CHAMPAIGN — D.J. Richardson has never been the rah-rah type of leader.

That's not his personality. So he's taken a different approach into this early season. He's leading by example. Before each of the first three games, Richardson has arrived at least an hour prior to the game-day shootaround to get up 100-plus additional jump shots.

"I love it because I can keep harping to our other guys: 'Look what's happening,' " coach Bruce Weber said after Richardson led Illinois to a 79-64 win against Lipscomb on Thursday at the Assembly Hall.

Richardson had 17 points. He had 20 in the previous game and, really, has been the team's only consistent source of scoring for Illinois (3-0).

"When you put a lot of work into it (and experience success), you have to be happy," Richardson said.

Other than the steady junior, the Illini offense has been out of control at worst, a work in progress at best. Illinois committed 43 turnovers against SIU Edwardsville and Lipscomb — a bad number if the opponents would have been Purdue and Michigan State.

"It wasn't against a press or anything," Weber said. "I didn't think we played strong. Their quickness bothered us."

"It's something we need to work on," said senior Sam Maniscalco, who had 15 points in his first start at Illinois.

"Early on in the season, it's not to be expected, but it's not too much of a shock. It's more of a mental thing as far as making the sure thing and not making the home run."

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An official's whistle is one of the few things to slow Meyers Leonard so far this season.

The big sophomore needed little time to pile up fouls Thursday. The first foul looked like a clean block, but he was whistled for the hack. The second foul appeared legitimate when he bumped a ball handler 22 feet from the basket.

He was out of the game less than two minutes after it started. The third foul came with 15:43 left in regulation. Again, he was subbed out of the game.

"Meyers got a couple little fouls and then could never get into the flow of the game," Weber said.

Prior to Thursday's foul-fest, Leonard had only two fouls in the first two games. He had been making an effort to keep himself in the game.

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The same week Crandall Head returned to the rotation, the family got more good news.

Former Illini Luther Head — signed to play in China. He will join the Jiangsu Dragons. The roster also includes Americans Dan Gadzuric (UCLA) and Mardy Collins (Temple).

In his season debut, Crandall Head had three points and four turnovers in 11 minutes. He was the lead guard for a stretch in the first half. Head didn't play in the first two games due to a suspension for an undisclosed violation of team rules.

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Illinois linebacker Trulon Henry attended the game and sat in the bleachers near the UI bench. The senior was shot in the hand early Sunday and will miss the rest of the football season. His right arm is in an enormous black cast as he recovers from the shooting.

Former Illini Stephen Bardo also took in the game Thursday. The ESPN analyst traveled to the Assembly Hall from a speaking engagement at Rantoul High School.

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Lipscomb (1-2) was playing without its best player, Jared Burgason. Coach Scott Sanderson said Burgason was suspended for disciplinary reasons.
 

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What happened
Sam Maniscalco got his first start at Illinois. Joseph Bertrand started the second half in place of Brandon Paul. Nnanna Egwu played more than
Meyers Leonard. Crandall Head is back. Devin Langford and Myke Henry were sidelined with injuries. There’s been little continuity to the early season and a 79-64 win against Lipscomb was no exception.

What it means
Illinois fans haven’t bought into these Illini – or they simply had something else to do Thursday night. The Assembly Hall wasn’t half full for a matchup with the Atlantic Sun visitor. Is it ticket prices? Is it a wait-and-see attitude? Was it the 8 p.m. tipoff? The style of play? It’s something, as maybe 2,000 diehards were still in the seats for the final four minutes.

What the Illini said
"I think the biggest thing he does is play to his strengths and away from his weaknesses. He’s really our best defender. He gets on the floor and makes plays." –Sam Maniscalco on D.J. Richardson, who led the Illini in scoring for the second straight game

What’s next
Illinois (3-0) meets Richmond (2-1) in a Cancun Challenge semifinal on Tuesday (8:30 p.m., CBS College Sports). The Mexico games will be played in a 1,200-seat gymnasium at the Moon Palace Resort. And the Spiders present the first challenge on the Illini slate. Richmond advanced to the Sweet 16 in March but had to replace its two best players.
 

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ILLINOIS 79, LIPSCOMB 64
LIPSCOMB (1-2)
Mar. Smith 0-3 0-0 0, Glenn 2-5 0-0 4, Z. Williams 2-8 4-6 8,  Arnett 5-7 3-6 17, Boyd 6-11 0-2 16, Sanderson 0-0 2-2 2,  Alexander 0-5 0-0 0, D. Smith 2-6 1-1 5, Mal. Smith 2-10 6-7 10,  M. Williams 0-5 2-2 2. Totals 19-60 18-26 64.
ILLINOIS (3-0)
Griffey 2-6 1-2 5, Leonard 3-4 2-2 8, Maniscalco 4-7 6-6 15,  Richardson 7-12 0-0 17, Paul 6-12 0-3 12, Bertrand 3-5 5-6 11,  Head 1-3 1-1 3, Abrams 1-3 2-2 4, Shaw 0-1 0-0 0, Djimde 0-0 0-0 0,  Selus 0-0 0-0 0, Egwu 2-3 0-0 4, Berardini 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-56 17-22 79.
Halftime—Illinois 33-26. 3-Point Goals—Lipscomb 8-20 (Arnett 4-4,  Boyd 4-6, Mar. Smith 0-3, Z. Williams 0-3, Alexander 0-4), Illinois 4-14  (Richardson 3-5, Maniscalco 1-3, Griffey 0-1, Abrams 0-1, Head 0-1, Paul  0-3). Fouled Out—Z. Williams. Rebounds—Lipscomb 33 (Mal. Smith 8),  Illinois 43 (Bertrand 8). Assists—Lipscomb 10 (Z. Williams 4), Illinois  11 (Maniscalco, Paul 3). Total Fouls—Lipscomb 21, Illinois 26. A—13,503.