Illini face another huge test
Illinois hasn't won back-to-back games since Dec. 28.
Illinois hasn't defeated a Top 25 team in six tries this season.
Barring a miraculous finish, the Illini are on their way to their third losing season in the last 30 years.
They're also headed toward their worst free-throw shooting season since 1950, their worst 3-point shooting season since 1988, and their worst turnover margin since 1999.
Their top scorer, senior center Shaun Pruitt, averages 12.6 points per game. That's the lowest leading average on an Illini team since 1985.
These are just some of the statistical reasons that explain Illinois' struggles heading into today's Big Ten home date with No. 11 Wisconsin.
Illini coach Bruce Weber can help out with some of the intangible reasons for the team's 11-15 record.
Or maybe he can't.
"We're missing something," Weber said. "And I wish I had an answer for it, and I haven't been able to find it.
"A little bit of chemistry. A little bit of a go-to guy. A little bit of confidence. I think you mix it into a witches' brew and get something to pop out that maybe helps us. I'm not sure."
Here's just one factor that's holding Illinois back:
Its pair of recruits in the Class of 2006 -- the first players Weber could entice with the glory of the 2005 team's run to the national championship game -- have combined for a grand total of 0 points and 5 rebounds in 22 minutes this season.
Six other Big Ten teams boast sophomores who are averaging double figures in points. And you can pardon Ohio State for not being on that list after losing Greg Oden, Mike Conley Jr. and Daequan Cook to the NBA.
To be fair, Illinois' Brian Carlwell and Richard Semrau have endured an incredible number of normal injuries (sprained knees) and abnormal injuries (car wreck-induced concussion, infected lung) during their brief time in Champaign.
But that doesn't change the fact the Illini have just one contributing scholarship player -- junior guard Chester Frazier -- in their middle classes.
"(Carlwell and Semrau are) something that we've been talking about as a staff for the last month," Weber said. "Something has got to happen with both those guys -- or one of them -- they've got to make steps to give us some depth.
"I'm not talking about now. I'm talking about next year. And that's very important. Both of them have had major setbacks in their life …
"I talk with kids and a lot of people about, 'Sooner or later in life, you've got to get to a point where you get it. Either you get it or you don't. And you have great success or you go the other way.' "
Wisconsin (21-4, 11-2) at Illinois (11-15, 3-10)
When: 8 p.m. at Assembly Hall
TV: Big Ten Network
Radio: WIND 560-AM
The skinny: The Badgers are fighting for their first Big Ten title since 2003, while the Illini are fighting to get out of 10th place. Illinois holds out hope that a fast finish could earn some consideration for the College Basketball Invitational, the new 16-team postseason tournament that doesn't require a .500 record to participate. But a fast finish starts with knocking off the 11th-ranked Badgers. The Illini got as close as 3 points with 9:35 to go when they played in Madison on Jan. 10, but sophomore point guard Trevon Hughes took over (22 points, 6 steals, 5 assists) to give the Badgers a 70-60 win. Freshman Demetri McCamey needs to be better against Hughes this time to give the Illini a chance.
-- Lindsey Willhite