College basketball teams return for another run at tournament

Don't even get Illinois sophomore point guard Demetri McCamey started on his grueling summer.

Almost makes you want to cry for the 19-year-old from West Suburban Bellwood.

Pressed by his coaches to become a more outgoing leader who does a better job of sharing joy with his teammates - and not just on the court - McCamey had to lead his buddies through a rugged obstacle course.

"Going out to barbecues," McCamey said. "To the pool. Chasing girls. Anything like that. Movies."

Does the NCAA really allow coaches to put their players through such trials in the off-season? Surely he earned credit hours for his suffering.

Thank goodness men's basketball teams could start their official practices at 5 p.m. Friday, or McCamey's life might never return to normal.

"That (life) doesn't carry over during the season," he said. "But in summertime, I think that's pretty cool."

But seriously, McCamey and so many other players and coaches around the state didn't spend much of their spare time enjoying the life.

Here's one reason why:

For just the second time since 1975, all 12 Division I men's teams in Illinois were left out in the cold last March while the NCAA Tournament took place.

Perhaps because they stayed home then, players and coaches flocked to crazy locales during the summer to further their games and gain some perspective.

McCamey, Illini teammate Mike Davis and Northern Illinois' Xavier Silas went to China to play on a team coached by Illini assistant Jerrance Howard and aided by NIU assistant Dennis Gates.

DePaul coach Jerry Wainwright took a 14-hour flight to Kuwait for "Operation Hardwood V," where he coached soldiers in a weeklong tourney.

"Nobody complained over there," said Wainwright, who chronicled his trip (including the 122-degree temperatures) on his blog.

And now everybody should celebrate here as hoops get under way.

While Illinois held its public event last weekend with its World's Biggest Basketball Practice at Memorial Stadium, DePaul and Loyola hosted Madness events Friday night.

Northern Illinois plans a public workout Oct. 25. Illinois-Chicago will host its weeklong warmup dubbed "Melafusic" (think anagram) leading up to its Nov. 22 home game with DePaul.

And Northwestern? The moment the clock hit 5 p.m., Bill Carmody likely told lhis his team to "make shots" as always, getting things under way without any fanfare.

Here's a snapshot of the local squads as they try to cram eight weeks of preparation into a four-week window before their openers:

Illinois

The big theme: Camaraderie and competition.

Bruce Weber thought last year's 16-19 season occurred, in part, because of a lack of chemistry on his squad. He ordered his guys to do more team-oriented activities (see McCamey above) and make their off-seasons more about fundamentals and competition.

The big question: Who'll start at the "4"? Junior-college transfer Dominique Keller will battle sophomores Mike Davis, Bill Cole and Rich Semrau for time. The best rebounder and intangible-provider will get the most minutes.

The opener: Nov. 14 vs. Eastern Washington

DePaul

The big theme: When the McGrath Arena doors opened for Blue Madness at 7:30 p.m., Jerry Wainwright expected the big theme to be self-evident: After getting pushed around all over the Big East last year, his guys spent a ton of time in the weight room.

"You'll be really impressed with how their bodies have changed," Wainwright said.

The big question: Who'll handle the minutes at center? If senior Matija Poscic (6-10, 250) and freshman Krys Faber (6-11, 265) can platoon there, then soph Mac Koshwal can slide to his natural power forward spot.

The opener: Nov. 17 vs. Albany

Northwestern

The big theme: Look, there are big men on the roster!

The Wildcats recruited four freshmen 6-feet-8 and above to help transform a program that finished last in the nation in rebounding margin.

Playing early and often: 6-8 John Shurna (Glenbard West), 7-0 Kyle Rowley (Lake Forest Academy), 6-11 Luka Mirkovic and 6-9 Davide Curletti.

The big question: Vets Juice Thompson, Craig Moore and Kevin Coble have the perimeter spots, while Mirkovic and Rowley will share center. Will Shurna or Curletti start at the "4"? Or will returnees Jeff Ryan or Mike Capocci push their way into the lineup?

The opener: Nov. 16 vs. Central Arkansas

Northern Illinois

The big theme: For the second year in a row, second-year coach Ricardo Patton has brought in a fleet of newcomers to kick-start the program.

Only preseason all-MAC point guard Darion "Jake" Anderson seems to have a spot sewn up among the four scholarship returnees. Among the seven eligible newcomers are 6-foot-11 Colorado transfer Sean Kowal and 6-7 Geneseo freshman Tyler Storm.

The big question: How to mold the eight guys who were part of last year's 6-22 team with the seven guys who weren't?

The opener: Nov. 14 vs. Maine at Kennesaw (Ga.) State

Illinois-Chicago

The big theme: With preseason Horizon League player of the year Josh Mayo and all-conference pick Scott VanderMeer as the pillars of a veteran team, coach Jimmy Collins and his guys just need to sort out roles.

Junior-college transfers Robert Eppinger (a big-time rebounder), Chris Buchanan (a big-time shooter) and Kris Harris (a big-time defender) will contribute instantly.

The big question: Who can help VanderMeer and Eppinger up front? Junior Jeremy Buttell is still healing from off-season injuries, but junior Jovan Ignjatovic has been a big surprise.

The opener: Nov. 14 at Bradley

Loyola

The big theme: After an uncommon sub-.500 season, how do the Ramblers get back among the Horizon League's elite? Though Loyola has four returning starters - including preseason second-team pick J.R. Blount - the coaches and media pegged Loyola for eighth in the Horizon.

The big question: Is there a true point guard in this group? Fifth-year senior Justin Cerasoli has the handles, but he averaged just 1.5 assists last year. Can freshman guard Courtney Stanley, who hails from Philadelphia's fabled Catholic League, help here?

The opener: Nov. 14 vs. Rockhurst

• For more information on these schools, see the "Joe College" blog atdailyherald.com.