Eleven Fighting Illini #3: DJ Richardson November 7, 2012
DJ Richardson
Guard
6′-3″, 195 lbs.
Senior
Peoria Central HS / Findlay Prep, Nevada
What I Know About Him:
Lots. It feels like DJ has been around forever. We first heard of him in 2005 or so when he was a high school freshman. After a drought, Peoria was producing another top-100 guard. And in one 48 hour period in October of 2007, we landed DJ, Brandon Paul, and Joseph Bertrand. So strange that three of the top four players on this list (spoiler alert: Brandon Paul might be ranked higher on this list) all picked Illinois within 48 hours of each other in 2007.
DJ arrived with much fanfare – Big Ten Freshman Of The Year fanfare. But after that award, he faded a bit. His shooting numbers haven’t lived up to his freshman year, and he endured several shooting slumps. His former coach found a great way to get him out of these slumps, though – he would yell “no” as DJ rose to fire a three. Confidence builder, that Weber.
What I Expect From Him:
I’m not gonna lie – I’m hoping beyond hope beyond hope for an outstanding senior season from DJ. I said several times last year that I continually expected DJ to snap in the middle of a game – he’d rise to shoot a baseline jumper, Weber would yell “no, DJ” mid-shot, and Richardson would snap, screaming “WOULD YOU JUST LET ME PLAY BASKETBALL??” at his coach.
Because I built that up to such ridiculous levels, I’m now expecting DJ to have this fantastic senior season playing for a coach who yells “yes” instead of “no”. It probably won’t happen like that, but I’m curious to see what Green Light DJ looks like rather than I’d Better Not Screw Up DJ.
I’d also like to see him revisit the baseline jumper. Remember how Frankie had that pull-up game? Not really the Joe Bertrand floater, but the “find an open spot on the baseline or near the elbow and pull up for a soft jumper” game. Remember that? DJ can do a little of that. He certainly does’t have Frankie’s handle, but he can still regularly knock down that shot. I’m hoping to see more of that this year.
Above all, I just want to see Brandon and DJ go out on top. If they can lead us back to the tournament in their senior season, well, they’ll cement a soft spot in my heart for many years to come. Let’s do this, Green Light DJ.
Robert, I agree totally with your observation about Weber always harping on DJ, and I think that was just one facet of a larger issue. Watching Illini basketball under Weber, I always got the feeling that the players were not 100% behind their coach and vice versa. As a player, knowing your coach has got your back is such a fundamentally important thing, I really think that was a huge part of why the Illini faltered so much. It’s like having a bad boss. No faith & trust between players and the coach.
As you’ve probably figured out from my handle, I’m a Wisconsin fan. I’m well aware that most Big Ten non-Badger fans think that Bo Ryan is a giant prick who rides the refs the whole game. I get that. Hell, there’s lots of UW fans who think he goes a little overboard in that regard, but you know who loves that? The players wearing the uniform. They know, in no uncertain terms, that he has their back. They know what to expect. Do your time, learn your fundamentals and work hard, and you will get to play. Screw up, and you will be benched. When UW loses, Bo Ryan takes the blame. When they win, he gives credit to the players. That’s what a good coach does. Say what you want about Bo Ryan, but I’m fairly confident that every Badger on the roster would run through a brick wall for him, because they feel he’d do the same for them. Contrast that with Bruce Weber, who more than a few times would throw whoever was the scapegoat of the week was under the bus after a loss.
This is why I’m sad Bruce is no longer coaching the Illini.
Groce may actually understand that oh-so-tricky concept of getting more out of your players by building them up. I’m curious to see what he can do in the next few years, I’m pretty sure (and afraid, from a Badger POV) that it will be an improvement.
Robert, you might appreciate this DJ story since I believe we’re fairly close in age….. I was in the Neil/Kirby McDonalds fairly late one night (very slow) and in walks DJ who stands in line behind me. I went to Manual HS and graduated in ’89. I turned to him and said, “I went to Manual so I’m not letting you cut in line.” He laughed and I began to tell him about some of the players who were big when I was in high school (David Booth and Lynn Collins, among others). Since all of the Peoria players have their own form of fraternity, I tried to relate the names to him by asking him what grade he was in in 1989. He replied, “I wasn’t born until 1992.” I told him it was nice talking to him and turned around. Later, as I was eating at one of the tables, he walked out of McD’s with his bag of food and said, “Have a good night, sir.” It was at that moment that I began to realize I was getting old.