Rough day for Illini ends with tense sideline spat
CHAMPAIGN - Illinois' inability to deal with Wisconsin on Sunday matters greatly because the Illini and Badgers meet again Friday in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals.
If the Illini can't make amends for Sunday's 72-57 Big Ten home loss to the Badgers, then there's no reason to expect Illinois to make the NCAA Tournament.
"We've got to win," said Illinois coach Bruce Weber. "That's what it comes down to."
But Illinois' inability to deal with Illinois on Sunday - specifically the late-game tiff between Weber and junior point guard Demetri McCamey - could lead to ramifications next season as well.
With 5:13 to go and Illinois trailing by 7, McCamey turned over the ball and then grabbed Wisconsin's Jordan Taylor with two hands around the waist to prevent a fast break.
When McCamey was whistled for an intentional foul, Weber sent Jeff Jordan in for McCamey while Taylor shot free throws.
As McCamey headed to the bench, he banged Weber's right shoulder with his right shoulder intentionally. Weber reached out with his right arm, caught McCamey, pulled him back to the court and started a tongue-lashing that began with a double epithet.
When play resumed, Weber took the rare step of sitting halfway down the bench so he could discuss things further with McCamey.
When Weber rose to resume coaching, assistant Jerrance Howard took the seat and spoke to McCamey as well. The junior point guard appeared to have tears in his eyes during this stretch.
"Love and kisses," Weber said tersely afterward. "Just trying to teach him how to play (and) make good decisions."
McCamey wasn't available for comment, but senior Dominique Keller sat on the other side of McCamey during the bench chats.
" 'Meechie' just got a little frustrated," Keller said. "Everybody knows their relationship is shaky. It goes back and forth. He wants 'Meechie' to be the best player. 'Meechie' wants him to be quiet a little sometimes and let him play, but Coach wants the best for him.
"I talked to both of them on the bench. I told them, 'Both of you got each other's best interests at heart, so it's about the team winning.' Demetri, I feel like, was more in the wrong because he's still the coach, you know? And I told Demetri that.
"Now it's no big deal. It's old water. We've got to move past it and get ready for the new game."
That might be the best strategy as Illinois (18-13, 10-8) has lots to fix before the rematch.
Six-foot-10 Wisconsin junior forward Jon Leuer, who didn't play when Illinois won on Feb. 9 at the Kohl Center, delivered 20 points in 26 minutes as the Illini couldn't slow him anywhere on the court.
Sophomore point guard Jordan Taylor contributed 20 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists while the Badgers (23-7, 13-5) seemed to claim every 50/50 ball.
Six-foot guard Trevon Hughes, for example, grabbed 7 offensive rebounds in just 22 minutes as Wisconsin outboarded Illinois 40-30.
Last but not least? The Illini shot just 5 of 20 from the field in the second half. McCamey, who went off for 27 points at Wisconsin, finished 2 of 8 for 11 points.
"It's not the end of the world," said junior center Mike Tisdale, who led the Illini with 16 points. "It just feels like it."