Hester recuperating

University of Illinois senior forward Jerry Hester this morning underwent successful surgery for a herniated disc at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.

“The doctors felt it went well,” UI coach Lon Kruger said of the 50-minute procedure. “There was nothing negative.”

Kruger said Hester should be released from the hospital by Wednesday.

“He’ll walk later today, hopefully,’’ Kruger added this morning.

Hester is averaging 14.2 points and 5.6 rebounds in five games.

His back problem surfaced in Hawaii, when he played 13 minutes in a loss to Louisville and sat out a win over Virginia Tech.

Against Cal on Dec. 3, Hester scored 20 points, had four rebounds, three assists and two steals. He has not played since.

No break.

The schedule says two weeks off. Theresa Grentz says full steam ahead.

While the UI’s women’s basketball team breaks until a Dec. 27 game at Purdue, Grentz and her assistants are on the road scouting prep talent of all ages, from seniors to freshmen.

Monday night they were watching games in the Chicago area.

“The younger players, you have to get in with them now,” Grentz said. “You have to let them know you’re interested now. I can’t show up in three years and say, ‘Here I am.’

“You can’t take anything for granted.”

Grentz would love to use a national ranking as a recruiting tool. For the past three weeks, the Illini have received one vote in The Associated Press Top 25 poll.

In rankings released Monday, the Illini are 1 of 7 Big Ten teams recognized. No. 9 Penn State, No. 18 Wisconsin and No. 21 Iowa are ranked. Northwestern, Michigan and Purdue received votes.

The Illini last were ranked in 1988. They were as high as No. 12 in 1981.

“In order for us to get ranked, we’re going to have to beat ranked teams,” Grentz said. “It’s not going to happen prior to that.”

The Illini, 7-2 and riding a four-game winning streak, get their first chance Dec. 29 at Wisconsin. It is part of a rugged stretch that has the UI playing six of its next eight games away from Huff Hall.

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