2009-2010 Season Preview

The Illini overachieved last year by making the NCAAs, but their season ended quickly with their loss to Western Kentucky in the first round. This fall, expectations are much higher for the Illini basketball team. Preseason polls have the Illini in the top 20, and Joe Lunardi has the Illini as a 3 seed right now, a top 12 team. And we haven't even had midnight madness yet.

Let's start with the losses from last year's team. Basically, we lose a ton of experience at the guard position, Chet Frazier, Trent Meacham and Calvin Brock. And we lose CJ Jackson, who never played much basketball at Illinois, but was very popular with his teammates.

The gains are three talented freshmen guards--DJ Richardson, Brandon Paul and Joseph Bertrand. We have been talking about these guys forever it seems, and now they are on campus getting ready to play. The front line gets deeper with Tyler Griffey as a freshman, and Stan Simpson will be a redshirt freshman after sitting last season. Overall, a loss on the experience side, but these are very talented additions for this fall.

Returning starters are three juniors: Demetri McCamey at PG, Mike Davis at forward, and Mike Tisdale at center. Dominique Keller returns as a versatile forward who can rebound and hit three pointers (my personal favorite player last year). Other experienced players from last season include guards Jeff Jordan and Alex Legion, and seldom-used Richard Semrau at forward/center and Bill Cole, a forward.

Basically, Bruce Weber can start an experienced squad without relying on the freshmen, though I expect 1 or 2 freshmen to crack the starting line-up during the season:

Demetri McCamey PG
Jeff Jordan G
Alex Legion SG
Mike Davis F
Mike Tisdale C

Bench rotation: Keller, Griffey, Cole, Richardson, Paul, Bertrand

Right now, it seems likely that McCamey, Davis and Tisdale are a virtual lock as starters on this team, with Legion, Jordan, Keller and Richardson probably vying for the other two starting positions. But this should be a deep and talented team, that gets much better throughout the season as it matures.

And my hope is Bruce Weber allows this team to run the break, especially when Tisdale is on the bench. We might think of 1989 if we see the following group of athletes on the floor: Davis, Keller, Legion, McCamey and either Richardson or Paul.

For Illini fans, this season is not to be missed.

Shootout at University of Illinois

There is an excellent summary of the shootout at the University of Illinois at the Illinois Prep Bullseye site, which has comments on most of the Illini commits and recruits, including Joseph Bertrand, Brandon Paul, D.J. Richardson, Donivine Stewart, Lenzelle Smith, Jereme Richmond, Crandall Head and Mike Shaw.

It sounds like Joseph Bertrand really made an impression, and Lenzelle Smith can be compared to Sergio McClain. Donivine Stewart's stock continues to rise from the Class of 2011.

Joseph Bertrand Scores 38 points at Freeport Sectional

Joseph Bertrand helped show why the Illini gave him a scholarship for the 2009 class by scoring 38 points against Burlington Central this week, sending Sterling into the Sweet Sixteen. Post-game coverage here. They play against Huntley tonight, and I will try to post the score when I see it.

A quote from the story:

Bertrand’s final stat line is staggering - to go along with the 38 points in just 27-minutes of play, he recorded 10 rebounds, four assists, three blocked shots and two steals – all while not committing a single turnover. He was 14-19 from the field and 4-5 on three-pointers after missing 22 of his previous 26 three-point attempts.

Joseph Bertrand Confirmed by Multiple Sources

OK, I am now convinced that Joseph Bertrand has committed to Illinois. It seems like Joseph's commitment was late in the day, but it is now being confirmed on multiple websites. See below stories on this third big commitment today. And there are rumors that a fourth is coming before the weekend is over, and the rumors are mostly centered around Stan Simpson from the Class of 2008.

Illinois Prep Bulls-Eye

Sun-Times

Interesting Article by Taylor Bell making today's commitments seem like no big deal

Joe Henricksen Comments on Today

Chicago Hoops Scoops Bertrand Annoucement

Joseph Bertrand is apparently also going to Illinois from the Class of 2009. I hope Brian Stinnett of Chicago Hoops is sure of this announcement. He seems to be the one with the breaking news. Read his story on Bertrand and this top notch class of 2009.