Tate: You're missing a good show

Video of the UI-Corpus Christi game - link

 

CHAMPAIGN – A big chunk of ticket-owning regulars – thousands of you – were disguised as empty seats as Illinois posted its second basketball victory in a half-filled Assembly Hall on Sunday.

Here's what you missed. Here's what some of us think we learned about the squad asked to serve as transition to Bruce Weber's hotshot recruits.

First of all, the 31-15 second-half burst against Eastern Washington on Friday and the 28-12 first half of Sunday's 72-53 defeat of Texas A&M- Corpus Christi accounted for 40 consecutive minutes of the best we can hope for.

"We played as hard and defended as well as any team I've coached during that 15-minute stretch in the first half Sunday," Weber said. "We lost some intensity in the second half and Corpus Christi made some shots, and we didn't put them away like we could have."

The Islanders were due to make something. After taking an early 10-5 lead, they made one field goal in the next 18 1/2 minutes as, unbelievably, they were outscored 28-2. So if the Illini lost intensity, it's understandable. The Illini finished with 22 assists on 27 field goals, shot 81 percent on free throws, made a big hit on Weber's play-hard chart and received an uplifting 20-point, 14-rebound double from lanky sophomore Mike Davis.

Talking about practice

"Davis and (Demetri) McCamey have the potential and the athleticism to be our best players," Weber said. "I keep telling them that. I'm trying to get them to play hard every day because going through the motions, even in a shootaround, creates bad habits."

It won't come as a shock for everyone to know that Weber and Allen Iverson wouldn't get along.

"Practice? Practice! We're talking about PRACTICE," Iverson once harangued.

"Yes," would be Weber's answer.

Davis didn't start the UI's two exhibition games. McCamey didn't start Friday or Sunday. Weber is striving to make a point. He knows they are good. He is determined to make them better ... this season and as leaders when Alex Legion and the four signees come aboard.

McCamey, who became a playmaking force last season and particularly in the Big Ten tourney upset of Purdue, has yet to hit his stride. Even so, he bagged 13 points and doled out three assists in 31 minutes Sunday, not quite matching Chester Frazier's eight assists in 27 minutes. Frazier might have had more but Weber gave Jeff Jordan 16 minutes in front of his dad, Michael Jordan, who sat in the north bleachers protected by two security men.

Getting physical

If senior Calvin Brock has slip-slided in these two games – he has never been consistent – Trent Meacham has shown improved athleticism on a healthy ankle mended in the offseason. Meacham is maturing like many fifth-year veterans and is no longer the doubted townie. He put up a quality line for the second time, getting Weber's attention by drawing three charges in a tough-nosed defense while contributing 14 points and four assists.

Meacham still faces the challenge of producing when better opponents emphasize his presence. He won't get many free looks from the arc in Big Ten play. But experience has its benefits and his improvement is encouraging.

Up front, Illinois needs muscle and, after a trying adjustment period, could get it from juco transfer Dominique Keller. He is unorthodox but quick and explosive.

"It has been a tough learning period for Dominique," Weber said. "He has felt like 1,000 things were coming at him, figuring out how to run motion or how to guard a ball screen or a down screen. Coach (Wayne) McClain just told him to play hard and 'get your nose bloody.' Dominique has been frustrated."

With Legion coming and Keller making strides, this could yet evolve into the kind of physical team that Weber likes. That said, it isn't clear how the rotating centers, Mike Tisdale and Richard Semrau, will fit in. Tisdale's defense left questions, and Illinois spent 13 minutes Friday without either on the court, and another 10 minutes without either Sunday. In fact, Semrau played just two minutes in the second half Sunday. The center position is still a work in progress.

Loren Tate writes for The News-Gazette. He can be reached at ltate@news-gazette.com.

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