Illinois coach Bruce Weber went into Saturday night’s game with Memphis a worried man.
“It has put us in a bind,” Weber said of the fractured jaw that guard Deron Williams suffered in Thursday’s rout of Maryland-Eastern Shore. The injury will sideline Williams for at least three weeks.
“My fears and doubts about the weaknesses of our team really showed in the Providence game (Tuesday’s 19-point defeat) and now one of our strengths is gone so it complicates it even more. Coaching is very humbling. You can be on top of the world, and then things like this happen.
“Memphis is very tough. We have to have somebody rise up and play better than he has all year. Who’s going to handle the ball? Who’s going to score?
“We have to find some scoring from somebody and have the crowd carry us emotionally.”
The fired-up sellout crowd in Assembly Hall did some heavy lifting Saturday. And so did freshman guard Richard McBride, who began the night averaging less than a point per game. McBride, who led the way with 22 points, repeatedly scored timely baskets as the Illini rallied from a 10-point first-half deficit to win 74-64 at Assembly Hall. James Augustine added 21 points for Illinois. Rodney Carney led Memphis with 18 points.
Early in the game, the Illini (6-2) seemed lost without the multitalented Williams. Not only was he tied for second on the team in scoring (12.9 points per game) he also was the leader in assists (6.6) and steals (1.7) and the top rebounder among the guards (3.3).
Brian Randle, the 6-foot-8-inch freshman forward who had started the first two games of the season, was back in the starting lineup as Williams’ replacement and Dee Brown moved from off guard to point guard to direct the offense.
But the offense sputtered as Memphis (4-2) capitalized on the Illini’s mistakes and poor shooting to take a 19-9 lead. During this dismal segment Illinois missed 12-of-15 shots and turned the ball over seven times.
But then the Illini scored 14 unanswered points to take the lead on McBride’s fastbreak layup. Carney and Sean Banks then hit back-to-back shots from three-point territory to put Memphis back up by four points.
Again, the Illini counterattacked. Augustine scored from underneath to bring them within two points and McBride brought the crowd to its feet by sinking a three-point shot at the buzzer to send Illinois to the dressing room with a 28-27 lead.
The Illini still only made only 9-of-32 shots and 7-of-14 free throws in the first half. Memphis didn’t shoot the ball much better, connecting on 11-of-30 attempts from the field and 2-of-5 from the foul line.
Memphis regained the upper hand early in the second half before McBride led a 20-3 rampage that sent the Illini surging to a 52-37 lead. Continuing his stellar shooting, McBride sank three three-point shots during the spree.
It was the Illini’s fourth game in eight days but also their third victory. Illinois pauses for exams before returning to action Dec. 23 against Missouri in St. Louis.
