ANN ARBOR, MICH. -- Demetri McCamey and D.J. Richardson like to motivate each other by setting what are usually unattainable goals before games.

McCamey once told Richardson he wanted to make 13 3-pointers in a game.

"I don't think that's going to happen,'' McCamey said. "It's just crazy things we do before the game to get ready to play.''

On Tuesday in their hotel room, McCamey informed Richardson that he planned to shoot for a triple-double against Michigan. Never mind that the 6-3 guard never had grabbed more than eight rebounds in a game.

Well, McCamey came up well short of his goal. But he inspired himself on the boards and finished with a career-high nine rebounds to go with his 14 points.

"I've got to help Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale getting some rebounds,'' he said.

McCamey only had four assists after tying the school record of 16 at Purdue on Saturday. But he did what was necessary to keep the Illini in a tie for fourth place and in the hunt for an NCAA Tournament berth.

The junior struggled to get open shots much of the night but he came up with two big ones in the second half. His basket with 9:42 left put the Illini in front 36-31.

Then, playing off the ball, he curled off a screen and took a pass from Bill Cole before draining a 3-pointer.

"I would like to see him do it more often,'' Weber said. "It's something I've harped on since he got here, playing without the ball. But he's so good with the ball.''

McCamey played 37 minutes. The times he was out of the game, the Illini were a different team. He sat at the scorer's table waiting to re-enter in the first half and Illinois had three empty possessions. When he left for one possession in the second half, the Illini committed a turnover.

He said the only time he would ask to come out is early in a game.

"Even if I was tired, I probably wouldn't say it,''  he said. "Right now I'm having fun and I'm in the best shape of my life.''

Said Weber: "We've got to make sure he gets rested. He gets tired and then really takes possessions off on defense. So any time we can get him out.''