Getting out of a shooting slump

The Chicago Tribune has an article on the Illini basketball team going through a shooting slump. Here is a little from the article:

The Illini's three best perimeter shooters—McCamey, Trent Meacham and Alex Legion—are in shooting slumps of varying degrees the last five games, which includes road losses to two ranked Big Ten teams, Michigan State and Minnesota.

"There's a little hesitation, a little [lack of ] confidence," coach Bruce Weber said. "It's not cutting, getting to the ball, not being aggressive, that's important."If we can get Trent making some shots, get Alex on a roll here . . . we have to be tough to defend."

"Part of that is the offense, screening angles, cutting harder. The passer has to see open guys and attack more."

In the last five games, McCamey has made just 17 of 49 shots, 7 of 30 on threes. "Demetri really sets the tone," Weber said. "I'm not putting pressure on him, but the quick 'threes' [don't] help our team. If he gets in the paint, has seven assists and no turnovers and gets to the free-throw line, we're a much better team."

McCamey's solid 6 of 10 Jan. 24 in the victory over Wisconsin, in which he also made 11 of 12 free throws and scored 25 points, is part of the streak.

"Wisconsin was an effective game for him," Weber said. "He has a tendency to give in to the easier thing, and that's to put up a quick three."

Even though he starts, Meacham has taken only 24 shots in the last five games, and made only five, 3 of 30 on threes.

"I feel like I haven't hit a shot in a month," Meacham said. "Larry Bird said shooting is 80-90 percent mental. It's all about confidence. You have to forget about the last shot and think the next one is going in."

Chemistry right for Illini basketball

Read a couple of good articles on the resurgences of Illinois basketball after a rough 16-19 season in 07-08. "Last year we went home sad. It was a dysfunctional family,'' center Mike Tisdale said. So far this year the Illini are off to a 13-1 start including a victory this past Tuesday at No. 9 Purdue. Purdue's Keaton Grant sees a different team.

"Last year they were arguing on the court," he said. "This year they're playing more as a team. Last year you could see how spread apart they were. They were arguing on the court. Especially at Illinois they were arguing, and this year they came closer together.''

Team chemistry, according to players, has been the reason for the successful start to the season:

"We have a different attitude," senior guard Trent Meacham said. "People worked hard in the off-season and continued to improve."

The unselfish attitude starts with guard Chester Frazier (pictured above), who coach Bruce Weber says has accepted his role as a distributor on offense and a lock down defender.

"He has accepted what he is," Weber said. "He wants to do well. Last year, when things were not going well, he was always trying to make plays. He has accepted he's not the go-to guy, and he lets the game come to him."

Part of the ploy by Weber was hatched in the offseason when he decided the team's new uniforms would not have the players' names on the back. He felt the team was driven too much by individual achievement last year and wanted something to symbolize a different approach. Instead of the move coming off as cliché, Tisdale said the players — at first resistant — have embraced the message.

"People realized it was more important than being individuals,'' he said. "Coach has been pushing that. It's had a good impact on our mindset. He says it almost every day. That's why we're winning.''

Weber isn't necessarily taking it easy on players. He has talked openly about the harsh approach he has taken with sophomores Demetri McCamey and Mike Davis at times. But after the win over Purdue he praised McCamey for not pouting over bench time and Davis for not complaining when Weber lit into him during practice.

And they have grown up. Just ask sophomore guard Demetri McCamey, who made four free throws after missing three to seal the victory at Purdue."Last year I would have pouted," McCamey said.