Illini look for first Big Ten win vs. Michigan

Illinois has 10 healthy scholarship players on its roster. Six have never won a Big Ten game … and never had a chance to win one until 13 days ago.

Illinois also had three walk-ons play in Sunday's narrow loss at 10th-ranked Indiana -- and two of them don't know what it's like to beat a Big Ten foe.

With those facts in mind as the Illini welcome Michigan to Assembly Hall today (8 p.m., Big Ten Network), it's little wonder Bruce Weber's bunch needed more time than most editions to figure out this whole high-level basketball thing.

But if Illinois (8-9, 0-4) brings the same effort it packed for last week's road losses at Wisconsin and Indiana, the wins should start coming.

"It's maybe a shame it took to this point how hard we have to play," Weber said. "The defensive level. Maybe, as a staff, how we have to control the tempo of the game a little more.

"But you know, better now than never."

Freshman point guard Demetri McCamey probably represents Exhibit A in this regard.

A flashy ballhandler and passer who stuns veteran onlookers with some of the plays he makes and creates in practice, McCamey hasn't been nearly as precocious in the intensity department.

Weber correctly called him out for being unprepared for his first college start last Thursday at Wisconsin, when he surrendered 2 easy baskets to the Badgers' Trevon Hughes at the outset and couldn't hang on to the ball.

McCamey learned from the experience and delivered 6 points and 5 assists with no turnovers in a career-high 36-minute performance at Indiana.

Yet Weber, in his tireless campaign to prod his prize recruit from the Class of 2007, focused on McCamey's pair of driving reverse layups that were rejected by Indiana defenders.

"We talked about it," Weber said. " 'You've got to go in at the basket and make them block the shot, make the officials call the foul.' "

Did the lesson sink in?

Maybe, since this is what McCamey said immediately after the Indiana loss:

"I've just got to go up on the same side instead of avoiding contact," he said.

It's not the only lesson McCamey and his young teammates have learned recently. Losing four of five home games can have that effect.

"We slipped earlier, just thinking we're going to come in at home and get a 'W' and you don't have to play hard," McCamey said Sunday after the Indiana game. "We're just looking at getting to the next level so we can win the games.

"Focus on Michigan, going home and getting the crowd pumped up like it was here and going out and getting a 'W.' And just play with the same energy that we did tonight."

Michigan (5-11, 1-3) at Illinois (8-9, 0-4)

When: 8 p.m. at the Assembly Hall

TV: Big Ten Network

Radio: WIND 560-AM

Sagarin says: Illinois by 12

The skinny: If the Illini are going to make any sort of move, it needs to start with the Wolverines. "We need to take a giant step here," coach Bruce Weber said. "Not just a little step." After sitting out the Indiana game, point guard Chester Frazier underwent an MRI Monday that didn't show any structural damage to his rib cage. He's still in a good amount of pain, so he might be good for just a few minutes tonight. Backup forward Rodney Alexander (bruised AC joint in left shoulder) might go a few minutes, too. This is Illinois' first look at a John Beilein-coached team, which requires a lot of learning defensively. Freshman guard Manny Harris (16.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.3 apg) has been terrific for Michigan, while sophomore forward DeShawn Sims (13.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg) has started living up to his big billing.

-- Lindsey Willhite