Bruce Weber attended part of basketball practice yesterday, only a day after undergoing an emergency appendectomy.

The men’s basketball head coach sat on the sidelines for about two hours of the practice at the Ubben basketball practice facility. He was taken home at 5:15 p.m., about half an hour before the session ended.

Weber wrote the practice schedule early in the afternoon, and was up and walking at the beginning of practice.

“He’d rather be here, but you got to take care of your body,” said assistant coach Jay Price. “We have a lot of games coming up so we would like him at full speed.”

While Weber was intent on attending practice, Price said it was clear he was weakened from the surgery.

“I think (practice) wore him out,” Price said. “Any time you are on bed rest and medication, you don’t get to exercise – it’s tiring.”

Weber is expected to be healthy enough to coach the Illini’s season opener against Delaware State Friday at 7 p.m. at Assembly Hall.