If it's Christmas, and they're not in church, Bruce Weber and his wife are probably at the movies.

Watching another kind of film has become a holiday tradition – and that's a change from their past. For 15, 16, 17 years – "It might have been 18," he says – Bruce and Megan never saw a movie in the theaters. They caught "The Big Chill" back in 1983, and then took a nearly two-decade hiatus from the silver screen.

"We just never had time," he says.

Last Christmas, the Webers bought tickets for "Up in the Air." Bruce loved the George Clooney film. "I could relate," he says, and with a coach's travel itinerary it's easy to see why. He's reached Lifetime Platinum status with Marriott. He wonders aloud if American Airlines truly has an exclusive black card for ultra-frequent fliers. Thanks to an 18-year relationship with National Car Rental, he once used points to buy a vacuum cleaner and a John Deere riding tractor.

"Oh, it's great. I plow (snow) with it in the winter and mow the lawn in the summer."

Weber is still a hands-on, handle-your-business, do-it-yourself Midwesterner. That won't change. And change isn't something you often see in the Illinois basketball offices, from their marriage to man-to-man defense to their favorite television channels.

Wayne McClain, a sucker for home improvement, watches HGTV. Jerrance Howard watches whatever his baby boy wants to watch. (Fortunately, Jerrance Jr. adores hoops). Jay Price watches Food Network. And Weber?

"The Weather Channel," McClain says. "He can tell you if it's raining in Florida right now. Ask him!"

TV allegiances haven't changed. But something needs to. The same ol', same ol' isn't working, not since Illinois is 35-35 in the Big Ten since Dee and James left town, or since it failed to make the NCAA tournament for the second time in three seasons.

Due for change: The sideline pouty faces. It looks terrible on TV. And yes, the run-ins with players are magnified by the losses, but ESPN cameramen aren't dummies. They've found a pattern and they're zooming in. The losses at the Assembly Hall – an average of five per season the past three years – are getting old, too.

The NIT? How about NOT?

But not everything needs to change. Illinois should be so lucky to have a coach whose program, in May, will have graduated all 20 of the players that have completed their eligibility at Illinois, who has won 70 percent of his games at Illinois, who backed a solid 2009 recruiting class with a splendid one in 2010. He brings chicken soup to sick players, for goodness sakes. In an increasingly slimy business, being a quality person still matters, right?

In fact, change doomed the Illini. In the preseason Weber saw a roster that was more tender than tough, and he tried not to hurt any feelings. "Mollycoddle," as he put it. Once he ditched the kid gloves and unearthed his Keady roots, sensitivity be damned, the Illini played better.

"Honestly, Paul, this (downturn) goes back to a few recruiting classes," he said in a telling statement. "We went for home runs; Derrick Rose, E.J. (Gordon), guys we're probably not going to get, instead of solid guys that want to be here."

Honesty has always been a Weber hallmark. In an hourlong interview with News-Gazette basketball writer Paul Klee, Weber discussed everything from how he plans to avoid another disappointing season to the future of All-Big Ten guard Demetri McCamey to Bill Self's possible return to NBA prospect Meyers Leonard to transitioning into an empty nest. Here's what he said.

PK: You said in this (interview) a few years ago that your dog tore her ACL. Seemed like a bad omen. So how are your dogs?

BW: The dogs are good. I walked them this morning. Daisy's going to be 15. Benny's going to be 8. So they're hanging in there. I have to drag Daisy a little more on the walks and pick her up. Sometimes I have to carry her. They're good. They're my best friends.

They don't criticize you like I do.

No. They're nice to me.

You're going to have any empty nest soon. Does that mean more time in the film room or more time at home?

Emily will be the last one out of the house. And we have one getting married. My middle one, Christy, will graduate (from Illinois). They're all graduating. So we'll have three graduations in May. Hannah with her doctorate at Purdue, Christy with her undergrad here, my youngest one (Emily) graduates from high school. Then we've got the wedding in June. It's a big change. You kind of slowly – as the youngest one gets in high school and starts driving – you start to realize what it's going to be like. But then when she moves totally, it's going to be tough. I'm gone so much and so hectic and so busy, it will probably be even a little harder on my wife, because she's done so much for them and they've been so dependent on her.

Seven years now (at Illinois). Is being a Big Ten head coach the same job you envisioned?

I've said since the beginning, even being in the league at Purdue all those years. And you're around the program every day and all that stuff, so you know what I'm saying. I don't think I could have ever envisioned what this job was and the attention and the fans. It's a good thing but it's also a very tough thing. And I think it's anywhere in the country – because of Internet and talk radio and blogging and all that stuff. The opinion-without-a-face and having no consequences with what you say, that's even made it tougher. And that's probably everywhere. But when you multiply it here, with the attention, you've got so much interest here. At Purdue, they have one writer. They don't even get a writer from Indianapolis and they're an hour and a half away. And we can have seven to 10 people there. If you have success, with the run we had, everyone even wants more. And that's fine. That's what I want, too. But it makes it very challenging, there's no doubt.

You once went to church in Carbondale and got a standing ovation. Given the last few seasons, what's the response when you're in public now?

I'll be honest. I felt really down after Dayton. Actually, we had told the kids we would give them two days off anyway, just to put a carrot out there. I was going to let them go home and get away from it and hopefully get away from it and hopefully get reenergized for New York. So I was going recruiting in Chicago. I took my wife, and one of my daughters was on spring break. You're kind of hanging your head. And I was amazed at how many people came up and had positive things to say.

And even at the Final Four. There were a lot more positive responses than I ever dreamed of, to be honest. And basketball people, too. It's how you look at it. In some ways, some people think we overachieved. In other ways we underachieved. It was probably depending on a given day, when you watched us. That was probably the problem with the season. I tried to temper the expectations. But it's a fine line. The marketing people want to sell tickets and they're trying to create fan interest. But at the same time I knew how important Chester and Trent were, and even Calvin's competitive energy every day in practice. I knew about our leadership and our defense. I knew our freshmen were good. And they were good. When it comes down to it, when you compare them to a lot of freshmen around the country, they were really good. But at the same time you've got to be really special to be consistent, and they didn't have that consistency.

I expected in some ways to be up and down this season. Should we have won (against) Utah? Yes. If we win against Utah, you don't even play Bradley. You play Oklahoma State. There are so many things in play. I think the thing that happened, too, was when we played so good at times, the expectations were jumping up. At the end we were really good in the Big Ten tournament. That's up and down. Did we do what we hoped to do? No. I didn't think we lived up to my expectations. I hope it didn't live up to the players' expectations. And the fans, I've said it many times. I went home and no one could feel worse than me. So I understand how they feel. We hope the players feel the same pain and we can use it as a learning tool next year. But to get back to your question, we get the e-mails and some stuff off an on ...

What do the e-mails say?

Oh, shoot, we can get two-page e-mails on what we should have done. By the time we get off the plane from a road trip and they're already in the computer. I guess I was kind of surprised at how positive people were. But it goes back to the opinion-with-no-face. When they're face to face with you, they might be nice to you. In other places maybe not. I've had people say obnoxious things to me. But that's probably everybody. Even Thad Matta, some people in Ohio might be mad at him because he didn't get to the Final Four. The only ones that people aren't mad at are Duke and probably Butler. They're probably not mad at the guys at Butler.

What would you do if Demetri (McCamey) leaves?

We'd have to figure it out. We'd obviously have to figure out how to play somebody at point guard. I think Jereme Richmond could play. I think Joseph Bertrand could play it. You've got Jeff (Jordan). You'd probably have to do it by committee more than anything.

Will Demetri enter his name in the (NBA) draft?

I think there's a chance he might. We'll look at the advisory draft and talk to people and then make a decision. The NCAA has really narrowed the window now. These kids have really had us in handcuffs up until now: Are you coming back? Are you not? By the time they announce it's too late to get another player. It used to be June and you couldn't get another player. I guess that helps a little bit.

How concerned are you that he will leave?

I'm concerned. You know, if he's a first-round pick, I'm happy for him. He's got to go. Does it hurt us? Yeah, it hurts us. But a kid only has that window. If he's not ready my concern is to make sure he does everything right, so he doesn't get himself in trouble. Whether that's the agents, taking care of his classroom stuff, so he doesn't get himself in trouble. I don't want him hurt for life because some guy on the street told him, "The NBA guys don't know what they're talking about, you're a first-round pick."

If you add another player in this (2010) class, what are you looking for?

One thing we're looking for, obviously, is a backup point guard. Six weeks ago, or whenever it was that Demetri had that (good) stretch and his name popped up there, the first thing I said to the coaches was, "We better start looking ahead. Whether he's a first-round pick or not, we have to look ahead." We need to at least look around in case something happens. So a point guard. If we found somebody with a little toughness, I think we would look at that.

A power forward?

Yeah, a big guy. A power guy. We could use that.

You said there won't be any more "mollycoddling." What will you do, specifically, to make these guys tougher?

One, they have to do it. We can control the environment at little bit. I think one thing that will happen is you have four seniors. This is their last chance. If they want to play somewhere at another level, they've got to prepare that way, too. Everyone always uses the NBA stuff as a negative. Well, I'm using the NBA stuff as a motivator. If I can help them get ready for that, it's probably going to help us, too, as long as selfishness doesn't get in the way. And with Demetri, I got calls from NBA guys not because he scores, but because he passes. That was the first thing they said: "He's second in the nation in assists, he had 16 assists (at Purdue)." They said, "Last year we didn't know if he was a point guard. This year we think he's a point guard."

And it started (Tuesday) in practice. We were a little more demanding. We made them be a little more physical. Obviously the weightroom is going to be a key. Jimmy Price, our weight coach, if you go back, from Deron to Dee to Luther to James Augustine to Roger Powell to Brian Randle to Chester Frazier, if you look at their numbers at the camps, they're off the charts. Luther was No. 1 in the bench. James Augustine was up there. Brian Randle would have been one of the highest guys ever. Everyone says, "What the heck are you doing in the weightroom?" Well, sometimes it's the individual. Have we done what we need to? No. But sometimes it's a kid, it's his body, it's his attitude toward it. I think those guys realize it. Tis (Mike Tisdale) has already come in and said, "Hey, I've already gained eight pounds, Coach." But he didn't do anything for two weeks before that. That's his problem. His problem is that he burns it up so fast ...

But I see that as a significant problem, that he didn't put the work in. He's going to be a senior.

Well, weights are hard for him. He's 7-feet tall. He has long arms, long legs. It's painful. He has to learn to deal with that pain. He's got to make a total commitment to it. That doesn't mean he can't go fishing. It doesn't mean he can't go play golf. It's got to be a commitment. Mike made such a commitment his freshman year to put the weight on. He's gotten a lot stronger. He's probably five times stronger than when he got here. And it's in his legs. It's not up here. He gets beat because of his legs and that center of gravity and his long legs. I tell the NBA people: If they can redshirt him a couple of years and he finally reaches maturation at 23 or 24, which we're not going to see, that's when he could do things. What did he shoot from three?

86 percent or something like that. (Actually, 83.3 percent).

Yeah! And that's kind of misleading. But what happened with him is he put in too much time and it almost overwhelmed him. He got burned out a little bit. Then he backed off.

Coaches at the Final Four, they tell me Meyers Leonard is the one to watch, that he's the NBA guy coming in.

Oh, he might be the best – one of the best – NBA prospects in the whole class. But he's still young. He's immature. But it's going to be great for Tisdale. And it's (the projection) all based on physical ability. He's 7-feet tall. He has a wide frame. He's not going to be a real skinny guy. Then they see him run and they see his hands.

You know, I've told you this before, but Deron (Williams) came with us to Vegas to see them play. It was the game Crandall (Head) got hurt. But Meyers caught a lob, caught it, and dunks it backwards over his head. Deron looks at us and says, "I guess you got a (good) player." He has a ways to go.

So what do you expect from Meyers Leonard as a freshman?

He's a freshman. He's going to be a freshman. But I was on one of those radio shows and somebody wrote, "Illinois is going to have a monster season." Well, we'll see. Jereme (Richmond) really practiced well at the McDonald's (event). I bet I had 15 NBA guys come up to me and comment on him. But he says all the right things, does all the right things at those (events). He has to do that all the time.

So do you anticipate issues when he gets here?

Some of it is going to be us. Some of it is going to be him. Some of it is going to be the players. I hope he realizes he can't mess around anymore.

Luther (Head) said the other day he wants to be on campus at times this summer. How would that help?

One, for him, it helps him to play all the time. And he loves to play. Jerrance was talking to some of the Pacers and they were giving him (Luther) a hard time and teasing him about how Luther is always in the practice gym. They call it "Lu's Gym." And he's trying to survive, keep a job, stay in the league. Now if he can come and help Crandall and maybe help himself, it's great for all of us.

You said it's a "no-brainer" this should be a Top 25 team. What are your expectations next season?

Well, everything has to fall into place. And we were kind of a Top 25 team this year. If we make the right improvement and maturity and the recruits add something. The guy from the Nets called me (Tuesday). He said, "I saw you play about six times, Coach. Jereme Richmond is different than all the guys you have." So that gives you somebody that can make a play. We had to rely so much on Demetri making a play, creating, not only for himself but for everyone else. No one else could create, except for Brandon. Hopefully everyone improves, but if you add Jereme and those guys to the mix, hopefully it comes together.

What did you do on your furlough day?

Everyone had one. They gave you an opportunity to do the pay thing. So one day each month we're not getting paid.

Jay Price applied for another job (Wisconsin-Green Bay). Didn't get it. I know you want continuity on the staff, but is it good or bad your assistants are still here?

I look at Duke. Their staff has been basically the same. I look at Carolina. Their staff has been basically the same. Does it hurt to spruce it up a little bit here and there? Yeah, we added Jerrance two years ago. That gave us a different look, a different feel. You hope your guys become head coaches. It doesn't always happen. But you hope somewhere along the line it would happen. When you win, everything looks perfect from the outside. When you don't have quite the success you're supposed to, everybody questions.

If D.J. Richardson makes the three against Ohio State, or we got a call when Mike Davis gets the rebound, or we stop Evan (Turner) one time, now there's probably not anywhere near the questioning. And we get in the (NCAA) tournament and who knows what happens? We probably play Butler.

Speaking of, what did you learn from this Final Four?

Every time it's different. With this one it was defense and toughness.

The two things you need.

Yeah, it just showed the guys. I would always say it's usually having a lottery pick. If you have two, you're probably going to win it. That didn't happen this year, and I'm not sure why. Maybe because the lottery guys are younger now. All of those (Final Four) teams had seniors. There were a lot of juniors and seniors and guys with experience. I think that was another tangible they all had. Those guys had been through some ups and downs, survived some criticisms and had a great end to their story.

What is the current plan for the Assembly Hall?

There was some talk or buzz in January or February. Now I think we're starting to revisit it. The economy's picked up a little bit. But from what I know, until it all settles down it's going to be tough to really do something.

The 10-year reunion of the 2001 Illinois team is next season. Some of those guys will be back on campus. How would you feel if Bill Self came back?

I don't know if he would. A lot of guys stay away from that once they leave. It's like me going back to Purdue. Purdue had a 25th anniversary with Troy Lewis and all those guys. They called me and I said, "Well, we play each other." And I don't know if it's right. I don't care. If he wants to come and be a part of it, it's his team.

Will you go to Europe next year (for a preseason tour)?

Yes, I would like to. We'll go some place. It depends on the economy and everything. But we're able to go next summer. I would like to. I wish it was this year, to be honest.

Why don't you play more zone?

There wasn't one possession of zone played in the championship game. Does that mean it's a bad thing? No. I would tell you this: We had guys that weren't good in man-to-man defense, and when we played zone they were worse. They felt they had less responsibility. And you know who they are. I think it's not bad for a change of pace. And it's something we have talked about. We played it a handful of times during the season and the other teams always score. But they score against our man, too.

But to answer your question, I think the most disappointing thing to me is that it took us so long to make strides defensively. Either I didn't emphasize it enough early – we had so much to teach with so many new guys – but we didn't make strides until late. When it came down to it, it really came down to points, second-chance points, giving up free throws and turnovers that led to easy baskets. We didn't always have the physicality and the rebounding. We didn't have a backstop to our defense – somebody to take charges, somebody to block shots. And then we'd end up fouling and put people on the line. Then the turnovers that led to layups, that killed us. You can't stop a breakaway layup."

Do you expect Jeff Jordan to come back?

Right now he says he wants to. He was at workouts. I thought he gave us some positive minutes. I wish he would just go after it and really say, "I want to have a great senior year."

How much interaction have you had with his dad over the past three years?

He comes around. He talks to the assistants. But he has a lot of other stuff to take care of, too. He's just like a normal dad. It's not overbearing. It's not too little (attention).

Deron Williams or Chris Paul?

Obviously I'm biased and selfish. But I just think Deron. With his strength, his body, and he's perfect for that system, too. And Chris Paul is very good, too. A lot of it depends on who wins the most. I think he's taken his game to an elite level. They're saying he's the best point guard in basketball. If you're the best point guard in basketball, you're one of the five or six best players. Mark Jackson's saying it. You hear (Charles) Barkley saying it. Larry Brown. His feel for the game, his unselfishness, his will to win, his maturity. That's where he's made so many strides. I did go to the Jazz-Pacers game and they lost. I hope that doesn't cost them. Then I watched the whole Golden State game. He just killed them. He had 19 assists. I talked to him after the Lakers game. They don't have great matchups with the Lakers.

Will you have Deron back on campus this summer?

We're not going to do an event. He has the Worlds. So that's going to be probably a month commitment over July and August. So we decided not to do an event this year. We're looking at a reunion-type deal. If he has three or four days hopefully he can come back. If they go deep at all into the playoffs, they're at least into May or close to June. I hope we get him back some time. But we'll have to see.

How long do you see yourself at Illinois?

I know we have a lot to live up to. Hopefully we can do that.

But after missing the NCAA tournament, how much pressure do you feel for next season?

There was pressure this season. There's pressure next season. There's pressure every day. No one hurts worse when we don't have success than myself and the staff. To me, it hurts because we have such great fans and they're so supportive. I know everyone says they have the greatest fans in the world. But we've got to be in the elite group of fans. For the most part they're pretty positive and loyal. That's why I feel just as bad for them and want the program to be successful. The pressure? If you prepare and do what you're supposed to, that takes care of that.

I look at the rotation and you have some super athletes now. How does that change your scheme? Do you look to press? Do you want to run?

I tried to run earlier this year and it probably backfired. It's one thing to run, but it's another thing to pass and dribble. I guess I never anticipated that would be a problem. Plus, the majority of the time we had young guards. Two-thirds of our guards were freshmen. They had to adjust. I would like to run. But you just saw the national championship game there weren't many fastbreak baskets. And if you watch the next two months of the NBA, there won't be a lot of fastbreak baskets. You have to play halfcourt basketball. That's where Michigan State is able to play halfcourt basketball, but they also can get transition. They didn't beat Butler because they didn't get transition.

I would like to extend a little more (on defense). That's the problem. Everyone says, "Press." Well, that means Demetri sits. Mike Davis might be able to do it. We pressured with the other group, but we also trapped ball screens, trapped the post. It was kind of our own little system. But Tis (Tisdale) changes everything. He can play one way. But you would have to sub on the other end. And that's one of his goals, to be quicker and be stronger and not foul out all the time.