Illini forward Randle may be out for year

CHAMPAIGN -- Illinois basketball coach Bruce Weber expects starting forward Brian Randle to miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.

Randle, a 6-foot-8 red-shirt senior, separated his right shoulder and injured the joint in the Illini's 71-57 loss to Wisconsin on on Wednesday.

Weber says Randle is slated to have an MRI on the shoulder. While the coach says the best case would see the senior back for the Big Ten tournament next month, Weber admitted that possibility is a long shot.

Without Randle, Weber expects to field a lineup with three guards, starting with Saturday's game at 8-18 Michigan. Illinois is 11-16 overall and 3-11 in the Big Ten. Randle averaged 9.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game this season.