Illinois downright defensive in second half

CHAMPAIGN - After Illinois' final exhibition game, coach Bruce Weber suggested his team's ability to defend was its best trait.

You know, just like last year - and the year before - and the year before that -

But Weber's prediction didn't pan out during the first half of Illinois' opener against Eastern Washington on Friday night.

Five-foot-7 Texas Tech transfer Benny Valentine and 6-9 strongman Brandon Moore combined for 25 of the Eagles' 35 points as the teams went into the break tied.

But once the Illini decided to stop taking risks against the Big Sky also-rans, they looked like a team at the top of their defensive game.

Illinois held the Eagles without a basket for an eight-minute stretch in the second half - when most of the visitors' forced shots missed the rim entirely.

Illinois' 15-1 run during that stretch made the difference in a 66-50 nonconference victory at Assembly Hall.

Valentine and Moore combined for just 2 points as the Eagles (0-1) shot 19 percent in the second half.

"Maybe over the summer I became a better second-half coach," Weber joked without a smile. "Last year we were good in first halves, not very good in second halves and didn't finish games."

"Just defensive intensity and we were smart," said Illinois senior guard Trent Meacham. "In the second half, we were just solid. We pushed the ball, played solid defense and that just wore 'em down."

Meacham, the only returning double-figures scorer from last year, led everyone with 18 points as the Illini won its 10th consecutive opener.

However, Illinois saw its sellout streak end at 60 games as the announced attendance of 14,422 far exceeded the actual crowd.

Those who showed witnessed senior Chester Frazier piling up 13 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, while Demetri McCamey came off the bench for 11 points.

"I think that should motivate (McCamey) more to come out and play hard and have more intensity," Frazier said. "I think it kind of got him going a little bit."

Weber benched McCamey as a cautionary tale for the talented sophomore point guard - and a compliment for those such as seniors Meacham, Frazier and Calvin Brock who've worked hard to reverse last year's 16-19 record.

"Demetri, uh, he's our best player - at least potentially," Weber said. "But all I've talked about all year is hard work and heart and hustle.

"And if Demetri can't do that, it's very tough to justify to the other guys that I expect it out of them - but then he doesn't have to do it.

"And he's got to guard. He's got to play both ends. And not only that: if he wants to be a great player, he's got to learn to do all those things."