Suspension over for Pruitt

CHAMPAIGN -- Shaun Pruitt's suspension ended six minutes into Illinois' 70-37 win over Northwestern on Sunday night.

The Illini faithful offered a nice ovation when Pruitt checked into the game, though it might have been just as much for the departing Rodney Alexander and his enormous alley-oop dunk a minute before.

Nevertheless, Pruitt gave the fans more reasons to applaud him as he produced 9 points and 3 rebounds in 17 minutes. The senior center even hit all 3 of his free throws.

Afterward, Pruitt and Illinois coach Bruce Weber offered their explanations for why the West Aurora graduate sat out Tuesday's 6-point loss at Ohio State.

"Sometimes I let my frustrations get the best of me … and my emotions," Pruitt said. "Sometimes I think I'm misunderstood, but I understand where people see (issues) sometimes."

Pruitt quarreled with teammates and at least one staff member during and after Illinois' loss at Purdue on Jan. 19.

"It's my senior season," Pruitt said. "I'm frustrated about some of the losses. I'm a competitor. I get emotional. I go after it hard and sometimes, you know, I can get frustrated and it might not always be as positive as I want it to be.

"But my intentions are always good for my team."

Weber didn't guarantee that Pruitt, who owned 87 consecutive starts before missing the Ohio State game, will rejoin the starting lineup at Michigan State on Wednesday.

"Shaun has to have a good attitude, a positive attitude," Weber said. "Cannot be a distraction for the team -- and that's what's important.

"I don't think he liked it. I don't know if the team liked it. But we just felt it was important, if we could make any progress as a team, to make sure he understood where he fit in."

Recruiting world: Illinois coach Bruce Weber admitted earlier this week that he attended a seventh-grade game for the first time in his career.

"He was pretty good," Weber said with a chuckle.

The Illini brought in a little bit of an older crowd for Sunday's win over Northwestern.

Bartonville Limestone freshman guard Donivine Stewart and Peoria Woodruff freshman guard Andrew Jordan were part of the group sitting in the stands nearest the Illini bench.

Champaign Central senior guard Verdell Jones III also attended the game. He told Rivals.com that Illinois is one of the four schools he's considering.