Illini's Smith can expect same kind of unfair treatment

If I had a nickel for every time Illinois coach Bruce Weber has mentioned his team's struggle to score points this season, then I could breeze through this economic downturn thanks to all of my Jeffersons.

But this isn't about unrealized cash. It's about selective hate. And moronic fans.

Here's the short list of players who legitimately could be alleviating Illinois' points and wins shortages this season but aren't for differing reasons:

1. Eric Gordon

2. Jamar Smith

Both were at Assembly Hall on Thursday night for the game that rivaled North Carolina-Duke for competitive fervor.

Yet only Gordon, a kid guilty only of a somewhat deceitful change of mind, was on the receiving end of frequent f-bombs and constant booing … of chants of "Traitor!" and "Liar!" and "Sellout!"

Meanwhile, Smith sat without incident in the bleachers nearest the Illini bench, surrounded by his family and his teammates' families and friends.

Though he's being forced to redshirt this season as penance for his felonious DUI accident last Feb. 12, Smith still tried to help the Illini beat the Hoosiers.

Near the end of the Illini's double-overtime loss, he stood up and screamed, "Follow through!" at Shaun Pruitt during his unfortunate stints at the free-throw line.

Of course, Illinois would have been far better off if Smith could have been at the line.

Logically speaking, if an Illinois fan flogged Gordon for not being in the home team's uniform Thursday night, shouldn't he have flogged Smith for this failure, too?

Everyone who watches Illinois' practices says Smith, who has two years of eligibility remaining, has been far and away the team's best offensive player.

He could have made a difference in most of the Illini's losses, 3 of which happened in overtime and 6 others that weren't decided until the final minute.

Presuming Smith's dead-eye shooting switched just 6 of those 9 verdicts, the Illini would be 16-8 overall and, say, 6-5 in the Big Ten.

Since Illinois has faced the nation's fourth-toughest schedule, according to Jeff Sagarin's computer rankings, a 16-8 record would have Weber's bunch in the NCAA Tournament hunt as usual.

Instead, Illinois' lasting national impact on this season is destined to be some fans' dreadful behavior in front of ESPN's considerable audience.

Just to clarify: Some well-thought-out harassment of Gordon would have been OK. Par for the course. Expected and understood.

But the consistent R-rated language and the few incidents late when Illini fans tried to toss debris on Gordon's family? That was as dumb as if the fans had taken aim on Smith and his family.

Illinois athletic director Ron Guenther and Weber teamed up Friday afternoon, approximately 20 hours too late, to offer their statement about the behavior.

Their vetted words concluded with: "The profanity and behavior by a small segment of fans Thursday night is disappointing and intolerable, and for that we apologize to fans of both teams."

This phrasing somehow suggests Eric Gordon deserved his treatment.

Congratulations, Illinois fans and administrators. You set the bar for Jamar Smith's treatment on the road next season.

Enjoy, Jamar. Through you, the Gordon saga gets to live on after he's gone to the NBA.