Focus shifts to 2008-09 for college hoops programs

For just the fourth time in his 29-year coaching career, Illinois' Bruce Weber didn't have to prepare any game plans beyond Selection Sunday.

"It's an empty feeling right now watching the games," Weber said. "It's tough to deal with.

"But if you learn something from it and get through the frustration and disappointment, in the long run maybe it will help us figure out what we are and the progress we have to make."

Now multiply Weber's sentiments by six.

That's how our local teams are feeling as they head into crucial off-seasons that will determine whether they're shut out of the postseason again in 2008-09.

Here's a quick look at every school as players start supervised workouts and the coaches hit the recruiting trail:

Illinois

Throughout the course of a 45-minute season review Monday, Weber repeatedly addressed his team's relative lack of work ethic during the Illini's 16-19 season.

To ensure Illinois doesn't sniff such a sour record next year, Weber called on Demetri McCamey, Chester Frazier, Mike Davis and others to redouble their voluntary gym time during the off-season.

In Weber's ideal world, McCamey, as the biggest talent, would become the team's leader, with Frazier and back-from-exile Jamar Smith serving as his veteran lieutenants.

"They have to do it on a daily basis, too," Weber said. "I think that's so important. Be around the coaches. Be in the office. Get the guys in the gym. Not just when we say be in there, but it could be midnight or 10 o'clock on a Friday night and do pickup games.

DePaul

As the Blue Demons lost 10 of their last 12 games in the grueling Big East, it became acutely clear they don't have enough big and strong beasts to contend.

DePaul gains the services of 7-foot-2 freshman Kene Obi, who redshirted this year, but Jerry Wainwright and his staff need to find at least one and preferably two junior-college strongmen who can complement Mac Koshwal in the post.

If the Demons can accomplish that -- and redshirt Mike Bizoukas and incoming freshman Jeremiah Kelly can make the point guard spot a plus -- then there's enough material for a winning season next year.

Koshwal and classmate Dar Tucker should reach an elite Big East level next year.

Tucker, if you didn't notice, averaged 13.6 points in just 23.6 minutes per game. That suggests he could average 20 as a full-timer.

Northwestern

With the exception of guard Jason Okrzesik, who had been reduced to seventh or eighth man by season's end, Northwestern returns everyone that mattered this season.

Of course, that's not necessarily a great thing since the Wildcats lost 18 of 19 against Big Ten foes.

But Northwestern places a lot of stock in its freshman class of Nick Fruendt (Batavia), John Shurna (Glenbard West) and post player Davide Curletti.

If Shurna approximates Kevin Coble's freshman year, Fruendt shoots like Craig Moore and Curletti adds enough weight to defend opposing centers, the Wildcats could say a .500 Big Ten record is their goal and not sound silly.

Illinois-Chicago

The Flames retain their three most important starters -- Josh Mayo, Scott VanderMeer and Spencer Stewart.

They add two prolific scorers in junior-college redshirts Kris Harris and Chris Buchanan. Now the trick for Jimmy Collins is to find one or two junior-college post players to fill Jermaine Dailey's void.

Loyola

Aside from Tracy Robinson, the Ramblers bring back all of their critical contributors from an uneven season.

The X-factors should be guys like Leon Young (illness), Justin Cerasoli (midseason transfer) and Ross Forman (midseason fade), who, for the listed reasons, suffered big dips in the middle of the year only to reprove themselves during the Ramblers' decent stretch run.

Their arrow, like UIC's, is trending up.

Northern Illinois

Ricardo Patton's second squad will bearing only a passing resemblance to his first.

With five committed recruits, a fifth-year redshirt in Zach Pancratz and 6-foot-11 Colorado transfer Sean Kowal eligible, NIU will have a dramatically different playing rotation next season.

Presuming one of the recruits can handle the point, then MAC freshman of the year Jake Anderson can be free to play more off the ball and everyone in DeKalb will be happier.

Looking ahead to 2008-09 season

Illinois: 3 starters, 1 scholarship

DePaul: 1 starter; 3 scholarships

Northwestern: 5 starters; 1 scholarship

UIC: 3 starters; 2scholarships

Loyola: 4 starters; 0 scholarships

NIU: 3 starters; 1 scholarship