Since putting on an Illinois basketball uniform more than three years ago, Warren Carter has been an instant fan favorite at the Assembly Hall. With his happy-go-lucky personality and reserved manner, head coach Bruce Weber jokes that whenever he asks the Dallas, Texas-native how he’s doing, he gets the same answer. Carter always says he’s “just chillin’.” But there’s a reason why the Orange Krush started its “War-ren Car-ter” chant and a reason why kids flock to him.

“He’s one of the most likable guys in the country, hands down,” said junior forward Brian Randle, who is also Carter’s roommate.

During the past three years, the expectations for the senior forward have been anything but sky high. Carter has always been the role player – second tier to players like Deron Williams, Dee Brown and Luther Head. But now in his last year with the Illini, Carter understands that his role this season demands him to be a regular contributor, not just a highlight player.

“I think it’s more his team (this year), and he realizes it,” Weber said. “One of his goals is to maybe play at another level, play in Europe. You’ve got to play for us before you can do that; I think that’s been a motivating factor.”

Towards the end of last season and during the summer, though, motivation was not one of Carter’s downfalls. Randle said Carter has blossomed as a senior and has had an optimistic attitude throughout. The strides he has made over the summer could propel him to the forefront of Illini basketball – a place where the team needs him to be if it is going to have success in the Big Ten. Randle said Carter wants to prove himself and that what he did over the summer is confirmation. Carter bench presses nearly 300 pounds now – a significant increase from the 200 pounds he could press when he came to Illinois – and ran the mile in 5:20, second only on the team to sophomore guard Chester Frazier. Not only does Carter have more endurance, but he has put in more time developing his total game.

“I’ve worked a lot on shooting just so I can stay consistent, and I’m more intense on defense,” Carter said. “I just realized this is my last year, it’s now or never.”

The strength and endurance he added over the summer will benefit Carter as he looks to improve upon last season’s averages of 4.8 points per game and 1.9 rebounds per game. With Carter’s athleticism and 6-foot-9 physique, gone are the days of being intimidated by some of the Big Ten’s biggest bodies.

“Being 6-foot-9, maybe 6-foot-10 if you count the hair, he can shoot and he can move,” Randle said. “Somebody for his position, being so agile and also so strong, being one of the top three guys on the team in terms of strength, it makes him a big danger.”

With Weber needing Carter to play 25 to 30 minutes a game, Carter will have plenty of opportunities to show off his strength, especially if opposing teams use smaller lineups.

“My first couple years here I got pushed around. I still get pushed around sometimes, but it’s just so much easier to control most of my steps. And the footwork and techniques that I have now, I can do,” Carter said. “Usually when I get bumped it would knock me off, but now I can take advantage of my footwork and still keep control of my body.”

If the way Carter has performed in practices as of late is any indication of how he will perform in games, the Illini could be better off than they anticipated.

Weber said Carter has been stubborn and hard-headed during past seasons. Although the coach admits he’s been the hardest on Carter, he said he is happy to see that Carter no longer questions and doubts the coaching staff. Instead of fighting the coaches, he’s taking that same stubbornness and taking it to the court.

“Now it’s gut-check time and he’s still fighting through it,” said Weber of the Illini’s tough practices the last few weeks. “A year ago, he would’ve probably backed down and chilled, and now he’s kind of fighting through it, and even after three hours (of practice) he’s still battling.”

The leadership on the court – communicating with teammates and backing up the coaches – is something that Weber said he didn’t expect.

Weber admits he thought most of the leadership would come from Randle and sophomore guard Jamar Smith.

While Randle says Carter has his moments when he’s vocal, he says Carter is more of a “lead-by-example guy.”

“He goes out there and works hard and really pushes guys because he’s too tough to guard for anybody on this team,” Randle said. “The positions that he puts people in pushes them and allows them to get better.”

And although Carter may be the relaxed, even lackadaisical type off the court – the guy you wouldn’t expect to dunk and hit step-back jump shots – he says he gets a different feeling and vibe when he steps on the court.

Carter says the feeling can even bring “stuff out of you that you never knew you had.” Carter is now the player sparking energy at practice or making a play when the team is in need of one.

“It’s going to be a lot of people just carrying their own weight on the team (this year),” Carter said.

“And myself, maybe I have a bigger load to carry, but I’m ready for it and I’m anxious for it,” he added.