Savings plans: midseason report: Illinois, our preseason pick to win it all, and a bevy of once-touted final four prospects still have time to salvage their seasons

Sporting News, The, Jan 28, 2002 by Mike Decourcy

Maryland coach Gary Williams has become the new patron saint of underachievers.

No, wait. That didn't come out right.

What we meant to say is those coaches whose teams are trailing expectations at this point--roughly halfway to the Final Four at Atlanta's Georgia Dome--may gain inspiration from what Williams accomplished with his Terps last winter.

Midway through last February, Maryland had deteriorated from preseason Final Four contender to borderline bubble team. At 15-9 and 6-6 in the ACC, the Terps were on the bubble of even being on the NCAA Tournament bubble. Rescuing that team from certain ignominy and refashioning it into the school's first Final Four team was a profoundly underrated coaching achievement for Williams.

Maryland had most of the ingredients of a Final Four team but for the longest time could not arrange them properly. Then, because the players began to trust their coach and each other, it happened. And Maryland made it.

This should give hope to several teams that were lauded as Final Four threats before this season but have progressed slowly. With March little more than a month away, it's time for these teams to get busy:

Illinois

TSN preseason rank: No. 1.

Current rank: No. 11.

Problmns: After we declared Illinois the team to unseat reigning champion Duke, it lost 6-8 small forward Lucas Johnson to a torn knee ligament. That completely rearranged the team's personality.

Without Johnson to help inside, Brian Cook has had to be a full-time power player. That's outside his comfort zone. There was no true small forward ready to take Johnson's place, which meant shifting to a three-guard look that doesn't work well because the Illini lack speed.

A physical reputation forged in last year's foul-plagued regional final against Arizona hasn't helped. Illinois averages 2.6 fewer fouls and 5.7 more free throws than opponents, not the greatest numbers when compared to Duke's 4.4 fewer fouls and 9.6 more free throws.

Solutions: Injured power forward Damir Krupalija, the team's best rebounder, likely will be back. Johnson also is expected to return. If he can play at least 15 minutes a game, it would allow the Illini to occasionally employ the bigger lineup they expected.

Regardless of Johnson's status, the defense must improve. Part of the fouling problem occurs because Illinois players use their hands too much.

Outlook: When point guard Frank Williams is playing his best, Illinois is difficult to handle. In the biggest games, Williams has been exceptional, averaging 19.5 points against Top 25 teams. He can carry Illinois a long way, but some obstacles need to be cleared if the goal remains a national championship.

Kentucky

TSN preseason rank: No. 5.

Current rank: No. 8.

Problems: The Wildcats at last have identified their point guard of choice. The trick now is getting sophomore Cliff Hawkins to play like one.

Hawkins disturbed All-American teammate Tayshaun Prince by dominating the ball and forcing an errant shot when the Wildcats attempted to come back against Georgia. In three of the team's four losses, Hawkins mismanaged the final seconds of regulation or overtime--or both. The Wildcats need him to play smarter under pressure.

The center position was damaged when Jason Parker injured his knee and was lost for the season. Coach Tubby Smith's plan for Marvin Stone to step in and improve the defense imploded when Stone couldn't deliver.

Kentucky is struggling to get production from its wings. Wing Keith Bogans has been buried in a seasonlong funk, and Smith has been reluctant to demote him.

Solutions: Hawkins' strength and quickness give him a physical advantage over many defenders. But until he learns to think the game, he will be lured into making mistakes.

Smith is correct not to discard Bogans, who is more focused on performing for NBA scouts than for his team. That can be overcome. But Smith would do well to find a more prominent role for freshman guard Rashaad Carruth, a dangerous offensive player.

Outlook: No one is better than Smith at solving problems through the course of the season. Last year's Wildcats started 3-5 but won SEC regular-season and tournament titles and reached the Sweet 16. This team is not as talented as its proponents believe, but the Wildcats should be capable of challenging for the Final Four.

Missouri

TSN preseason rank: No. 9.

Current rank: No. 24.

Problems: The NCAA's decision to refuse eligibility for center Uche Okafor left the Tigers, again, with an underdeveloped frontcourt. Power forward Travon Bryant can't avoid foul trouble and barely is hanging on to his starting job. That leaves Missouri heavy on perimeter players, and that means rebounding and defending along the baseline are problems.

The shot selection of wings Clarence Gilbert and Kareem Rush and point guard Wesley Stokes continues to be an issue. Two weeks ago, coach Quin Snyder moved Gilbert, the team's only senior, to the point and relegated Stokes to sixth-man status in an effort to get more leadership from the position.

Solutions: The players whose development is most necessary for the Tigers to advance--Stokes and Bryant--are sophomores being counted on for the first time. Their progress should come with experience, but their teammates cannot afford to pick up bad habits trying to compensate.