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Island living: Tulsa next up for Illini

Posted by: Paul Klee

Saturday, November 29, 2008 12:39 PM

It wasn't easy for the Illini on Friday, and I think they might have expected to be easier than it was. But a 69-63 overtime win against Kent State accomplished a few things. For one, it ensured a spot in today's championship game against Tulsa at South Padre.

It also showed their level of self-confidence. When I asked Chester Frazier if last season's Illini would have recovered from a late 7-point deficit, he said, "No. Not a chance."

Here's some of our HQ coverage from down here at South Padre....

- For those unable to see the game on DirecTV (Ch. 617) or Comcast (in C-U, ch. 533), Loren Tate describes what was a particularly physical game at the SP Convention Center. It was quite physical, and for the better part of 40 minutes, Kent State was the more physical team.

Kent State coach Geno Ford wasn't being arrogant when he told me Kent State "punked" Illinois in the first half. They did. The Flashes beat up the Illini. And I love when coaches use the word "punked." That will always get in the blog. 

- One thing that may have gotten overlooked: Chester Frazier wasn't the only guard hobbled by injury. Kent State's star, Al Fisher, had not practiced since sustaining a sprained ankle at SLU. 

"He's only broken a sweat maybe twice in this nine days," Ford said.

Frazier's defense on Fisher was dynamic. The latter had 14 points in the first half and only four after intermission. But the ankle injury undoubtedly contributed to his fatigue.

"We've had seven NBA guys come in to see him" in the fall, Ford said. So that gives you an idea on Fisher's talent level.

- One other note on Al Fisher. It's kind of crazy how Kent State located the junior college product.

Ford said he had one scholarship available late in the summer, when most of the better jucos have been scooped up. The Kent State coach had searched the juco ranks high and low, but it wasn't until he made a call to junior college recruiting guru Jerry Mullen that he found Fisher.

"Jerry Mullen actually got us on to him," Ford said.

That happens more often than you might think - coaches taking the advice of recruiting analysts when it comes to prospects. It happened with Illinois, too, in the recruitment of Robinson's Meyers Leonard. Scout.com's Dave Telep and Evan Daniels, who both have a good relationship with the Illinois guys, saw the raw big man in the spring and told the Illini that Leonard is a guy to watch.

Next thing you know, he's committing to Illinois.

- With the scored tied at 60-60 and possession of the ball at the end of regulation, Bruce Weber opted to not use a timeout. That meant Demetri McCamey, their best playmaker at the end of a shot clock or a half, would stay on the bench. Here are McCamey and Weber's thoughts on the scenario.

- Read about Chester Frazier here. I've said before, he's the toughest college athlete I've covered. Last night was another example.

Three Illinois players -- Demetri McCamey, Mike Tisdale and Mike Davis -- each mentioned after the game that Frazier's brilliant save of a loose ball was the turning point.

"That save," Davis said. "That changed the game right there. I think they didn't want to play anymore after that save."

- Will Frazier play tonight? Weber didn't sound optimistic. The coach said it will be important to have Frazier available for the Clemson game on Tuesday, so "if there's any doubt" that he can go against Tulsa, you'll see him on the bench. That's what Weber said. Chester said he's going to play.

- Read up on Tulsa here. Coach Doug Wojcik is sharp, a self-proclaimed Tom Izzo disciple, who previously served as a Carolina and Michigan State assistant. Wojcik's family vacations with Izzo's family on Lake Michigan in the summer months, so he's potentially vying with Bruce Weber to be Izzo's BFF, because you know the tight relationship with Izzo and Weber.

Another tie: While at North Carolina with Matt Doherty, Wojcik helped recruit guys like Rashad McCants and Raymond Felton. Another tie: Wojcik helped recruit those Carolina guys that played Illinois in the 2005 Final Four, and he assisted the Michigan State squad that played in the same Final Four.

- Strangely, Wojcik and the Tulsa staff may have seen more of UI sophomore Mike Davis than the Illinois staff did. See, Tulsa was recruiting Glenn Andrews, who is now a sophomore at Tulsa, and Andrews was high school teammates with Davis.

- And last but not least, a prediction for the South Padre championship game. Klee thought we nailed Friday's prediction (Illinois 60, Kent State 58) but Chris Singletary had to go and send the game to overtime at 60-60.

- The game of the night, in terms of Illinois recruits, is Waukegan (Jereme Richmond) vs. Warren (Brandon Paul).

Spoke with Waukegan coach Ron Ashlaw this morning, and it was refreshing to hear the attitudinal turnabout in Waukegan's locker room so far this season. Ashlaw is pleased with what he's seen after two games and two wins.

"We're seeing some of those early, positive signs of guys playing the right away, the way we want to play," Ashlaw said. "We're sprinting back as a team, guarding together as a team. And we're playing fast. I think it's just producing team basketball."

Waukegan is able to play fast because Richmond can play fast, and when your center can run, it opens doors.

"We've told him, when he gets that rebound, and he gets a lot of rebounds, we want him to take one or two dribbles, kick it out and go," Ashlaw said.

Brandon Paul's Warren team is also 2-0. The talented UI recruit said this morning he's had games of 29 and 21 points. We'll get a score in the N-G tomorrow.

- Live in-game report coming tonight from the South Padre Convention Center. (Here's last night's in-game report.) Feel free to send an email with any questions, especially if you can't get the game on TV.

pklee@news-gazette.com

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