Tate: Nothing but net on Friday night

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CHAMPAIGN – Here are four good reasons why you should be excited about being a part of the UI's effort to set a volleyball attendance record of 14,000 Friday night at the Assembly Hall:

– This is a Top 10 Illini volleyball team, with the powerful Michelle Bartsch and the graceful Laura DeBruler certain to grab your attention with their putaway spikes. But don't overlook No. 8, Hillary Haen, whose setup passes sparked Illinois' straight-sets win against Northwestern on Wednesday. She is the point guard, the football quarterback who sets up her teammates. She is Kevin Hambly's coach on the floor.

– Check Bruce Weber's bench area and you might get your first look at committed St. Ignatius cager Nnanna Egwu, the 13th center to announce for Illinois since tall Nick Smith came aboard in 2001. It has been a mixed bag with most of these lankies on the come, which is the case again with the still-developing Egwu.

The list includes James Augustine, transfers Jack Ingram and Marcus Arnold, Aaron Spears, Shaun Pruitt, C.J. Jackson, Brian Carlwell, Rich Semrau, Mike Tisdale, Stan Simpson and upcoming freshman Meyers Leonard. If you scan the success rate, you'll understand why some of us take a wait-and-see posture on most center recruits.

– On the Gophers' bench at 6:30 will sit one of the great Illinois coaches of all time. Mike Hebert won four Big Ten titles and took two UI teams to the NCAA semifinals before moving to Minnesota, where he has beaten the Illini 17 times in 26 meetings. National champion Penn State remains out of reach, making this Big Ten runner-up battle the season's premier volleyball match from a competitive standpoint.

– Friday night's action will take your mind off the confusing Illini football team, which last year led the Big Ten in pass production and, in a debilitating turnaround, can't seem to get out of its own way. The thought of losing to Indiana, which fell to the Illini 55-13 last season, is almost too grim to think about ... so don't. Enjoy the Friday night festivities.

Follow the bouncing ball

Most Illini basketball buzz revolves around the numbers 1, 2 and 3 – no names on jerseys, so those will be easy to remember – freshman guards D.J. Richardson (1), Joseph Bertrand (2) and Brandon Paul (3).

But UI success or failure will hinge on the improvement of three juniors who were the 1-2-3 scorers for a 24-win team last season: Demetri McCamey (11.5), Mike Davis (11.3) and Tisdale (10.2). Everyone else will fill in around those three.

Offensive rebounding will be a point of emphasis for the big guys. Davis averaged 8.1 boards overall but pulled down only 60 offensive rebounds in 34 games. And the 7-foot-1 Tisdale had 44 on offense. They need to make it their business to fight each other for putbacks. This should be their No. 1 priority.

But the key to the team, if one must be singled out, is McCamey. He will direct the operation, and he returned in fighting shape at 197 pounds ... baked chicken replaced fried chicken, and no more French fries. He's down 17 to 20 pounds from his peak weight.

"I've always been heavy," McCamey said. "I now weigh the least since I've been at Illinois. I didn't do this for me. I did it for the team. For us to get better, we need a point guard in top shape. I could have done better last year if I was in better shape."

McCamey said Weber congratulated him for his defense in a recent workout.

"That's rare," McCamey said. "Coach challenges me. He challenges me every day. Coach does the X's and O's, but how we produce is based on how the point guard performs. Our big guys can score. They will carry us. We have to get them the ball. I'll take 110 percent of that responsibility."

Deep and talented

Based on early returns, Richardson figures to swing between a wing and backup point, while Paul and junior Alex Legion are locked in competition at the other wing. Senior Dominique Keller projects as an alternate for Davis and Tisdale. Weber intends to play more than seven, so positions remain open at the bottom end of the rotation.

"Young and old combined, this is the best we've been," McCamey said. "The freshmen are athletic. They have high energy, and they can get up with the best. They fit in on and off the court, whether it's classroom or video games or whatever. They pick up on things quickly, and they haven't caused any problems. Nobody is missing class or workouts.

"For us older guys, this is going fast. We have to make it happen now."

The upswing in Illini basketball began last year with 24 wins and a tie with Purdue for second in the Big Ten standings, only to slip at the end with four losses in the last five games. This should be Weber's second big step forward since the 19-loss campaign of 2007-08.

Loren Tate writes for The News-Gazette. He can be reached at ltate@news-gazette.com.

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