By Chris Hine
CHAMPAIGN -- After Illinois' 73-68 loss to Northwestern on Saturday, coach Bruce Weber banned his team from speaking with the media. The reason, he said, was that they could not talk to anybody else until they started speaking with each other -- a ploy Weber is using to inspire someone to take a leadership role.
Well, the Illini may have taken the first step in that direction Sunday, Weber said, when they held a players-only team meeting.
"I guess some of the things I said after the game, maybe somebody at least listened," Weber said Monday. "Now I don't know what happened in the team meeting and we'll see if we've made progress here today and tomorrow into the game on Wednesday and through the week if it did any good."
CHAMPAIGN -- After Illinois' 73-68 loss to Northwestern on Saturday, coach Bruce Weber banned his team from speaking with the media. The reason, he said, was that they could not talk to anybody else until they started speaking with each other -- a ploy Weber is using to inspire someone to take a leadership role.
Well, the Illini may have taken the first step in that direction Sunday, Weber said, when they held a players-only team meeting.
"I guess some of the things I said after the game, maybe somebody at least listened," Weber said Monday. "Now I don't know what happened in the team meeting and we'll see if we've made progress here today and tomorrow into the game on Wednesday and through the week if it did any good."
The Illini travel to Penn State on Wednesday and it seems like every
time the two teams get together, the game is decided in the final
possessions. Such was the case earlier this season, when the Illini won
54-53 at Assembly Hall.
Weber was none too pleased with his team's effort in Saturday's close contest, and is looking for someone to assume leadership of his team in games like that.
"I guess that was a positive step that somebody called a team meeting," Weber said. "Now, did everybody show up and did anything get done? I don't know, we'll have to see."
Weber added that part of Mike Davis' sluggish performance Saturday may have been due to a bout with the flu. Davis had just four points in 23 minutes, and was plagued with foul trouble.
"He thought he'd be OK, but obviously he didn't get much done," Weber said. "So maybe he didn't feel well, I don't know."
Weber was none too pleased with his team's effort in Saturday's close contest, and is looking for someone to assume leadership of his team in games like that.
"I guess that was a positive step that somebody called a team meeting," Weber said. "Now, did everybody show up and did anything get done? I don't know, we'll have to see."
Weber added that part of Mike Davis' sluggish performance Saturday may have been due to a bout with the flu. Davis had just four points in 23 minutes, and was plagued with foul trouble.
"He thought he'd be OK, but obviously he didn't get much done," Weber said. "So maybe he didn't feel well, I don't know."
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Way over his head got Weber and IL into the final game. Way over his head got Weber and a no talent team into the NCAA tourney last year. Recruiting was bad until Howard took over. McCamey should be the man but isn't a man and won't be until it's too late. Add Jereme and Meyers next year, another Head, and Bertran, and then he'll have enough talent to run a full court press, always, well over his head. He's not going anywhere, but keep screaming, ladies. It's so becoming.
Maybe the players need to tell Coach Weber to keep quiet on the sidelines. His constant yelling even bothers me when I watch the game on TV--I can only imagine what it does to players on the court. Let them make their own decisions on the court and not yell every single instruction out to them. No wonder they don't shoot free throws well and cannot finish games--unfortunately, hallmarks of Coach Weber's teams the past 5 years.
I'm glad Illini fans all over are starting to realize Bruce Weber is in way over his head as a high major D1 coach.
He simply cannot motivate players to play hard on a consistent level and his motion offense is easily guardable when players are stagnant, which they are most of the time. Players have drowned out his hoarse voice scream-a-thon and he's left alone to pout on the bench and throw his players under the bus postgame.
I believe his losing record in the Big Ten and being winless in the NCAA Tournament post Dee Brown and James Augustine is testament enough to whom the real coach Bruce Weber is.
Poor Bruce! I love me some self-righteous disgust.