STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- If Illinois coach Bruce Weber was looking for a way to ensure his team doesn't take Penn State lightly, he got it Saturday when the Nittany Lions upset Michigan State 66-62.
"One thing Penn State did do the other day, they played hard," Weber said. "They got after it. They got the loose balls, they got the rebounds, thought they were pretty physical and matched Michigan State's intensity."
Weber feared that the Illini would become complacent after winning three consecutive games to begin their Big Ten season. And all he has to do is look at Illinois' recent history with Penn State to see the dangers of playing without enthusiasm Tuesday night. The Nittany Lions have won four of the last seven meetings.
Complacency set in earlier in the season after Illinois got a few quality wins under its belt, and that led to a defeat at the hands of Illinois-Chicago at the United Center. But Weber said Illini practices have been "good" since they thrashed Northwestern 88-63 on Thursday.
"I think one of the big things is the improvement in practice of the younger guys," said Weber, adding that freshman Jereme Richmond may have had his best practice of the season Sunday. "Early we had good competition in practice. Then, I don't know if those guys kind of caved in and said, 'Well, I'm not going to play a lot.' Then you have exams and a little bit of the freshmen wall.
"They had a couple weeks where I didn't they were fighting like they were early."
Penn State guard Talor Battle is averaging 20.5 points per game, but Weber said the Nittany Lions proved Saturday they are more than a one-man show. Focus too much on Battle and you risk getting burned by Penn State's improved supporting cast. Jeff Brooks is averaging 13.7 points per game while DJ Jackson is averaging 10.9.
"The other guys are just playing better, which is important for their progress," Weber said. "I think people are keying on Battle and the other guys are kind of playing off of it."
Tipoff is at 8 p.m. Central time on the Big Ten Network.
Source: http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2011/01/illinis-weber-wary-of-penn-state-upset-potential.html
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