My Bad, Illini Nation

By Have Jumpshot Will Travel (a.k.a. Trashtalk Superstar)

In two previous posts ("After All These Years," "Deep Thoughts on Friday's Games") I predicted that Illinois would not get into the Tournament and argued why they should not get into the Tournament. My partner (not that kind of partner-jeesh, get your minds out of the gutter), Mark Buckets, also made an argument against Illinois' Tournament aspirations in his "General Musings..." post.

My bad. Illinois is Dancing. Yay!

But remember Illini fans, even if a girl agrees to dance with you, it doesn't always mean that you have a shot with her. Sometimes a dance is just a dance. She may even grind up on you, but it doesn't necessarily mean that she's really interested. That dance may be all you get. Well, Illini fans, to continue with this over done analogy, the Illini may be have been granted a dance, but they aren't getting in this girl's pants.

First, let me congratulate Bruce Weber and his coaching staff. It was quite an accomplishment to get this team into the NCAA Tournament. If someone had told me, in October or November, that Illinois would make the NCAA Tournament, I would have suggested that person consider rehab (hey, don't knock it - everybody's going to rehab these days). The fact that the staff has taken a team this mediocre to the NCAA's is all the proof I need: Bruce Weber is one hell of a coach.

Heading into the season, I thought Illinois would struggle to reach .500. I thought that simply making the NIT would be a major accomplishment for this team. Watching, in person, as the Illini had to eek out come from behind, last second wins against Miami (Ohio) and Bradley in the Chicagoland Invitational at the Sears Center only reinforced my opinion.

The game of college basketball revolves around guard play; teams only go as far as their guards take them. The point guard is the most important player on any college team. Successful teams typically have a point guard who protects the ball, controls the flow of the game, recognizes and attacks defenses with penetration, hits open shots, is automatic on free throws and pressures the opposing point guard.

Chester Frazier is the only point guard on the Illinois depth chart. Having only one point guard is unheard of. But when that point guard frequently commits turnovers, often fails to read defenses, makes frequent questionable decisions, and can't hit open shots or make free throws, you may as well throw in the towel. At least Frazier is a good defender.

The other guards are 2 guards with limited abilities. Paired with Frazier at the point, Rich McBride (poor decision maker, unathletic, one dimensional spot-up shooter), Calvin Brock (limited offensive game, questionable decision making, small forward forced to play the 2, inconsistent over all play) and Trent Meacham (one dimensional spot-up shooter, 2 guard forced to play the 1, turnover prone, questionable defender) leave Illinois with a Swiss cheese back court - i.e., full of holes. It's hard to believe that this is the back court of an NCAA Tournament team. There must be a magic shop that comps Bruce Weber on smoke and mirrors. He's had to use a lot of them with this group.

The front court is the strength of Illinois' team. Unfortunately, that's not meant as a compliment. It's more a reflection of the shaky nature of Illinois' back court. Shaun Pruitt, although big, is not particularly athletic. Questions remain about his ability to read defenses and make good decisions. Suspect, too, are his court vision and ability to pass out of the post. But Pruitt has improved quite a bit since the start of the season. He's becoming a better post defender and his offensive game (both in terms of his awareness, and his ability to score) has expanded. Still, he has a long way to go.

Illinois doesn't have a go to guy, someone who they can rely on when in need of a basket. Warren Carter is the closest thing they have. He's an offensive minded forward who doesn't look to score in the post. His offense comes from jump shots and mid range turnarounds. He can put up big numbers, but will often disappear when the game is on the line. Defense is not the strength of his game.

I'll give Brian Randle a pass due to his health. The dude had groin surgery in the middle of the season. He was back in the lineup shortly thereafter. Randle's game is all about his athleticism. The surgery has limited his ability to move. He is supposed to be this team's best player. It's not his fault, but he just isn't very effective this year.

Bruce Weber has gotten far more out of this team than I thought possible. The players have played with more intensity and urgency than I expected. The Illini are as tough a team as one can find. But they just aren't that good.

Illinois is not a team that can make a deep run in the Tournament. They scraped, fought and overachieved their way (barely) to an NCAA invite. Their seeding (12) is evidence that they were one of the last teams, if not the last team, to win the approval of the Tournament Selection Committee.

Congrats Bruce Weber. Congrats Illinois. Congrats Illini Nation.

You get to dance with this chick, but she's way out of your league. Enjoy it while you can - hell, grab a feel if you can - because one dance is all you're going to get.