Repeat performance a bad one for Illini

CHAMPAIGN — When Illinois lost at Northwestern on Feb. 5, Illini coach Bruce Weber suggested the game felt like “Groundhog Day.”

You know, reliving the same ruinous problems ad nauseam.

Based on Illinois' 81-70 loss to No. 14 Purdue on Sunday afternoon at Assembly Hall, this could turn into “Groundhog Season” if the Illini aren't careful.

Not only did Illinois repeat last year's come-from-ahead home loss to the Boilermakers — giving up twice as many points in the second half as the first for the second year in a row — it repeated last year's home flameout on a national CBS broadcast on the second Sunday in February.

Purdue seniors JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore combined for 28 of the visitors' 54 second-half points as they rallied from a 7-point, second-half deficit.

So much for the Illini (16-9, 6-6) building on Thursday's 9-point win at Minnesota.

“The thing's that disappointing … we go to Minnesota and talk about being in a foxhole and just laying it all on the line,” Weber said. “And we played with unbelievable energy. Now we come home and I thought we played hard the first half, but there were loose balls that we didn't dive on.

“We just didn't give it our (all). I wrote on the board, ‘Defend' and ‘Give it your all.' And there were some of those plays that could have been a big difference-maker.”

In addition to getting outrebounded 28-11 in the second half, the Illini lost the Matto “Play Hard” chart 29-27 for the game after registering a season-high 46 Matto points at Minnesota.

“That's the difference in the game,” Davis said. “They beat us on our home court on the Matto. That's what we've got to take pride at home and at least play hard. They out-toughed us.”

Davis suggested shortly thereafter that not every Illini brought the same effort.

“It's got to be (from) within,” Davis said.

He contributed 16 points and 7 rebounds. Brandon Paul came off the bench for a career-high 23 points and 4 rebounds. D.J. Richardson posted 13 points.

Demetri McCamey, restored to the starting lineup, hit just 1 of 10 shots from the field as he finished with 4 points, 4 assists, 5 steals and 3 turnovers.

“I don't know if it's mental … the pressure … it looks like he has the weight of the world on his back,” Weber said. “I feel bad for him. He's a better player than that. He was a better player two months ago. He was definitely a better player last year when we played Purdue.”

Neither McCamey nor Richardson nor Paul could handle super-quick, 5-foot-8 point guard Lewis Jackson.

Time and again, he'd use a high ball screen from Johnson to penetrate and either slash to the hoop or find the open teammate.

“JaJuan Johnson puts you in a bind,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “He can make that 18-footer. He can dive (to the hoop). He's quick. He's athletic. And then Lew's very quick.

“Lew's always been able to handle ball screens and do a good job. His decision-making is just so much better.”

Now it's up to Illinois' veterans to make a decision.

Remember the “Groundhog Season” theme? Last year Illinois earned a huge road win Feb. 9 at Wisconsin. That led a mock NCAA Tournament committee to give a 17-8 Illini squad an 8 seed.

Then Illinois dropped a 72-53 decision on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010 at Assembly Hall. To No. 13 Ohio State. Before a national CBS audience.

That triggered a 2-6 regular-season finish that knocked the Illini out of the NCAA Tournament field.

With six rough Big Ten games to go — including trips to Michigan State, Purdue and Ohio State — which way will this year's Illini team go?

Actually, Weber broached that topic before the national CBS game against No. 14 Purdue.

“I told the seniors, ‘You responded the other night. This is your team. Let's see what you can do with it.'

“So I don't know. We'll see.”