Bruce Weber still didn’t want to call it a suspension. And Shaun Pruitt refused to comment about whether he felt his “did not play’’ against Ohio State had been a deserved punishment.
But both seemed willing to put the incident in the past Sunday night when the senior center returned to action, albeit in a reserve role, against Northwestern.
The punishment was the result of some type of over-the-top reaction from Pruitt in the wake of the team’s poor start in the Big Ten. An emotional guy got emotional, but Pruitt tried to explain himself after playing 19 minutes and scoring nine points Sunday.
“Sometimes I let frustration get the best of me and my emotions,’’ he said. “Sometimes I think I’m misunderstood, but it’s my senior season and I’m frustrated about some of the losses. I’m competitive and get emotional and I go out there hard and sometimes I get frustrated. It might not always be as positive as I want it to be, but my intentions are always good for my team.’’
Weber made the decision Sunday to play Pruitt but to start freshman Mike Tisdale at center. He apparently saw what he wanted from Pruitt the previous two days of practice.
What happens from this point remains uncertain. Things are changing at Illinois and maybe Pruitt’s role with change. Chester Frazier continues to come off the bench in favor of freshman Demetri McCamey. Rodney Alexander moved back into the starting lineup Sunday for the first time since Dec. 1.
But my guess is that Pruitt will regain his starting job Wednesday against Michigan State if he gives Weber what he wants in practice until that time – play hard and have a good attitude.
“Shaun has to have a positive attitude and can’t be a distraction and that’s what’s important,’’ Weber said. “It was a culmination of the frustration of not winning and not playing as well as anticipated. When it affected the whole team and staff, we had to make a decision. I didn’t like it. … I don’t think he liked it. I don’t know if the team liked it.’’
Pruitt responded well on the court and even had two rarities. He deflected a pass on the perimeter, made the steal and dribbled in for a dunk. He also made all three of his free throws.
Come Wednesday, the whole incident is likely to be forgotten.