Box score

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STONY BROOK, N.Y. - Despite a stat line that would make almost any lead guard proud, Demetri McCamey trudged into the postgame locker room.

"He doesn't feel he played great," coach Bruce Weber said after Illinois beat Stony Brook 76-66 in the NIT on Wednesday. "But his numbers are pretty good, there's no doubt about that."

You could say so. With 16 points, nine rebounds and 11 assists, McCamey nearly became the first non-Peorian to snag a triple-double. Only Sergio McClain (Manual) and the late Mark Smith (Richwoods) have scored the rare feat at Illinois.

The biggest concern for Illinois (20-14) was whether it would perform like it was interested in playing in the NIT. Being excluded from the NCAA tournament felt like a sucker punch to the gut.

A sluggish start for the Illini, who trailed 7-0, made you wonder if they were in it to win it, or simply in it because the boss said so.

"Every time you step on the court you should have fun. If you're not, you're in the wrong sport," McCamey said. "Basketball is about having fun and trying to win and being a competitor. Everybody, I think, on the team had fun tonight."

That's the second time McCamey has approached a triple-double. As a freshman, he had 10 points, eight rebounds and 11 assists in a game at Minnesota. Wednesday he also played 40 minutes for the fifth time this season.

"I told him he had to be very good tonight," Weber said.

***

Jon Diebler who?

After Bryan Dougher made like the Ohio State sharpshooter, draining five of 10 three-pointers, Illinois heaped praise on the Stony Brook sophomore.

"I told the guys it's the best three-point shooter we're going to face all year," Weber said.

And it might not be a case of hyperbole. Dougher hit a step-back three in the first half and showed his snap-quick release on a deep three in the second. D.J. Richardson moved onto Dougher and briefly slowed him down.

Dougher still finished with a game-high 21 points. There were visions of Diebler - minus at least five inches - who hit 17 threes in three games against Illinois.

***

At the final buzzer, Weber spent an extra minute with Stony Brook sophomore Tommy Brenton.

The 6-foot-5 Brenton doesn't really fit a position but battles like a lion that just had its tail stepped on. In so many words, Weber said he wants one of those.

"I told him he's a tough - and I can't say the other words here because I don't want to get in trouble - but I told him he's a tough kid," Weber said of the postgame chat with Brenton. "We knew it watching the film. I love guys like that."

Brenton has led the America East in rebounding in each of his first two seasons. He had six boards against Illinois.

"Actually we need somebody like that, to be honest," Weber said. "If we had one tough guy that knocks you on the ground and not help you up. Our guys knock them on the ground and pick them up and say, 'Sorry.' He's not doing that."

***

When Stony Brook raced ahead 7-0, with enough crowd noise to make your ears ring, the Illinois players had the uh-oh look. Two minutes into the game, Weber called timeout. Guns 'n Roses' "Welcome to the Jungle" blared over the loudspeaker as the Illini huddled in front of the bench.

"Maybe it was a nice jolt to our guys, a little shock treatment," Weber said.

Illinois responded with an 8-0 run.

***

Selection Sunday was a Long Island-sized bummer for the Illini, who gradually are moving forward with their postseason. The postgame news conference, however, wasn't all smiles for the Illini. The NCAA tournament starts today, and don't blame the players if they toss a remote through the TV screen.

"We've talked all week about just making something happen in the NIT," Davis said. "Just moving on to next year, as far as getting ready for next year, winning a championship, learning how to win a championship. Then hopefully we can make a run (in the 2011 NCAA tournament)."

***

Illinois' rare venture to the East coast wasn't a complete bummer for its fans.

Not for those on the East coast, at least.

"This is a dream come true for me," said David Lee, a UI graduate in the Class of 2007.

For Lee, who lives on Long Island, it was a 30-minute trek to Stony Brook. For his buddy Matt Hegel, a UI grad in the Class of 2006, it was a slighly longer trip from his home in New York City.

"With Illinois in it," said Hegel, one of about 100-something Illinois fans wearing orange at the game, "It makes the NIT relevant. It's more games."

Since the Assembly Hall wasn't available due to a scheduling conflict with Cirque du Soleil, the top-seeded Illini hit the road. They wore their home whites and were introduced second. Lee and Hegel both said they wished the game had been moved to Huff Hall. The school decided that wasn't an option, however, though Weber said he wished it was.

***

Wednesday's game, televised on ESPNU, was Stony Brook's first appearance on national TV. It was Illinois' 22nd since Christmas. Stony Brook's first postseason game was Illinois' 32nd. Stony Brook is in its 10th season of Division I basketball. This is Illinois' 104th. Illinois won on the road in the NIT for the first time and moved to 6-3 alltime.

***

Top-seeded Illinois (20-14) will face fourth-seeded Kent State (24-9) in the second round of the NIT at the Assembly Hall on Monday. Game time was set for 7 p.m. and it will be televised on ESPNU. Illinois beat Kent State 69-61 in overtime last season at South Padre.

"We barely survived that thing," Weber said. "It's not going to be easy."
-Paul Klee