The chants of “Chief Chief†rising into the Pasadena canyons last Tuesday were the moans of an Illini nation, dazed and embittered, trying to balm itself in the comforts of tradition. Perhaps if they incanted the name of their cherished minstrel show mascot, he would hop out of the carbon haze and heal them with another last dance.
Thorough whippings of the sort that transpired at the Rose Bowl and Wednesday night in the Assembly Hall can cause these kind of disorientations, these kind of regressions to the basest of means in a fan base. But, while defeat is always a tough teacher, it is also a good motivator.
After the two recent upset losses and an 0-1 start in conference, it is clear Weber has a team that has yet to find any measure of a groove and faces an uphill climb. But after one conference game, the Illini share that status with at least nine other league rivals. With the exception of Michigan State and Indiana, there isn’t a single Big Ten squad without one or more bad losses on its ledger. With a two and half marathon ahead the death knells for the Illini are premature. Weber’s teams do not go away without a good fight.
Hitting The Broad Side Of A Barn
While Chester Frazier’s struggles at the point are a concern and the need for McCamey to become an instant sophomore is evident, the boobirds in the Assembly Hall trying to pin it all on the former would be wise to consider that the Illini are mired in an overall shooting slump that is too out of proportion to continue.
With respect to their conference rivals the Illini are last in free throw percentage, 9th in field goal percentage, and last in three-point field goal percentage at an abysmal 28%. With even middling shooting percentages, the Illini would be sitting on at least two or three more wins and a record that would look pretty good at this juncture considering their tough schedule.
As Northwestern proves year after year, even a well-coached offensive system depends on players hitting open shots. Illini shots should return to more wholesome percentages sooner than later. Whether this will happen soon enough, as in today against a Penn State team that has enjoyed a month long, six game winning streak, to keep the Illini nation from holding Chief Illiniwek séances remains to be seen.
Heading To Champaign
6’4†Rich South sophomore Crandall Head, brother of Luther, is expected to give the Illini a verbal after the completion of today’s game. It will be the second verbal from the class of 2010 and another reason for Illinois fans to continue their love/hate Weber schizophrenia.
Frosh Meet Senior
Northwestern obviously can’t allow Jamar Butler to do another Jimmy Chitwood imitation today in Columbus. They also will face a long and talented frontcourt tandem in Hunter and Koufos that they have neither the height or bulk to match. Given Cornley and Claxton’s 40 point dominance of Northwestern Wednesday night, Koufos and Hunter should be an equally formidable challenge. Wildcat faithful hope the early start will catch the Buckeyes sleepwalking.
Wildcat frosh point guard Michael Thompson, one of the bright spots for Carmody this season, should learn a lot today by playing against one of the conference’s senior stalwarts in Butler. And speaking of hitting shots, Craig Moore and the other Wildcats need to find the bottom of the net early and often to stay in this one.
