CHAMPAIGN —Chester Frazier said he would consider the words of medical personnel when deciding whether he can return for the NCAA tournament.

The senior guard also said he's going to make the decision largely on his own gut feeling.

"I need a Chester Frazier clearance. It's basically up to me," said Frazier, who missed two Big Ten tournament games after undergoing surgery on a broken hand.

"This is my career. It's my life, it's my hand. Nobody else can tell me what to do with my body. I've been throwing it around my whole four years here. It's all-out right now. It's the end of my career, so I've got to make the most of it."

No. 5 Illinois plays No. 12 Western Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA tournament at 9 p.m. Thursday in Portland. Frazier said Sunday he's going to be reevaluated Tuesday. Coach Bruce Weber said the team has considered a unique form of hand protection if — and that remains a big if — Frazier decides he can return.

"They were just talking about a batter's glove or a receiver's glove and then put some padding in there," Weber said.

Frazier is not wearing a cast, but a soft wrap. He was hoping Illinois would play Friday to give him an extra day of healing, adding, "My main focus is getting back on the court for this week. That was my time frame. I'm not worried about anybody else's time frame."

Teammates said they expect No. 3 in the rotation for his third NCAA tournament.
"(When the bracket was released) he was jumping up and down, saying, 'Take my cast off!'" sophomore Mike Davis said. "I think he's ready to go."

Asked about CBS analyst Seth Davis predicting a Western Kentucky upset, Frazier said, "They pick them wrong all the time. Nostradamus was wrong."

And which team would Nostradamus pick — Illinois or Western Kentucky?

"I hope he's picking me to play this weekend," Frazier said.