+ Remember the days when home wins seemed guaranteed?  Where we’d be losing by 6 in the second half, but you’d already be looking forward to the game at Michigan State because, well, we never lose at home?  Those days were supposed to return this year.  And they’re not here.  Sure, we’re undefeated at home.  But that includes slipping past Boise State by hitting our free throws in the final minute, sneaking past Northwestern in overtime, and the should-have-lost-but-Battle-had-his-worst-game-ever stinker last night. This is not how it was supposed to go.

+ It really is amazing how short the bench is.  A few years ago, when Richardson, Paul, and Bertrand all verballed, we were left wondering how Weber would keep everyone happy.  I remember message board threads asking if Weber might go 11 deep with his rotation.  Last night, it was basically a 7 man rotation with Paul and Griffey getting a few spot minutes. Think of how short this bench would be had Jordan not decided to come back.  Amazing.

+ If anyone is reading this in Chicago, can you see if Mike Davis is bound and gagged somewhere in the basement of the United Center?  I don’t know who this guy is wearing #24 right now, but it’s not Mike Davis.  Judging by the rainbow shots last night, it might be Richard Keene.  In his last three games, Davis has 10 points. Total.  He’s lazy on defense, tentative on offense, and is getting absolutely abused on the boards by Mike Tisdale.  I don’t know what it will take to resuscitate him, but without 2008/09 Mike Davis, this team is DOA.

+ Mike Tisdale’s stat line: 16 points, 13 rebounds, 7 blocked shots.  He had 15 blocked shots his entire freshman season, and 7 last night. Keep it up, big fella.

+ You all know what this team is missing, right? I mean, it’s obvious to everyone, yes? This team needs my favorite Illini this (er, last) decade. This team needs Chester Frazier.

Who is the leader of this team? Tisdale? McCamey (when he feels like it)? This team needs someone on the rudder. They need a take charge defender. They need a coach on the court. They need fire. They need the guy who was robbed of the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Bring back Chet. Or at least convince DJ that he can be a more-talented version of him.

+ I think the season comes down to this. McCamey, Tisdale, Jordan, Keller, Cole, and Griffey can keep operating at the same level as we’ve seen over the past few games. DMac and Tiz have exceeded our expectations thus far, and Keller, Jordan, Cole, and Griffey have given nearly exactly what was expected of them. The spotlight falls on three players: Mike Davis, DJ Richardson, and Brandon Paul. If Davis wakes up, we can make a run at the tournament. If DJ and BP3 step up their game in the second half of their freshman season – and we’ve seen this happen for many Illini freshmen over the years – then we can make some noise in the Big Ten. If not, another pucker loss like Georgia is on the way, and our tourney hopes are shot. Your move, gentlemen.

Wow – take a ride on that for bitter.  I need some good news, and soon, because the 2009-2010 Illini sports season is absolutely crushing my spirit right now.  A talented football team that went 3-9, and a talented basketball team on the outside of the bubble looking in right now.

Don’t make me start watching Illini golf.