Bruce Weber has stressed to guard Alex Legion that the first shot he attempts in a game should be something inside the 3-point arc, a high-percentage shot that might boost his confidence and ignite something bigger.

Legion couldn’t have asked for…

The Illinois starters have received a severe workout the last two games as coach Bruce Weber has shortened the bench and increased their playing time. The starting five was up to the task Sunday when the bench received fewer minutes…

Time to empty the notebook after the Illini hold onto second place in the Big Ten, one game behing Michigan State:

Demetri McCamey might have played his best game of the season in today’s win over Wisconsin. Not a smack-you-in-the-face kind…

Time to empty a full notebook after another halftime lead got away at Michigan State:

I have a feeling I know what you’ll read in every game story in the morning after Chester Frazier grabbed the attention of writers after the game by…

Bruce Weber hasn’t stopped talking about the Illini’s shabby defense against Michigan since the teams met in Ann Arbor 10 days ago, and he continued with that theme Tuesday. How the Illini respond Wednesday night, he figures, will go a…

Time to empty the notebook while hoping the freezing rain doesn’t strand me in Detroit:

The Illini lost a game today that by no means hurts their resume in the grand scheme of things. Michigan has defeated Duke and UCLA and…

It will be interesting to see how Illinois guard Alex Legion fares Sunday when he returns to his home state with the Illini to face Michigan. Remember, Legion committed twice to the Wolverines during his high school days only to…

Time to empty the notebook after making the 90-minute drive from Mackey Arena to the Champaign Courtyard while contemplating what I just watched and listening to “Dear Science” by TV on the Radio. …

The intensity and physical nature of the…

The Illinois basketball team returned to Champaign after the Braggin’ Rights game, making the slow crawl up Interstate 57, and the players were free to head home for Christmas the following day. Getting back to Champaign hasn’t been so easy.

Coach…

Bruce Weber emerged from Saturday’s 31-point win over Detroit with a growing concern about turnovers as the Illini prepare to face the fullcourt pressure that comes when you play Missouri.

Illinois committed a season-high 20 turnovers Saturday night after losing the…