 Sunday evening, my 8-year-old, Peyton, and I headed for Chambana to
take in the annual Orange and Blue scrimmage. My mom, Dorothy,
joined us for a glorified practice with 10,000 fans dressed in
orange in attendance. After a rocky start -- I don't mean to the
scrimmage, I mean to my admission to the Assembly Hall (they didn't
think any of the "season" media passes should be accepted) -- the
evening commenced and several individuals (how about 10?) caught our
eye. So, in true David Letterman fashion, I give you my top 10
reasons to be optimistic about Illini hoops:1. Shaun Pruitt
-- The senior from Aurora spent the morning and early afternoon in
Chicago along with Illini coach Bruce Weber and Brian Randle as part
of the Big Ten media day. The 6-foot-10 center looks like the best
big man in the conference -- and no, Hoosiers, I haven't forgotten
about oft-injured D.J. White. Pruitt could very well average 20
points and 10 boards a game and is Illinois' best back-to-the-basket
post player since, gulp, Deon Thomas. Shaun looked OK at the
scrimmage, but I expect big things from the big man!
2. Brian Randle -- This fifth-year senior probably has his
picture in the dictionary beside the definition for "bad luck."
Randle, one of the nicest and smartest kids to ever wear an Illinois
uniform, has battled injuries and foul trouble for most of his
Illinois career. But the 6-foot-8 Peoria Notre Dame graduate is an
incredible athlete and looked on Sunday like he was ready to take
the season by storm. Here's hoping Randle can have a Brian Cook-like
senior year and finish his Illini career on an extreme high note.
Also, I was amazed at the number of No. 42 jerseys being worn by
kids Sunday (including my favorite 8-year-old from Chestnut). Brian
is a real fan favorite.
3. Rodney Alexander -- The Benton Harbor, Mich., native who
played two years of junior college ball was known for his
athleticism and his ability to defend. Sunday night, the 6-foot-7
wing put on a shooting clinic -- nailing five 3-pointers and showing
much-needed range. I'll be stunned if Alexander doesn't play big
minutes most of the year, and the combination of Randle, Alexander
and Pruitt is an awfully strong inside combination. Weber shared
that Alexander can even play some two guard -- and he may need to do
just that at times this year. When Rodney signed with Illinois is
the spring, very few even in Illini nation took notice. This might
be the best "quiet" recruit in the Bruce Weber era.
4. Chester Frazier -- Michigan State coach Tom Izzo calls
Chester the "toughest player in the Big Ten," and although he didn't
play Sunday night due to injury, he still made his presence known on
the sideline, serving as an assistant coach. He seems to really be
the leader of this team and now must do his best to stay healthy --
something that proved very difficult last season. Frazier will never
be confused with Dee Brown offensively, but the word on the street
is that Frazier's shot has improved dramatically in the past eight
months.
5. Mike Tisdale -- I know what many of you are thinking,
because I've heard a bunch of Illini fans say it -- "Tisdale is
nothing more than another Nick Smith." Or maybe "he's just a big,
white Class A player -- he'll never do nothing at Illinois." And my
response to you is really simple: You are wrong -- dead wrong. I
wasn't sold on the true freshman from Riverton when he committed to
Illinois halfway through his junior year in high school, but the
7-foot-1 center looks ready to make an impact -- this year! In my
opinion, he is already ahead of sophomore Brian Carlwell in terms of
backing up Pruitt, and don't be surprised to see Tisdale and Pruitt
play side by side at times -- giving Illinois a true "twin towers"
alignment. Tisdale can post and Tisdale can score facing the basket.
I can't wait to see what the giant from Riverton does at Illinois.
6. Calvin Brock -- I really like the redshirt junior from
Chicago and had hoped Weber would settle on him at the two guard
spot this year. That doesn't appear to be happening, and many think
Calvin will back up Alexander and Randle at the wing position
primarily. Brock played at a great high school -- Chicago Simeon --
and the thought was that he could develop into a really solid
college guard. While no one is writing on the 6-foot-5 wing, I'm
wondering if he will end up like another Simeon grad, current
Decatur resident Bryant Notree -- an incredible athlete who never
really found a true college position on the court. Brock is a
ridiculous athlete -- and my guess is Weber will do his best to put
Brock in situations where he can capitalize on his natural,
God-given abilities.
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7. Trent Meacham -- From all accounts, the junior walk-on
from my high school and my home church in Champaign has the inside
track on the starting two guard spot this year. A player with good
ballhandling skills, the knock on Trent has been a lack of D1
quickness. But Sunday evening, Meacham looked really good at times,
blowing past defenders on his way to the hoop. While I think Weber
will play two point guards for large stretches this season, Meacham
is a fan favorite and has the ability to make open jump shots. If
Trent can play the defense Weber demands, a bevy of minutes could be
available to the 6-foot-2 guard night in and night out. P.S. Trent's
high school teammate and friend Steve Holdren -- a transfer
from North Dakota State -- is also eligible and could be the "hired
gun" needed to make 3-pointers in crucial comeback situations.
8. Demetri McCamey and Jeffery Jordan -- Both are true
point guards, true freshmen and solid students of the game. One
played for a legendary high school coach -- Gene Pingatore from
"Hoop Dreams" fame -- and one is the son of the greatest player in
the history of the basketball. McCamey could become really special
at Illinois and if the team didn't have Chet Frazier, would probably
be looking at 35 minutes each game. My guess is Weber will bring
McCamey along slowly, but I could be wrong (it actually happens all
the time -- just ask my wife) and a greater early impact is
possible. Jordan, on the other hand, might have been the most
impressive freshman at the scrimmage -- mainly because I had zero
expectations for M.J.'s firstborn. Jordan looked like a true,
functioning point guard, and several times was able to get
separation from his defender and take an open jump shot. Granted, he
missed most of the shots, but give Weber and crew a couple of years
and Jordan's shot will be much more consistent. I think both guys
are four-year players and really leave Illinois in good shape at the
point guard position -- the most important position in the college
game.
9. Billy Cole and Richard Semrau -- Both guys are
6-foot-9 power forwards, both guys enter the season with very little
in the expectation category, and both guys looked pretty good Sunday
night. Cole, the Peoria Richwoods grad and son of Illini football
stud Terry Cole (think '83 Rose Bowl season), showed a nice touch
from the outside and a willingness to set picks and get his
teammates open for shots. Not every player can be a superstar, and
Cole seems to realize his best chance at contributing early on is by
being a true team player. Semrau, the redshirt freshmen from the
state of Ohio, looks fully recovered from his injury and illness
struggles of last season and is in many ways a mirror image of Cole.
You can never have too many 6-foot-9 guys who can shoot and rebound,
and my guess is both guys will see the court at times this year.
10. Crandell Head -- The little brother of Illini legend
Luther Head, he is already 6-foot-4 and is just ready to begin his
sophomore season in high school. But Head became the latest to
commit to Illinois and now gives Weber yet another athletic wing
player to go along with 2009 commits D.J. Richardson, Brandon Paul
and Joseph Bertrand and 2010 commit Jereme Richmond (a top 10 player
nationally). Head is said to be every bit as athletic as Luther, and
many think he could grow to the 6-foot-6 or 6-foot-7 range -- and he
is another great get for Weber and crew. By the way, what a great
month for Illinois recruiting news since Jerrance Howard came on
board. Way to go, Snacks!
Some of you are probably thinking, "Taylor needs to put down the
orange Kool-Aid," and you may be right on the money. After all, the
geniuses in the media decided Sunday that Illinois was destined for
sixth place in the conference -- their lowest preseason slot since
the Lou Henson era. But that's OK. I say the glass is half full. I
say I'll take Bruce Weber and crew over the other coaching options
in the conference. I say let the games begin. And my guess is that
when March rolls around, three things will have taken place. First,
Illinois will finish better than sixth in the conference. Second,
Illinois will be heading the NCAA tournament for the ninth
consecutive season. And third, Weber will be mentioned for
conference coach of the year. Full of Kool-Aid? Probably -- but it
sure tastes good on Oct. 29 and it definitely beats the
cup-half-empty hater perspective.
[By GREG TAYLOR]
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