No one will talk about a repeat Final Four appearance for Illinois next season. The Illini will have their hands full just trying to win a third straight Big Ten title.
Fans should enjoy this season’s run while they can because next season figures to test their patience. Illinois will lose three starters, and another is on the bubble.
“It’s going to be hard with all the older guys going,” freshman Calvin Brock said. “Because we got this far, there will be a lot of pressure on us.”
Recruiting coups might not come immediately for coach Bruce Weber, but the enormous success should pay dividends over the long haul.
Weber’s Illini are winning over children who have been glued to TV sets to watch the team. Weber hopes they are attracting future stars who might choose an Illinois jersey over one from Duke or Kentucky sometime soon.
“Seventh and 8th graders–when they become pretty good players, they will want to go to Illinois,” Weber said. “It’s a long progression.”
Weber, an assistant to Gene Keady at Purdue during coach Bob Knight’s heyday at Indiana, recalled the aura surrounding the Hoosiers and their appeal to high school players.
“When we first got to Purdue, we couldn’t touch kids in Indiana because of what coach Knight had done–going to the Final Four, winning a national championship, [coaching in] the Olympics,” Weber said.
Weber wants his program to have a similar advantage in recruiting the biggest stars in Illinois and all over the country.
For the time being, though, the Illini will be a work a progress for 2005-06.
So long
Illinois will take a heavy hit with its graduating class. Starters Luther Head and Roger Powell along with subs Jack Ingram and Nick Smith are four of Illinois’ top nine players.
At times it seemed they willed Illinois to victories in the tournament, wanting to stretch their college careers until the last possible second.
Head and Powell each finished with more than 1,000 career points. Despite a pulled right hamstring, Head was named to the Chicago regional’s all-tournament team. He flourished in his final season and led the team in scoring, just as he did with 21 points in the 75-70 loss in the NCAA tournament title game.
Powell, a three-year starter, played power forward for the Illini even though he was only 6 feet 6 inches tall. He was short for the position but loved challenging the taller guys.
He also gave the team an emotional lift. He became a licensed minister last fall, and his training made him more thoughtful and adept with his communication skills.
Ingram became the team’s sixth man; Weber called him a sixth starter. He hit clutch shots and made big defensive stops. He also exhibited patience in working with newcomers trying to grasp Weber’s tricky motion offense.
Junior Deron Williams’ departure will hurt the most. Although he has another year of eligibility, he has made his intentions clear. As long as scouts project him to be a first-round NBA draft pick–and several believe he could be a lottery pick–Williams will opt to play pro. His mother confirmed his plans Sunday.
He joined Dee Brown, Head and Powell as 1,000-point scorers, and he set the school’s single-season record for assists. He had 264 after his seven assists in the championship game.
Going?
Brown had his best season and will be hard pressed to top this season’s accomplishments. In February, he indicated he would try when he said he leaned heavily toward staying for his senior season.
He didn’t repeat that sentiment after Monday’s game.
“I’m just kind of disappointed about the loss,” Brown said when asked about his plans. “I’m just going to focus on spending more time with family and being a college student for the next couple months.”
Pressed for a response, Brown said: “Why are you talking about the NBA right now? That’s not even on my mind.”
If he stays, he will have the opportunity to play point guard full time to showcase his abilities to NBA scouts, some of whom question whether he is NBA material at the moment. His size–6 feet–is a sticking point for some.
On campus, Brown is a big star and he basks in the recognition. If he stays, the team has a legitimate shot at three-peating as Big Ten champion.
Coming back
James Augustine, a 6-10 forward from Mokena, said his return is certain. He is likely to be one of the best players in the Big Ten. The three-year starter played some of his best games in the postseason and was named the most outstanding player of the Big Ten tournament.
If Brown leaves, Augustine must shoulder leadership duties on his own, and that could be a problem. He has a laid-back personality and prefers to lead by example.
The team’s success will rest largely on the progress of Richard McBride, Warren Carter, Brian Randle, Shaun Pruitt, Marcus Arnold and Brock.
McBride, a sophomore, had a mediocre season and is not quick on his feet. He also has battled injuries, which could become a career-long problem.
Brock could pass McBride for a starting spot. He sat out this season as a redshirt but learned a lot from Brown, Head and Williams in practices. Brock, a 2004 graduate of Simeon, is recovering from a broken right hand, which should heal in time for off-season workouts.
“I learned a lot,” Brock said. “It’s a great experience because they’re some of the top guards in the country. It will help me a lot for next season.”
Randle sat out his sophomore season because he broke his left hand. More than anything, Randle needs confidence. He underrates his power and athleticism and is tough on himself when he feels he is not producing. His quickness will help the Illini next season.
Carter, a 6-9 wing, also boasts some quickness and good shot selection, but Weber has been reluctant to use him because he has trouble guarding smaller, quicker players.
Freshman Pruitt erred when he chose not to redshirt, but it’s too late to dwell on the mistake. He is in line for significant playing time, but Arnold will challenge him. Arnold, a transfer from Illinois State, sat out the season in accordance with NCAA rules.
Weber signed three recruits in November: Charles Jackson, a 6-7 forward from Buena Vista, Ga., point guard Chester Frazier from Baltimore and shooting guard Jamar Smith of Peoria Richwoods.
Weber has one scholarship left but could end up with two or three, depending on Williams’ and Brown’s future plans.
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mxgarcia@tribune.com
