“We’re hoping for a breath of fresh air,” coach Bruce Weber said. “If that can happen, maybe we can make a change rotation-wise and advance our lineup a little bit.”
This week will be interesting for the Illini, who get back to work at the Assembly Hall with a visit from Western Carolina. Miami of Ohio visits on Thursday night. Then it’s off to St. Louis for the annual Braggin’ Rights Game on Saturday against Missouri.
The Illini have to get over their last game, an overtime loss Dec. 8 to Arizona at the United Center. Illinois blew a 12-point second-half lead, largely because it made only 10 of 22 free throws.
“The biggest thing is to continue to make improvement, and the thing that comes to mind is finishing games,” Weber said. “Free throws would be part of that, and finding a go-to guy and getting guys to play with poise and relaxation down the stretch. Those are easier said than done.
“We’re putting extra time in on free throws, trying to put them in tough situations in practice. We know that doesn’t simulate game conditions, but we have to get them to realize how one or two plays does make a difference.”
The loss to Arizona, as well as the one Nov. 28 at Maryland, still bothers Weber.
“We have to understand how fragile games are, and how fragile seasons are,” he said. “Now we have to find a way to beat a team we’re not supposed to beat down the road.”
They won’t get a chance to do that until Big Ten play begins next month. In the meantime, getting his veteran players on track is the issue.
“Chester [Frazier], [Brian] Randle and Shaun [Pruitt] need to be real consistent,” he said.
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And he expects more from some younger players, too, like freshman backup guard Demetri McCamey.
“It would also help if Demetri started giving us more too,” he said.