Coming off its seventh consecutive 20-plus-win season, the Illinois men’s basketball team will head into the 2006-07 season with a handful of familiar faces returning. Unfortunately, Dee Brown and James Augustine, won’t be back.

Brown and Augustine were the top two scores last season and accounted for nearly 40 percent of the Illini’s offense. Brown and Augustine weren’t just scores though; Augustine led the last year’s team in rebounding, 9.1 per game, while Brown was the Big Ten leader in assists, averaging 5.8 assists per game.

After leaving Illinois as the two most winningest players in Illinois men’s basketball history, Brown and Augustine’s have left the Illini with large holes to fill in the starting line-up.

Having to replace their two most potent weapons won’t be an easy task, but Illini head coach Bruce Weber will have a large cast of players to look to lead his team back into the top spot in the Big Ten.

The Coach

Bruce Weber – The unanimous Big Ten and National Coach of the Year in 2005, Weber has compiled a record of 89-16 (39-9 Big Ten) in his three years at Illinois. His 89 wins are the most ever by a Big Ten coach in his first three years. The Weber-led Illini just missed its third straight Big Ten title in 2006. Weber is the only coach in Illinois history to lead a team to the national championship game and was the first coach to win back-to-back outright Big Ten titles in his first two seasons.

Returning Starters

Rich McBride, SR Guard – After not seeing much playing time during his sophomore season in 2004-05, McBride stepped into the starting line up last season and proved to be more than just a sharp shooter from long distance. McBride showed last season his ability to step inside the three point line and knock down jumpers from anywhere on the court. McBride is the Illini’s top returning scoring after averaging 10 points per game last season. He is also the teams top returning free throw shooter, an aspect of the game the Illini struggled with all season.

Brian Randle, JR Forward – Coming off a medical redshirt in 2004-05 because of a broken hand, Randle returned to the Illini had an immediate effect. As Illinois’ best defender, Randle drew the assignment of guarding opposing team’s best perimeter players and was selected to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team for his efforts. Randle averaged 8.5 points per game and 5.4 rebounds a game. Named a co-captain, Randle will more than likely be looked to more this season to as more of a scoring threat and to continue his leadership on and off the court.

Shaun Pruitt, JR Center – Pruitt started all 33 games for the Illini last season and was easily Illinois’ most improved player after last season. He averaged 6.2 points per game and shot 52.4 percent on the season, good enough for seventh in the Big Ten in field goal shooting. Pruitt scored a career-high 17 points and recorded a career-high three blocks at Indiana on Jan. 17 and pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds at Northwestern on Jan. 21. An easy pick to start up front again this season, Pruitt will be looked to as Illinois’ main scoring threat inside.

Fighting for a spot

Chester Frazier, SO Guard – In 27 games last season as a true freshman, Frazier owned a 2.4 assist-to-turnover ratio and was one of Illinois better defensive players. Frazier put up a career-high eight assists against Tennessee-Martin on Dec. 30, 2005 and scored a career-high six points at Northwestern on Jan. 21.

His ability to distribute the ball and cause havoc on defense leaves Frazier as the top choice to replace Brown at the point guard position this season. He will get competition from redshirt sophomore Trent Meacham.

Trent Meacham, SO Guard – The hometown product from Champaign Centennial will be eligible to play his first season for the Illini this year after being required to sit out last year after he transferred from Dayton.

Meacham, who played in all 29 games as a true freshman at Dayton, averaged 6.4 points and 1.7 rebounds as a Flyer and led Dayton in 3-point shooting, making 45.9 percent from behind the arc.

His ability to stroke the ball from the free throw line will be a huge boost for the Illini, as he led the Flyers in free throw shooting at 89.6 percent his freshman season. Meacham will challenge for a spot in the starting lineup, but will probably start the season as the backup point guard.

Jamar Smith, SO Guard – Smith averaged eight points per game coming off the bench and ranked fifth on the Illini squad in scoring. As Illinois premier long distance shooter, Smith led the Big Ten in 3-point field goal shooting at 48.2 percent and was a Big Ten All-Freshman selection.

His break out game came at home against Arkansas-Little Rock when he scored a career-high 23 points and knocked down 6-8 from 3-point range. In Illinois’ NCAA Tournament first-round game against Air Force, Smith scored a game-high 20 points on 7-10 shooting, including six three pointers.

With the loss of Brown, Smith could break into the starting line-up for this season, but if not he will be Illinois’ most dangerous weapon off the bench.

Warren Carter, SR Forward – Coming off the bench in all but one game last season, Carter averaged 4.8 points and 2.8 rebounds in 12.3 minutes per game and returns for his senior season as a candidate to be in the starting line-up. Carter provided the Illini with a large lift early last season, knocking down a last-second, game-winning shot against Wichita State in South Padre Island to knock off the Shockers 55-53 in November.

With his ability to step out to the baseline and knock down mid-range jumpers, Carter provides the Illini with the ability to draw defenders away from the basket and allow the Illini to capitalize on mismatches in the post. u

The Bench

Chris Hicks, JR Guard – Hicks made the Illini’s roster last season as a walk on and saw very limited action during the season, playing in just 11 games and scoring 10 points. Hicks will more than likely see action this season only if the Illini are leading by a large amount late in the game.

Calvin Brock, SO Guard – After redshirting his freshman season, Brock came off the bench in 17 games last season for the Illini averaging 1.4 points and 1.6 rebounds. He posted career-highs in points (6) against Coppin State and in rebounds (9) against Tennessee-Martin. Because of his overall athletic ability, Brock could see more playing time this season off the bench.

Marcus Arnold, SR Forward – In his first year of action after transferring from Illinois State, Arnold provided the Illini with much needed depth down low. In 32 games Arnold averaged 3.5 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. He had a season-high 13 points against Missouri and totaled a season-high eight rebounds against Oregon. Arnold will likely be one of the first big men off the bench.

Richard Semrau, FR Forward – Semrau enters Illinois as a 6-foot-9-inch, 210-pound forward from Rocky River, Ohio. Semrau averaged 23 points and 15.1 rebounds per game as a senior. Described as has having nice size for a combo forward and has the ability step out and shoot the ball by Rivals.com, Semrau will give Illinois another threat inside along with another big man who can run the floor.

Charles (C.J.) Jackson, FR Center – Jackson chose to redshirt last season, using it to take in all that is Illinois basketball, Jackson was able to fine tune various aspects of his game and will provide the Illini with more depth inside to go along with big men Pruitt and Arnold.

Brain Carlwell, FR Center – Carlwell, a 6-foot-10-inch, 235-pound big man from Maywood, Ill., joins the Orange and Blue squad this season as a true freshman. In his junior season at Proviso East, Carlwell averaged 15 points and 14 rebounds per game. Described as a defensive force with NBA type size by Rivals.com, Carlwell will provide the Illini with more depth in the paint in the years to come.

Compiled by Jason Grodsky