Moderator: Good afternoon everyone. Just back from vacation- time for another Illinois basketball chat. Be here 30-60 minutes. Fire away. Klee

randy , sherman, illinois: is mike tisdale going to be able to have success this year more than he has had in the past?

Moderator: Randy- Mike's playing as well right now as I've seen him play. His post moves are fluid and he's more comfortable. He's extended his range in pickup games (he wants to shoot the 3 more often) and seems to recognize he needs to be the first or second scoring option. I think he - more than anyone - benefits from what should be a much better passing team. The other day I asked him about Jereme Richmond and one of the first things we talked about was how Richmond, at 6-7, feeds the post well. It's a simple skill that's been lacking the past three seasons. Tisdale still needs to guard someone. That hasn't happened yet. If he goes for 20, he can't give up 22. You know I've been tough on him at times - but I expect a big season from Mike Tisdale. This season also will decide where he's playing next season, and he knows it. Klee

Pete, Chicago, Illinois: Klee, has Mike Tisdale returned to Champaign and did you hear how he performed with the USA Select team? Can you also give us an update on Tyler Griffey. Has he gained any weight? What is he making improvements on? Thanks in advance!

Moderator: Pete- Mike Tisdale's back in town and will talk about his USA Basketball experience this afternoon. I'll get something up on HQ soon after that.

Don't know that anyone spends more time in the gym than Tyler Griffey. He said a few weeks ago he wants to improve his quickness, defense - and most important - his conditioning. He wants to have the same wind at the end of a 10-minute stretch as he did at the start. His outside shot is money. But like the other frontcourt players, his defense needs work. Coaches have told me as much. Klee

Hopeful, Armpit, IL: Is Jerrance going to be coaching in Chicago this fall?

JE, Louisville, KY: If Jerrance Howard or Jay Price end up going to UIC who would you like to see on the bench. Personally i would really like to see them bring in a former UI bigman to the staff.

dj, Richardson, TX: Klee, with Jerrance Howard being approached by some suitor every few months, does it make sense for Weber to be pro-active and begin adding another "Howard" like recruiter to his staff? I know this is easier said then done but it does not seem to me to be a stable situation in regards to recruiting with Howard receiving and considering offers (possibly UIC) continually.

Matt, Troy, IL: Hi Klee,

What would you handicap the chance that Jerrance is the next HC at UIC? Obviously it would be a major hit to our recruiting efforts. And I know it's too early, but if you do think there is a legit chance that Jerrance leaves, any names come to mind as replacements? Thanks Klee.

Jimmy, Dallas, TX: Paul if Jerrance gets the UIC job, what impact would that have on recruiting, both current commits and future prospects?

Moderator: All- Jerrance has a serious interest in the UIC job. We've talked about that job in the past. He believes he can win there- and he wants to be a head coach. Whether there's a mutual interest - that's the bigger question. He'll put his best foot forward in trying to land an interview. Guys like Bill Self, Mannie Jackson, Steve Bardo, Deron Williams, Buzz Williams, Dee Brown, Chris Lowery, Kendall Gill and some others will or have called UIC on his behalf. I don't know if that has an impact on UIC's decision. Jim Schmidt may already have someone in mind. We'll see. The UIC athletics director would have to contact Ron Guenther first, and that hadn't happened as of yesterday. On any level it's mainly about getting players, and he would get players. Personally, I think it's going to be tough for Jerrance Howard to get this job. I don't think Illinois would let it happen right now.

To me, there's a pool of strong candidates. If he's not already, Tracy Webster should be on their list. But Webster has some other stuff in the works and he's tight with Howard Moore.

Coaches view UIC as a good job. Can't tell you how many have asked me what I think about it. Like we chatted about last week, it's a major rebuilding job.

As for the question about Dee Brown... he reiterated again two weeks ago that he has a lot of (playing) basketball still in his future. He's years from entering the coaching profession - if that's what he chooses to do.

Klee

Neil, Chicago, IL: How do you see the Big Ten shaping up this year? It seems like there is the Big 4 (MSU, OSU, Purdue and U of Ill) in the top 4, there is a middle tier with Minn, NU, Wisconsin maybe Indiana and and there is the rest (Iowa, Michigan, and Penn State)

Moderator: Neil- I see the same top four as you. The top three teams are Purdue, Michigan State and Ohio State. Illinois can crack that group - but it has the most to prove of that group. From the workouts I've seen since April, I believe Illinois can be very good. The Illini aren't tough enough, though. I told you that last offseason and it came to fruition.

A few weeks ago we asked Chester Frazier about the definition of toughness. Here's how he explained it:

"The will to win and wanting to compete and get better every day. You have to find guys who hate to lose, who will sacrifice some of their self for the team. Everybody wants to go to the NBA and get the individual accolades, but those things don't come if you don't win. Finding guys who want to compete night in and night-out and never take a play off, it's hard to find those guys these days."

Thought that summed it up.

And don't undersell Wisconsin - that's Rule No. 2 in the Big Ten.

Here's another thing that needs to change with Illinois. There wasn't anyone in the Big Ten that was scared of the Assembly Hall last season. Think about this. From 1999-2000 to 2005-06 - a span of seven seasons - Illinois lost four home games. From 2006-07 through 2009-10, Illinois lost 19 home games. You gotta get that homecourt mojo back.

Klee

chris, SF, CA: Klee, love the chats and the summer updates. Based on what you've seen, can you predict a starting lineup, and who's first, second off the bench?

Moderator: Chris- If the season started today the starting lineup includes McCamey, Richardson, Richmond, Davis and Tisdale. There will be as much or more competition for bench minutes as there will be for starter's minutes. Klee

Chris, Chicago, IL: Hey Paul,

Great job with the chats. Did you ever figure out Coach Weber's favorite pizza place in Lansing, IL? I just got a puppy that I named Bruce (after coach Weber) and wanted to take him there.

Thanks.

Moderator: Chris- I forgot to ask him again. He's been going there for 20-plus years while on recruiting swings through that area. They cut the pizza pie in smaller slices so he can eat it on the road. It's bugging me now. I'll ask him. And I hope your dog isn't that loud. Klee

Jim, Peoria, Illinois: You have been covering golf lately. Are there any top golfers coming to the Illinois program? Thanks.

Moderator: Jim- Good question. Right now it looks like Mike Small will add at least two players. One of them is particularly intriguing. Thomas Pieters is from Belgium and considered one of the top juniors in Europe. He wanted to play in college and Illinois was on him for some time. He'll be a freshman in the fall. And I believe Small will add a walk-on. His name escapes me. Illinois golf should be exceptional again next season. Klee

Brian, Yorkville, IL: Realistically, how deep will this team go this year? The depth on this team sort of reminds me of the 2001 Elite Eight team.

Moderator: Brian- That's a question I posed to Bruce Weber last week. It was one of several talking points in a staff meeting shortly before the second recruiting period. "It's up to me" how deep he goes into the bench, he said. I think he wants to go deeper with the bnch. But I think it mainly depends on two things: if the deeper-rotation guys are producing and whether the coach can break out of the habit of staying with a relatively short bench.

Weber said he wants to go deeper next season. Efficiency from the players is an example of how he can do that. I asked him about Mike Davis and here's what Weber said he'd like to see from the senior (who's playing well right now, for what it's worth):

"You don’t need 36 minutes to get the double-double," Weber said. "Get the double-double in 28 (minutes) and we'll get somebody else in there."

That's the quick answer. Hope it helps.

Klee

Moderator: Brian- You mentioned the 2001 Elite Eight team. Talked to Brian Cook last night. He said he considers two things as the highlights of his playing career thus far: the NBA Finals and that Elite Eight team at Illinois. Cook's in Los Angeles, working out with the Clippers, with whom he recently signed a two-year contract. He and his wife recently had a son, who's now 4 months old.

We'll have more from Brian Cook in Sunday's News-Gazette.

Klee

Jeff, Urbana, IL: Klee,

Great work on the chats! Do you think Tisdale has a spot in the NBA?

Moderator: Jeff- Not to this point, no. But I also saw Patrick O'Bryant for two seasons at Bradley and he went in the lottery. When you see those NBA guys up close, you realize how physical the game is. After Bruce Weber attended a Jazz playoff game against the Nuggets, he said that's the first thing that stood out to him. "It's just so physical," he said. Mike has a great opportunity to make a boatload of money playing basketball. This season will decide where he does it. Klee

Pogo, Springfield, Mo.: Paul,

Your chats and forthcoming information are simply the primary food for the Summer for Illini hoops fans. Thanks and I hope you or someone continues the work for decades.

Being a propenent of the level playing field and ethics in athletics, I would like your thoughts on what was recently posted about Anthony Davis' recruitment being dropped by UNC due to lack of payment to his handlers. Is this kind of backdoor evasion of the NCAA common? Can the NCAA stop it?

Moderator: Pogo- Thanks. I understand what you're referring to, but until there's a legit report I prefer to avoid speculation when someone's reputation is on the line. I enjoy message boards more than most - but they don't count. Klee

Marcus, Monument, CO: Paul,

Could Kevin Johnson out of CA be the PF we are looking for if Shaw goes somewhere else. Looks like he is High on the Illini but they have not offered?

Do you think Melo is on his way out?

Did you get some good fishing in?

Can't wait till the Huskers are on the schedule and Illini fans in CO will be making a road trip to Lincoln

Marcus

Moderator: Marcus- Illinois has been in contact with Kevin Johnson and his people over the past three weeks - and before that. So there's interest. Like we wrote last week, Illinois has a family connection with Kevin Johnson. Fishing was great- Caddis and Stimulators (with a dropper) were the choice. Carmelo needs to re-sign. And Nebraska will have a new arena by the time Illinois rolls through.

Klee

John, Washington, IL: I always enjoy the chats. Does the bkb program have a large catalog of pre-Flyin Illini games in their possession?

Moderator: John- Thanks. Old videos? I'll check. There's a collection of old media guides that has been invaluable at times. Send me an email (pklee@news-gazette.com). Klee

Moderator: Going to wrap this up- gotta run. Thanks for the questions and apologies to those that didn't get answered. See you in this space next week. Klee