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January 4, 2005
The University of Illinois’ men’s basketball team is having a pretty good year. Ok, that might be the understatement of the season…but how did it all happen? Coach Bruce Weber is only in his second year with the team, and last year they were a five seed, losing to Duke in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Newsflash; Illinois won the Big Ten outright last year for the first time in 52 years, and this year, their perfect record has kept them at number one for five straight weeks. This is the school’s fourth best start in its 100-year history. While this is only their third time ever at #1, Illinois literally is a prime example of a small team taking giant leaps in the right direction. They have all the right elements and the perfect coach for the job. Yet it takes more than just talent to manufacture a prestigious college program in today’s game…
The first piece of the puzzle starts with the man in the suit. The coach is the leader of the pack; the symbolic figure of the team. He’s the one who sets the tone, mentality, and game plan. He has a tough job in trying to find a medium between discipline and cruelty, and at the same time be a positive role model off the court. Last season Bruce Weber became the new head coach, replacing Kansas-bound Bill Self. Weber, now 48, not only introduced a motion offense, but he also established a distinct, positive atmosphere. In addition to the energy and determination he emits, he is also very personable, helpful, and warm. Weber leads by example, and his motivation and inner drive became evident this year when he returned to the court less than 24 hours after undergoing an emergency appendectomy.
Another necessity for a competitive program is that the coach emphasizes the idea of working as a team. A one-man show rarely ever works in the end. Coach Weber has done a great job with promoting this concept. Illinois is known for its quick ball movement, moving without the ball, and unselfish guard play. They lead the nation in field goal percentage and assists because of this. In their match-up against Wake Forest, the team had 27 total assists. In fact, junior guard Deron Williams is the third player in Big Ten history to lead the league in assists in each of his first two seasons. The last players to do so were Magic Johnson (MSU) and Bruce Douglas (Illinois). Although Williams broke his jaw Dec. 11, 2003, and had it wired shut, during this span, he lost 25 pounds and became one of the quickest guards in the game. He’s also second on the team in scoring and reaps the benefits from their pass-first mentality.
The next step is recruiting players that are smart and not likely to cause trouble outside of basketball. Controversies and scandals can be some of the biggest distractions and disruptions within a program. Schools’ reputations and the players’ confidence in the school are so vital in the recruitment process. However, Illinois has done an excellent job in picking winners. One prized recruit is forward Roger Powell, Jr., of Joliet, Illinois. A well-liked person in high school, Powell was homecoming king both junior and senior year and starred in the school’s musical. Studying to be a Pentecostal minister, he almost decided to quit basketball at one point. However, he kept at it, got his ministry license, and is now referred to as “the Rev.” While the quick 235 pounds, 6’6” senior creates match up nightmares on the courts across the country, outside of basketball he brings a half-dozen teammates to weekly Bible sessions. If that’s not team bonding, I don’t know what is. Powell continues to preach the two H’s—humble and hungry. He says they will be very successful if they continue to practice them both. If Illinois stays hungry for success, you might see them cutting down the nets in St. Louis.
Now, there seems to be a misconception that a team can win without chemistry. (The Yankees might be an exception to the rule, but didn’t they lose the American League Championship Series after winning the first three games in the series? That’s what I thought.) Well, there is nothing stronger than a team’s bond and nothing more durable when all else fails. They sweat in hours of practice together, travel hours away together, and play 40 minutes of ball together. If they didn’t get along or have a feel for each other’s capabilities, it could get pretty ugly. Chemistry is definitely essential for everyone to be on the same page.
Out of Chicago’s Manley High School, senior guard Luther Head is another valued recruit. He almost quit the team last season after being suspended six games for various infractions. Weber stepped in, asked him to stay, and now he is one of the most underrated players in college. Although he is overlooked for fellow guards Williams and Dee Brown, he leads the team in scoring and steals and is known for his dunking ability. That’s proof once again that the leadership and inspiration of the head coach can cure all.
Coach Weber’s influence should also have a big impact on James Augustine, the junior center from Mokina, IL, who is looking for a breakout season. “Augie” stands tall at 6’10,” and in high school was the starting quarterback until his senior year when he chose to focus on basketball.
Probably the most famous Illini is point guard Dee Brown, out of Maywood, Illinois. Basketball isn’t the only sport the 6’0” junior played in high school. He also was the starting quarterback at Proviso East, where he got recruiting overtures to play football for Florida State and Nebraska. His high school is known for basketball greats though, as Glenn “Doc” Rivers and Michael Finley graduated as Pirates. Brown, who idolizes Philadelphia guard Allen Iverson, is nicknamed “The One-Man Fast Break” because of his speed up and down the court. He is elemental in Illinois’ transition offense since the majority of it comes from the open floor. In fact, he is the 36th player in school history to score over 1,000 career points. Though it’s hard enough to keep up with Brown, there are four other players on the court with talent, speed, and a little point guard in them too.
Amazingly, ten out of fourteen players on the team are in-state recruits, including four of five starters. In fact, the three juniors and two seniors that make up the starting five are the same crew from last year. So, Weber not only prides himself with a dangerous, explosive group, but the team is also experienced and versatile.
Illinois isn’t the only program that recognizes the importance of recruiting locally. Michigan State coach Tom Izzo is also well known for discovering local gems. Izzo has eleven of fourteen players from in state, and Washington and Texas also have a solid core of local players. As far as the regular teams in the top 25, the average number of in-state recruits is about 5.5. On the other hand, the top teams with the least number of local players are Louisville and Arizona. Recruiting locally benefits both the players and coaches though, as it will likely take less time to adjust to the college town for the diaper dandies already familiar with the state. It also makes it more convenient for family and friends to come and support them in person, as well as for the coaches, to scout and visit local players instead of losing a lot of time traveling around the country. Coaches have more opportunities to find underrated players capable of developing instead of focusing on a few of the biggest high school stars in distant states.
So it seems that the school from central Illinois knows what it’s doing with its basketball program. Its talented weapons love to run the ball to keep away from the half-court game, and in turn, beat their opponents by wearing them out. And oh, how they’ve beaten them. They’ve completely dominated everyone, never trailing in the second half and holding the lead for about 96% of the games they’ve played. It’s hard to control them in transition, but it might be even harder to defend their three-point shots. Head, Powell, and Brown are all shooting over 43% from behind the arc. Though the Illinois program has been soaring over the past years and present, it still lacks the tradition and respect that Mike Krzyewski and Duke University have earned from many years of accomplishment. But in time, with Bruce Weber at the helm, and with Illinois following right in Duke’s wake, the Fighting Illini ship can and will outlast all.
Sara Normand is a writer for AllSportsEmpire
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