Monday. That's just the way it is.

Regardless, Illinois returned to Ubben Basketball Complex for a brief practice today. For the players that meant a break from watching NCAA tournament games on CBS. At first it was tough to watch the Dance because they're not in it. But it's still college basketball, they're college basketball players, and protest-by-remote-control isn't going to change the committee's mind.

"I still watch as a fan. I know a lot of guys around the country who play, and a lot of people that are in the tournament," Mike Davis said today. "I saw Georgetown, my guys, fall out yesterday. I was kind of sad, felt bad (for them). In a way I still want to be in there and play.

"I'd rather go to the tournament and lose in the first round than play in the NIT and win it. Just to be in the tournament is a big deal. There's nothing we can do now. It's our fault, we lost 14 games, (games) that we shouldn't have probably lost."

The team's resident bracketologist, Davis has all four No. 1 seeds in his Final Four (Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, Syracuse). Dominique Keller has Kentucky winning it all. He's a John Wall guy. D.J. Richardson picked Kansas. Demetri McCamey stuck by longtime friend Evan Turner and is rooting for Ohio State to cut down the nets.

"I'm going to ride with my boy Evan. If I can't win it, it might as be somebody I know," McCamey said. "I'll ride with Ohio State and all the Big Ten teams. It's just trying to represent our conference and do well in the tournament."

So much for the trash-talking that was a big part of their Big Ten tournament clash last weekend. Water under the bridge.

"I think they can make it to the Final Four and get in the championship," McCamey added. "You never know with a player like Evan and Jon Diebler get going, they're real tough. They've got one of the best (starting) fives. But Kansas is pretty good, too, my boy Sherron (Collins). It's just going to be fun to watch."

-Jeff Jordan didn't play in the NIT opener at Stony Brook. Bruce Weber said he expects Jordan will return to the rotation Monday against Kent State.

"Jeff was not able to play. It was a team decision, a coach's decision," Weber said today. "He didn't take care of business like he's supposed to."

-Weber plans to attend Illini recruit Jereme Richmond's game at the state tournament tonight.

"I saw the first Whitney Young game (vs. Waukegan) and Jereme played as hard as I've ever seen him," Weber said. "I hope he can match it today."

That Meyers Leonard won a state title, and Richmond has carried Waukegan to the brink of one, bodes well for their future at Illinois, Weber said.

"I think any time you have a chance to learn how to be a winner, to be a champion, it's something you're always looking for from a coach," Weber said. "The best players usually - the guys that end up being NBA-special players - and I'm not saying it's a man, (but) they win in high school, they win in college, they win at whatever level they're at. That's a true test of a great player, whether it's a Deron Williams, he won at all the levels, and he's able to take his team there."

-Go Big Red. You too, Jimmer Fredette.

PKlee_IlliniHQ