Bruce Weber and his Fighting Illini squad return home after what looked to be a depressing road trip for the first 100 of the 120 minutes played... but what happened in that final half of play has set this team's sights back on big things. In statistically the greatest comeback in school history, we got to see a glimpse of what these guys should accomplish in time. Here are a few updates on the team.
Four point plays, blocked shots, and heady decisions were on display once again after the previous two games left fans wanting more... and the players too. I asked D.J. Richardson about the two games in Vegas and the feeling of having a target on your back. The freshman thought for a second and responded that he has played the game from both sides of that ticket. Last year at Findlay Prep, Richardson's team was touted as the top in the country... but things weren't always that way. "At the start of my career no one really feared us. We had to prove it and make our own name." And he's done just that for himself. Richardson currently ranks second in the Big Ten in three point shooting percentage, and word that he was feeling some discomfort in his foot have Illini fans cheering for the hard worker even more.
After his leadership at halftime against Clemson, Demetri McCamey should be recognized for keeping his cool. Even with three fouls, the junior point guard was ready to lead his team into the second half if they were ready to work. "I just said let's get this thing back down to ten (points) by the ten minute mark, and then we can make a run for it... We had felt the hurt twice after games hearing Bradley and Utah celebrate in their locker rooms, so this was a chance for us to get one of those." You could tell that he wanted be more active on offense, but it was everything else that he was doing that highlighted his maturity. "I couldn't be super aggressive like I wanted to because of the foul trouble, but at the same time I knew that I could help us win by making my teammates better." McCamey may have only had 2 points, but the team scored 26 points more than Clemson when he was on the court.
Brandon Paul is quickly becoming one of the fan favorites, and it's not hard to figure out why. From the hair to the hops, there's a certain flair about this kid that is catching on in Champaign. The question is, when a player gets off to a hot start like Paul did, does the pressure build? The first two games showed us that the freshman has all the potential in the world with back to back nights of reaching the 20 point mark. The next few games saw totals under ten... Now for a normal freshman, 8, 6, 5, and 7 points would be expected... was there pressure to score more because of the big start? "Coach talked to me about it, and he said that sometimes I let my offense affect the rest of my game. I just wanted to play defense and play hard, and the offense came back."
The Illini need to keep moving the ball on offense. In the 5 wins, the Illini are averaging 20 assists. In the two losses, the team is only putting up 10. Over Weber's time with the Illini, the team is 107-21 when dishing out at least 15 assists.
All 5 Illini starters are averaging in double figures.
Outside of Las Vegas, D.J. Richardson is shooting 12 of 16 from deep.
Brandon Paul is the second leading freshman scorer in the Big Ten.
Mike Davis is second in the Big Ten with 9.9 rebounds per game.
Demetri McCamey is second in the conference with 6.1 assists per game.
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