Dee Brown is Illinois’ quickest, most aggressive and tenacious player. Coach Bruce Weber doesn’t want those attributes to be the star guard’s downfall.
Weber has cautioned Brown about reckless fouls and expressed concern over Brown’s tendency to commit them Saturday after Illinois’ 75-65 victory at Iowa.
“He’s had some calls go against him in the last couple of weeks,” Weber said. He then recalled Brown’s complaint after referees whistled him for three fouls in a span of 3 minutes 13 seconds in the second half.
” ‘Refs can’t take me out of the game,’ ” Weber said Brown told him.
Weber said he told Brown to calm down.
“He just goes and bumps somebody, and that’s where he’s got to be smart,” Weber said. “He loses poise for a second and gets a careless foul.”
Brown is not about to back down.
“No, sir,” he said. “People better get their mind right because I’m going to play like that no matter what. That’s physical, Big Ten basketball. We’re going to play like that. If you don’t like to play like that, then don’t show up.”
